The storied history of Château Musar began in the 1930’s when Gaston Hochar returned from a trip to Bordeaux. He planted his first vineyards near the Bekaa Valley villages of Aana and Kefraya on gravelly soils over limestone. In 1941, Gaston’s son Serge met Major Ronald Barton (of Château Langoa Barton and Léoville Barton) who was stationed in Lebanon during World War II. The two became friends and often discussed winemaking. Early on, this helped in defining the Bordelais style of Musar. After completing his winemaking studies at the University of Oenology in Bordeaux under the instruction of Émile Peynaud, Serge became the head winemaker of Musar in 1959.