As is with any product of a nation, Lebanese wine producers expect/depend on the diaspora to buy and champion their wines abroad. With Lebanese wine specifically, my guess is the motivation stems from a cocktail of nostalgia, familiarity, and/or patriotic duty. Luckily, the wine is also just plain good, so no major favors are necessary.

I’ve asked this question in general terms on socials before but let’s discuss this question as a community, regardless of where you’re based and where home is to you. When you’re feeling homesick, is wine part of your remedy? If not, what is?

I’ll start: When I can’t attend an afikra salon or see a friend who knows this feeling as well as I do, a quick fix is a visit to the international market. I have the urge to speak Arabic as soon as I’m inside because I can hear it being spoken around me and, for a brief moment, I forget I’m in California.