Israeli Wine

Winemaker Description

Canaan is an easy drinking medium bodied red wine with sweet fruit, with notes of black pepper, cherries and plums, low tannins and soft vanilla tones. This is a wine with very few pretensions and is made for immediate consumption.

The Canaan wines were made with the Israeli climate and cuisine in mind so they particularly suitable for Mediterranean cuisine. Red Canaan is a good accompaniment to pasta, pizza, poultry, and mixed grills, it is also an excellent party wine.

Winemaker Description 

Gilgal wines are premium, quality aged varietal wines from Golan Heights Winery in Israel which are fruit forward and expressive. They are produced with the same care and attention to quality as Yarden wines. Recent excavations represented by the coin on the label, tell an exciting and heroic story.

Flavors of blackberry, plum and raspberry, along with notes of black tea and cocoa, and hints of fresh herbs and French oak.

Kosher for Passover.

Winemaker Description

Dalton Shiraz is dark almost black in colour, the nose is intense with black fruit, plums, berries, liquorice, and pepper tones.

The wine has soft integrated tannins and a long finish. 

Kosher for Passover

Winemaker Description 

Israel. The Castel La Vie Blanc is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer; each varietal adds its own beauty to this crisp white wine.

The Chardonnay is the backbone lending structure and balance, the sauvignon blanc adds citrus and melon notes, while the Gewurztraminer rounds out the floral characters and contributes to the overall silky texture. This wine is a great showing from a overall great Israeli winery.

Expert Review

Kristen Bieler writes:  A flinty, fresh version, with light-to-medium weight to the crunchy nectarine and lime blossom flavors. Notes of chopped chives, green pea and wet stone add dimension. Round in feel, with modest zip holding the finish. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator

Winemaker Description

Discover the vibrant Gilgal Sauvignon Blanc from Golan Heights Winery. Crafted from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in the unique volcanic soil and high altitude of the Golan Heights, this light to medium-bodied wine offers a symphony of guava, pineapple, lemon, peach, and melon, balanced with a subtle grassiness.

Enjoy its delightful aromas of pear and vanilla, complemented by tropical pineapple flavors, Gala apple, and refreshing mint notes. Perfectly paired with grilled seafood, light salads, or goat cheese, it promises a fresh, lingering finish. Ideal for enhancing any dining experience.

Winemaker Description

Winemaker, Eli Ben-Zaken, crafts this wine by allocating a portion of premium grape varietals - Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc - destined for the winery's flagship wine, Domaine du Castel Grand Vin. The grapes are picked early to ensure that the resulting wine has enough acidity to offer the crisp and tart nature of a rose that is expected.

Then, the grapes are pressed and the juice is left in contact with the grape skins for just enough time to achieve the wine's impressive salmon hue. This has enchanting floral and berry aromas leading into a wonderful soiree of tart citrus and red fruit flavors on the palate and capped by a pleasing mineral finish. This rose is best in its youth.

A blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Malbec and 18% Cabernet Franc from high-density vineyards planted at 700 metres altitude, west of Jerusalem.  

Winemaker Description 

A plush and textured wine, Barkan Classic Malbec carries a robust tannic structure with overtones of plum and luscious fruit. A great complement to any barbeque fare.

Winemaker Description 

C Blanc du Castel is a white wine made purely of Chardonnay grapes (100%).
Using French oak barrels, the wine is fermented and then set to mature in its residual sugars for about a year, Bourgogne style.

‘C’ Blanc du Castel is known for its rich and buttery bouquet and refreshing acidity; it bears a full round flavor, with a touch of citrus, tropical fruit and roasted almonds.

This is a well-balanced wine with a fine long finish. It reaches its peak about 4 years after its harvest, and the recommended serving temperature is 12-14 degrees Celsius.

Winemaker Description 

The grapes that produced this liquid Jewel were hand harvested from our finest plots of our highest quality vineyards in the Judean Hills. The nose displays lifted and rich fruit, is well integrated, and perfectly balanced with both French and Hungarian oak barrels. This liquid Jewel was aged for 24 months in 300L oak barrels, creating a liquid perfume of rich, elegant and caressing complexity.

Winemaker Description

Canaan is an easy drinking medium bodied red wine with sweet fruit, with notes of black pepper, cherries and plums, low tannins and soft vanilla tones. This is a wine with very few pretensions and is made for immediate consumption.

The Canaan wines were made with the Israeli climate and cuisine in mind so they particularly suitable for Mediterranean cuisine. Red Canaan is a good accompaniment to pasta, pizza, poultry, and mixed grills, it is also an excellent party wine.

This wine is Kosher for Passover. Israel.

Winemaker Description 

The Judean Hills Blanc reflects the character and quality of the vineyards, located in the ancient region of Judean Hills. The color on this wine is a light gold, its not a deep color but its a pretty light gold.

The aromas are really nice, citrusy, melony, gooseberries, but also some yellow pear and green apple. There are lots going on fruit wise on the nose which makes it a really nice, medium to full bodied wine.

The acid comes on in the mid palate with more citrus in the mouth and a big acid on the finish. This wine is still going strong. It has a fairly long finish for a white wine, with some nice residual acid and melon flavor on the back.

The wine is super enjoyable with its fairly big white wine flavors. It drinks beautifully today and will keep developing in the bottle during the next 2-3 years.

Winemaker Description 

Judean Hills 2023 represents the local Terroir of our estate vineyards in the Judean Hills. This wine is made from selected plots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Merlot grown on old terraces with top-soil of limestone rich in minerals.

Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, this wine has wonderful texture and complex aromatic profile of black fruit and hint of earthiness.

