Morocco Wine 
Morocco has been a leading wine producer for several years and its bold red and white grapes have become popular among the French, Americans and within Modern Moroccan households. When the French colonized Morocco, like the Romans centuries before them, they realized Morocco’s possibility of being a wine country. The French developed Meknès, a Moroccan imperial city, into a wine region. Today 30,000 acres of land in Morocco contribute to wine production and Morocco sells over 40 million bottles within Morocco and abroad. Moroccan wine is in a state of revival and wine producers are taking advantage of the country’s sunny, mild temperate climate, and high altitudes. 

Indulge in some of Morocco's Best Wines & Beers on a  Morocco Private Tour. 

Although most Moroccans do not drink alcohol due to religious prohibitions, Morocco provides a home to groups of ex-patriots and foreigners from France, England, America, Spain, Germany and Italy who enjoy healthy alcohol consumption. Wine production has greatly assisted in Morocco’s tourism sector and created much needed jobs. Close to 10,000 Moroccans are employed through the wine making industry.

Morocco happily offers the chance to share some its best fermented grapes with wine lovers around the world. Three quarters of the output is red, twenty percent rose and the rest white.

Meknes, Morocco’s wine capital, boasts luscious and fertile land that is embellished with rows of beautiful wine vineyards. Les Celliers de Meknès is the largest major wine producer in the Meknès region, where more than sixty percent of wine production exists. In 2007, Celliers de Meknès, Morocco’s greatest wine producers revived the ‘Festival of Vine’ in Meknès to celebrate Morocco’s successful wine productivity. Its aim is to help expand tourism in the region and across Morocco.

There is discussion for Les Celliers de Meknès, as well as other wine producers in Morocco to join Chile, California, and South Africa as a major twenty-first century wine producer. In Meknès, the most commonly produced wines are red and white. Meknès red wines are best characterized as fruity, chewy, and rich. Similar to Moroccan cuisine, many of these wines are infused with spices such as vanilla.

Morocco has 37,000 acres that contribute to the wine production as well as twelve appellations. These include: Beni Sadden, Beni Zerhoune and Guerrouane, Appellations of Meknès are particularly popular for its red wines. Berkane and Angad, a small area in the east, making earthy red wines.

Rabat has become known for their appellations of Gharb and Zemmour. From Rabat and to the south comes Gris de Boulaouane a popular, light rose.

Casablanca is well respected for its Coastal vineyards that include the appellation of Zenata.

Due to the rapid growth in Morocco’s tourism industry, the wine industry is going through a rebirth. Marketing abroad for Moroccan wine has risen to a new level and Moroccan wine is making re-occurring appearances at dinner parties across the nation. 

Moroccan wines popular abroad include varieties of the bold red wines: Cabernet Sauvigon, Ksar, Guerrouane, Siraoua. Gris de Boulaoune is popular choice for white and Special Coquuillages is a nice dry white. Other favorites are blended Merlot, Chardonnay or Syrah.

From Meknès comes Clariet de Meknès, a delightful pinkish red, mimicking light French style. For a nice Merlot and Chardonnay there is Les Coteaux of the Atlas; Carignan, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon from Beni M’Tir.

Guerrouane offers an appellation of rosé wine made from the cinsault grape which is the most popular choice.

Before Morocco became independent in 1956, Morocco made and exported over 52 million gallons of wine to France and the Mediterranean, and held an annual wine festival lasting for several days. After the European Economic Community banned Morocco’s wine production, (outlawing blended wines), Moroccan winegrowers didn’t see a wine renaissance until the end of the 1980s. 

When you visit Morocco, be sure to enjoy some of their delicious wines as they will serve as a wonderful complement to a lamb tajine or other traditional meal. Moroccan wines along with local cuisine that is known for its exotic spices will offer the ultimate experience for all five senses.

As with wine, Moroccan beer production began in the 20th century with the arrival of the French. The main breweries are located in Fes, Tangier and Casablanca. Marrakech is home one of the largest beer bottlers.

Société des Brasseries du Maroc, a subsidiary of Heineken, is Morocco’s principal distributor and beer producer. Therefore Heineken is Morocco’s top selling international beer. Still more popular, are Flag Spéciale (a pilsner), Morocco’s local Stork (a light lager), and Casablanca Beer, a beer comparable to Budweiser, priding itself on being “the original beer from Casablanca”.

You can try any of these beers at the international hotels or most bars. However, keep in mind that some bars will be dry bars, as most Moroccans are of Muslim faith and abstain from drinking alcohol in public. Consequently, there is a law banning selling alcohol to Muslim Moroccans and also drinking in public during holy holidays such as Ramadan, the Prophet Mohamed’s birthday as well as others.

There is discussion for Les Celliers de Meknès, as well as other wine producers in Morocco to join Chile, California, and South Africa as a major twenty-first century wine producer. In Meknès, the most commonly produced wines are red and white. Meknès red wines are best characterized as fruity, chewy, and rich. Similar to Moroccan cuisine, many of these wines are infused with spices such as vanilla.