WADJ

• Profile: Lebanese Pinot Noir, made with wild fermentation.
• Food Pairing: Mezze, grilled chicken, salmon, charcuterie
• Serving Temp: 54-58°F (Slight chill)

El-Sabban, founded by Rami Bassil El-Sabban, represents a new chapter in Lebanese natural winemaking. A former sommelier who directed wine programs in Miami and Montreal, Rami became particularly devoted to sharing wines from Lebanon and the broader region. In 2022, he returned to his homeland to pursue a lifelong dream: foraging fruit high in the mountains, coaxing native yeasts awake, and crafting terroir-driven wines.

Rami started his wine journey as a sommelier in Miami under the wing of Karina Iglesias. Years of tasting and storytelling shaped his understanding of how wine can hold culture, memory, and belonging. His approach as a négociant allows collaboration with diverse producers throughout Lebanon, learning from their guidance while developing his own distinctive voice. Each cuvée serves as a medium for deepening his connection to Lebanese identity.

Farming & Cellar: El-Sabban's wines are an exploration of Lebanese terroir, shaped through a nomadic, négociant mechanism. The range spans from high-altitude, mineral-driven expressions to deeper, more textural styles. All wines are made naturally with wild fermentation, defined by instinct and simplicity. His winemaking philosophy is progressive—a quiet act of reimagining tradition year after year without ever breaking its thread.