SERGE HOCHAR

Winemaker Serge Hochar on the passion for wine that kept him from fleeing civil war

Serge Hochar has been called a magician. His response is that he only seeks to translate what nature intended. He believes that "the harmony of nature is better than anything we could ever create. I believe it should be a priority to seek to drink what is 'true' rather than what is 'good' ". He understands the beauty of this balance: "I once produced a wine that was technically perfect but it lacked the charms of imperfection."
Château Musar was created in 1930 in the cellar of an old 17th-century castle overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Ghazir, Lebanon, Château Musar is as much the work of a family as a living testimony to all the civilizations that have tread its soil.
Founder Gaston Hochar turned his hobby into a passion after being inspired by an initial encounter with renowned viticulturist Ronald Barton while he was stationed in Lebanon during the Second World War. His eldest son, Serge, took over winemaking at Château Musar in 1959 after completing his oenology diploma in Bordeaux.
Château Musar first achieved international recognition during the Bristol Wine Fair in England in 1979. In 1984, the respected wine magazine Decanter named Serge Hochar the first ever "Wine Man of the Year" for his extraordinary achievements, determination and dedication to producing wines during the difficult years of the Lebanese Civil War.
The way paved by the wine from the land of "milk and honey" consequently allowed Lebanon to adhere to the OIV—the "Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin"—in 1995 with the collaboration of other Lebanese wine producers.
In 2008, the vineyards of Château Musar were certified organic by the IMC “Instituto Mediterraneo di Certificazione”, the International Certification Services for Mediterranean Agriculture & Agro-food Industry. Serge is hesitant to mention this, noting that this piece of paper is “just a piece of paper.” Respecting the land, the vines and the wine has always been the standard practice at Château Musar.
Serge Hochar's strong personality and conviction in his beliefs have provided much inspiration for the many passionate fans of Château Musar throughout the world.