Solifed (Societe Libanaise de Fermmentation et de Distillation, S.A.R.L.) .) is a family owned and run Business, established in the production and sale of wine and arak, Lebanon’s national alcoholic drink.

It produces several brands of arak:
Arak Wardy.
Arak Gantous & Abou Raad.
Arak Al Najjar.
Arak Al Arrab.

A full range of wines under the Domaine Wardy Logo:

Reds:
Private Selection.
Chateau les Cedres.
Christmas Wine.
Les Terroirs.
Cabernet-Sauvignon.
Shiraz.
Merlot.

Whites:
Private Selection.
Clos Blanc.
Perle du Chateau Chardonnay.
Sauvignon Blanc.

Rose:
Rose du Printemps.

As well as vinegar:
Solifed Vinegar.

Solifed’s products are exported to Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Jordan, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.K and the U.S.A.


CHRONOLOGY

In 1947 the arak brand Gantous & Abou Raad was introduced on the Lebanese market by a joint venture of the Gantous and the Abou Raad families, both were producing arak separately since the 1890s.

Solifed S.A.R.L. was formed in 1971 when the Wardys bought Abou Raad’s 51% share of the business, and introduced two new brands of arak Al Najjar and Al Arrab, as well as vinegar.

In 1973 Gantous & Abou Raad became Lebanon’s best selling brand of arak, a position it continues to hold today.

In 1978 Solifed’s sister company Societe Industrielle d’Alcool was formed for the production and sale of pure alcohol.

Gantous & Abou Raad wins it’s first Medal at the 1981 Leipzig Fair in Germany..

1989 saw the Wardys start their own vineyard with an eye for producing high quality wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Merlot, Marselan, Arinarnoa, Cinsault, Caladoc, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vines were imported from France for that purpose.

In 1996 Solifed launched Arak Wardy a new superior brand of arak.

Later that same year Messrs. Wardy bought the remaining shares of both companies from Messrs. Gantous and set about modernizing the winery and started working on producing wines.

Domaine Wardy was launched on the Lebanese market in November 1999 with a full range of wines:
· Two reds (Chateau les Cedres and Les Terroirs),
· Two whites (Perle du Chateau Chardonnay and Clos Blanc),
· One rose (Rose du Printemps).

A few months later Perle du Chateau Chardonnay recieves Domaine Wardy’s first Medal in Montreal Canada

In 2000 Solifed introduced the Lebanese consumer to the varietal wines with four highly successful additions:
· Cabernet Sauvignon.
· Syrah.
· Merlot.
· Sauvignon Blanc.

Within two years Solifed’s Domaine Wardy became the third wine brand in Lebanon, with an estimated 10% market share. While maintaining its position as leader in arak production with a 35% market share.

Solifed’s exports grew from 3% in 1996 to 18% in 2001; and its products continue to win awards and medals in international competitions.