Fairtrade Foundation feature on Coteaux les Cèdres
19 June 2018
From Cannabis to Cabernet
Before the turn of the century, the fields of North Bekaa, a fertile valley between mountains, were known for illicit poppy and cannabis production, which came at great risk to growers who lived in violation of the law. Something needed to change. Then in 2000, farmers in 11 villages established the Coteaux Heliopolis cooperative, replacing poppy and cannabis production with grapes for winemaking. With financial backing and logistical support from the French department of Oise, the farmers could establish a secure and stable livelihood by cultivating their new crop – the vines of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Caladoc.
Today, the cooperative’s 250 farmers cultivate 240 hectares of vineyards, providing a sustainable livelihood for producers in the region. Opportunities for Refugees The chance for producers to work in a legal supply chain – with stable prices and no risk of the authorities destroying their crops – has enabled Lebanese wine culture to blossom. Today, there are 50 Lebanese wine producers, compared with 14 in the early 2000s. But the benefits far outweigh mere dollars and cents (or the Lebanese pound).
Coteaux Heliopolis promotes community cohesion between Muslims and Christians, and with more than one million Syrian refugees relocating to the Bekaa Valley, wine production has provided a valuable source of work for people eager to rebuild their lives. Lebanon itself endured a civil war between 1975 and 1990, when legendary winemaker Serge Hochar worked stoically to keep the industry alive, so the continued success of winemaking in Lebanon is a matter of pride to many. What’s more, the transformation from cannabis to Cabernet Sauvignon has protected children from the potential harm caused by growing up around drugs.
Today, the wine world is really beginning to pay attention. The world’s first Lebanese Fairtrade wine and a Coteaux Heliopolis favourite. Coteaux les Cédres is a full-bodied wine – the first in Lebanon and the Middle East to have both Fairtrade and Organic certifications – has the aroma of ripe strawberry and red cherry, a hint of rosemary and a touch of plum and nutmeg to finish. Oh, and not only is the wine organic, not only is it VEGAN, it’s deliciously moreish, high-quality stuff. No wonder Coteaux les Cèdres made The Wine Merchant’s Top 50 in 2013. And of course, it tastes all the sweeter knowing the first stock of Coteaux les Cèdres has already funded a fresh water tank to help address water shortages in remote parts of Lebanon.
The beauty of Fairtrade wine is that it caters to all tastes and budgets. Gone are the days when your pesky dinner party guest might pipe up and say, “Isn’t Fairtrade wine expensive and tastes like vinegar?” That may have been true 14 years ago, but it certainly isn’t today.
- Will Thacker, Fairtrade Foundation, 19 June 2018
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