The One Minute Wine Guy

The One Minute Wine Guy

IXSIR Wines: High Altitudes, Deep Roots and a Lebanese Legacy

At IXSIR, altitude, indigenous grapes and sustainable practices converge to redefine Lebanese winemaking with elegance and depth.

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James Nokes
May 28, 2025
∙ Paid
Gabi Rivero makes world-class wines at IXSIR in Lebanon.

Perched among Lebanon’s rugged mountains, IXSIR isn’t just producing wines—it’s reviving a forgotten legacy while charting a modern, sustainable path forward.

For CEO Talal Madi and technical manager and winemaker Gabi Rivero, the story of IXSIR is as much about the land and people as it is about what ends up in the bottle. Wineries always have a story to tell about the most recent vintage, for the 2024, Rivero has high hopes.

“Despite a hot summer, the wind and high altitude helped the grapes evolve beautifully,” Rivero shared. “We’re seeing high-quality fruit with great balance, acidity and tension. This will be one of the good years.”

That notion of tension—a term often reserved for great wines—is central to IXSIR’s philosophy.

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