Moroccan Wine Guide: Brands, Regions and Where to Buy

Yes, Morocco makes wine, and much of it is good. The country produces about 40 million bottles a year, roughly three-quarters of it red, and exports only a small share, so most of it is drunk at home and by visitors. Vines were grown here in Roman times; the modern industry dates from the French Protectorate and revived from the 1990s.

The wines are not world-famous, but a handful of producers make bottles worth seeking out. This guide covers the producers and labels to know, where the wine comes from, and where you can buy or order it in Morocco.

The Meknès Wine Region

The plateau around Meknès, at roughly 500 metres between the Middle Atlas and the Rif, is the heartland of Moroccan wine. Hot, dry summers, cold winters and wide swings between day and night temperatures suit grape growing. The area’s appellations include Beni M’Tir and Guerrouane, and the Coteaux de l’Atlas AOC covers the country’s most ambitious estates.

Les Celliers de Meknès is the country’s largest producer. Its flagship, Château Roslane, was the first Moroccan estate allowed to use the word “Château” and its Premier Cru wines carry the AOC Coteaux de l’Atlas. Its other labels include Beauvallon (Beni M’Tir) and Les Trois Domaines (Guerrouane). Domaine de la Zouina, a smaller estate near Meknès, makes the Volubilia range in every colour and a more ambitious Epicuria line.

Other Wine Regions

Domaine des Ouled Thaleb, near Benslimane between Rabat and Casablanca, was founded in 1926 and is the oldest Moroccan winery still operating. It sells under the Thalvin name, and its Tandem, a 100% Syrah made with the Crozes-Hermitage winemaker Alain Graillot, is among the Moroccan wines most often recommended abroad. Other appellations lie closer to the Atlantic and in the north-east, and smaller estates near Essaouira and in the Atlas foothills are experimenting with altitude and organic methods.

What to Drink

For reds, start with Château Roslane Premier Cru, Ouled Thaleb’s Tandem Syrah, or Domaine de la Zouina’s Volubilia. For a lighter, cheaper red, look at the Celliers’ Beauvallon or Les Trois Domaines. For rosé, the Volubilia rosé and Thalvin’s S de Siroua rosé are good warm-weather choices. Whites are fewer and Chardonnay leads: Château Roslane Premier Cru blanc and Zouina’s Epicuria Chardonnay are the ones to look for.

Where to Find Wine

Larger Carrefour supermarkets have a separate alcohol section, usually at the back or behind its own doors, which often closes earlier than the rest of the store. Nicolas wine shops in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech stock Moroccan labels alongside imports. Licensed restaurants and hotel bars serve wine openly; in Marrakech, the Grand Café de la Poste in Gueliz has a Moroccan list. Many restaurants, including some well-known ones in the medinas, are not licensed, so check before you book if wine matters. During Ramadan, supermarket alcohol sections close for the month; hotel bars and licensed restaurants usually continue serving.

Wine Etiquette in Morocco

Morocco is a Muslim country where the majority of the population does not drink alcohol. Wine is legal and widely available to tourists and expats, but cultural sensitivity matters. Do not drink in public spaces, on the street, or in front of people who are fasting during Ramadan. Do not assume every restaurant serves alcohol. Many do not, and asking can be awkward in conservative areas. At licensed restaurants and hotels, ordering wine is completely normal and no one will judge you for it.