Hong Kong wine merchant Omtis Fine Wines said it has secured exclusive distribution rights for Lebanon’s winery Chateau Musar in Hong Kong and Macau, marking a further push by the iconic Middle Eastern producer into East Asia.
Hong Kong wine merchant Omtis Fine Wines said it has secured exclusive distribution rights for Lebanon’s winery Chateau Musar in Hong Kong and Macau, marking a further push by the iconic Middle Eastern producer into East Asia.
The agreement takes effect May 15, 2026.
Under the deal, Chateau Musar’s flagship Musar Red and Musar White will launch in the two markets from mid-June, followed later this summer by additional labels including Musar Rosé, Musar Jeune, Hochar Père et Fils and the traditional anise spirit L’Arack de Musar.
Founded in 1930 by Gaston Hochar, Chateau Musar is based in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, a historic wine-growing region with more than 6,000 years of viticultural history.
The winery is best known for its unconventional, low-intervention approach to winemaking and wines with strong ageing potential. Its reds are typically blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault and Carignan, while its whites are produced from indigenous Lebanese varieties Obaideh and Merwah.
The estate remains family-owned and is now operated by the third generation of the Hochar family.
Chateau Musar gained international recognition under the late Serge Hochar, who took over the winery in 1959 after studying under renowned Bordeaux oenologist Emile Peynaud.
Known for his deeply non-interventionist philosophy, Serge helped establish Musar as one of the wine world’s most distinctive producers. The estate first drew major international attention at the 1979 Bristol Wine Fair, where influential critic Michael Broadbent introduced the wines to a wider audience.
In 1984, Serge Hochar became the first recipient of Decanter’s “Man of the Year” award.
During Lebanon’s 15-year civil war, Hochar continued operating the winery despite the conflict, helping Chateau Musar build a global reputation not only for its wines but also for its resilience.
Following Serge Hochar’s death in 2014, his brother Ronald became chairman of the estate. Today, the third generation of the family oversees operations, with Gaston Hochar managing winemaking, Marc Hochar leading sales and marketing, and cousin Ralph Hochar overseeing exports.
“My father was a visionary who ensured Musar’s philosophy would pass to the third generation, and we remain committed to that legacy,” Marc Hochar said.
“We are delighted to partner with Omtis Fine Wines, a fourth-generation family business built with the same integrity, patience and long-term vision that drives Musar,” he added.
According to company information, Omtis Fine Wines is part of the century-old Bera family business network, whose roots trace back to a family trading operation that moved from Europe to Shanghai in 1919 before later establishing itself in Hong Kong.
The company entered the fine wine market in the 1980s and today focuses on winery-direct sourcing, limited-allocation wines and wine investment and collection services.
“We are truly honoured to welcome Chateau Musar into the Omtis Fine Wines portfolio,” said Philippe Bera, executive director of Omtis Fine Wines.
“This is an estate that needs little introduction to seasoned wine lovers — a true original with decades of history, character and soul in every bottle,” he said.
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