CP: Tell me about the process of starting Xiya Wines
CL and MC: We have always been very close. We are neighbors on the same floor, so our door is always open. On weekends Claudine often brings her children to help [at Mersel’s] Winery or during harvest. We noticed that women working in vineyards worked twice or three times as hard as men but were paid less than men.
The harvest started early in the morning, when we went to pick up the women [for work]we would see them put a load of laundry in it and hang it up. We would ask them, “What time did you get up?” and they would say, “From 4:30 in the morning.” They would go harvest and then go home, and to make up for the time away from their families, they had to make a mouneh (“canned food”). vegetable”). They handle 50 kilograms of produce every day – pickles, eggplants, olives – so they can feed a family over the winter, while picking grapes, moving crates, everything.
These women are superheroes. Yet they were not recognized or appreciated. What can we do for them?
The best way is to pay them the same wages as men and empower women, especially in the Middle East, to show them that the wine industry is not just for men.
We’ve created a little community here. We ask about their children, we learn about their history. We don’t just sit around and watch them work, we work side by side with them.
What challenges do you face as a female-led business in Lebanon?
CL and MC: Two days ago, a farmer came from the Bekaa Valley. He looked at us and he was so shocked he said, “I can’t believe you have women working here. In our area you will never see women doing the work you do in the wineries. In the fields it’s fine.” , but not at the brewery. He was very surprised that we actually did it ourselves.
We harvest, move crates, clean tanks, operate pumps, labels, corks, bottles, boxes, deliveries. Most of all, hungry people want us to produce something to eat when we get home.
Are there any logistical obstacles to running a wine business in Lebanon today?
CL and MC: In addition to the challenges that everyone faces like water [shortages]there is a power problem. We don’t have power 24 hours a day, so sometimes we have to wait for it to come back on. Transportation is also a challenge. There isn’t enough fuel for everyone. But banks may be the toughest problem. Taking out your money is a big deal. Therefore, we rely on funds generated through sales or personal income [savings]just to be able to sustain this business.
With Israeli attacks on Beirut and other parts of the country, what is the situation like on the ground?
CL and MC: We could hear drones, jets flying over the Bekaa Valley and even bombings. We live in such a difficult and uncertain environment, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow or even in the next few hours. Getting to Beirut, or even just driving around, requires some thought and planning. It’s harvest season, which helps us escape and find a few hours of peace. We had been through a few wars before and survived, so we were trying to find solutions, trying to stay hopeful and focus on making wine and controlling the things we could control.