The finish is fine and fairly long. Judean Hills 2023 is ready to drink now and will keep improving in the bottle over the next five years.

Winemaker Description 

This winery is the proud result of a long history of winemaking continuity beginning in 1848, through generations of the Shor family, and was founded by the 8th generation of the family.

The quality wines produced combine the knowledge and experience gathered by the family through 163 years of winemaking with determination, knowledge, professionalism, and desire to explore new and exceptional classic wines.

Winemaker Description

Israel. 100% Petite Verdot Produced from grapes grown on old vines in the Carmel region. After fermentation and soaking on the skins, the wine aged in French oak barrels for 15 months.

The wine has a deep purple hue and aromas of blackberries, blueberries, licorice and leather. It is full bodied and has a long and well-balanced finish. Pair with lamb based casseroles, and pasta dishes with a mushroom or meat broth base.

Kosher for Passover.

Winemaker Description

Israel. Alma is a dark full-bodied lively wine showing generous aromas of cherries, plums and sweet dark fruits with a buttery palate offering essences of vanilla, cloves and green tea.

The grapes for this wine were picked and fermented in separate batches. 

The wine was pressed out just before completing fermentation and Malolactic fermentation was encouraged, once completed the wine was racked into French oak barrels for 12 months, after which each parcel was individually tasted, the final blend was made and allowed to age for a further six months in small French barriques.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | We think of this as Israeli Chateauneuf-du-Pape, tasted blind it will fool you! Mike DeSimone writes:  Blackberry, cassis and toasted nut aromas emanate from the glass. There is a nice bright note of pomegranate underlying Mission fig, eucalyptus, dark chocolate, orange zest and caramel flavors. Luxurious tannins and well-balanced acidity stroll hand in hand into a lengthy finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 90 Points | I love the blue fruit and violet brightness of this amply structured medium- to full-bodied Israeli red. Some bitter chocolate and black licorice character, too. Moderately dry with crisp acidity at the long, straight finish.

Memo Notes

Jezreel Valley Winery is a modern and highly acclaimed boutique winery located on Kibbutz Hanaton in the fertile Jezreel Valley of the Lower Galilee, Israel. It is celebrated for its commitment to creating distinctly Israeli, Mediterranean-style wines and for its pioneering work with local grape varietals.

Truly Israeli Wine: Established in 2011, the winery's core vision is to craft wines that perfectly suit the Israeli climate and palate, moving away from imitation of traditional European styles.

Jezreel is best known for its red blends and its commitment to the indigenous Argaman grape.

Winemaker Description

This unique Israeli wine represent the best of the best of the specific vintage. Made from Jezreel's top rated barrels of Syrah and Carignan. 

Aromas of dark fruit, such as blackberry and black cherry, complemented by hints of leather, tobacco, and spice. On the palate, it is rich and full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long, smooth finish. 

Aged for 22 months in oak barrels.

Pair with grilled meats, hearty stews, or aged cheeses.

Memo Summary Notes

The Jezreel Valley Winery is a boutique winery located in the Jezreel Valley region of Israel, specifically in Kibbutz Hanaton.

The Jezreel Valley itself has one of the longest traditions of winemaking in the region.

Biblical Connection: The Jezreel Valley is famous in the Bible, most notably as the location of Naboth's Vineyard (1 Kings 21), a story that highlights the area's ancient importance for viticulture.

Archaeological Evidence: Archaeologists have uncovered a large, rock-cut ancient winery complex at the foot of Tel Jezreel, which dates back to the 9th century BCE, around the time of King Ahab and Naboth. This shows the land has been producing wine for thousands of years.

Winemaker Description

A unique Mediterranean experience. Rich red wine with intense black fruit aromas. 
Varietals: Shiraz and Cabernet.

Jezreel Valley Winery is one of Israel's most talked-about boutique producers, located on Kibbutz Hanaton in the fertile Jezreel Valley (Lower Galilee).

Jezreel Winery is highly regarded both domestically and internationally. They are celebrated for their modern approach, their commitment to the local terroir, and for delivering excellent quality for the price. Their wines have been featured in top restaurants and have gained strong scores from critics like James Suckling and Decanter.

Winemaker Description 

Earthy whites have always been of interest to Guy – Aged on lees, made in alternative vessels, with body and texture. Our White of Earth is made of Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in cool microclimates of the upper Galilee and spontaneously fermented in clay amphora.

White of Earth is bright energetic wine, aromatic with a mouth filling texture. Aromas of exotic fruit, grapefruit, and citrus blossom lift from the glass.A mineral, energetic, full dimension white.

Vineyard

Elkosh Vineyard in the Western Galilee has a sunken vineyard that acts as a cold sink. It provides a great location for growing great whites, with prolonged ripening for extra character and complexity.

Production

The grapes (Sauvignon Blanc) were hand-picked at the end of summer and gently pressed into clay Amphora, where the juice was allowed to ferment spontaneously. The shape of the vessel allowed the yeast to circulate building mouth feel into the wine. The wine was further aged in the terracotta urns for a further six month and was bottled late in the spring.

Winemaker Description 

Gvaot Dances in White is a spicy and aromatic Gewurztraminer combined with Sauvignon Blanc and cold fermented Chardonnay.

Great with Thai or Chinese-style stir-fry dishes, salads and aged cheese. A versatile dinner wine but also excellent on its own.

Expert Review

2018 Jacques Capsouto Cuvee Marco, Grand Vin Rouge – Score: 90 Points |
This wine is a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Mourvedre, and 20% Syrah. The nose on this wine starts ripe, it is riper than its younger 2019 brother, the Cuvee Samuel. The blend is different as well, and there is much more oak on the Marco. The nose on this wine is ripe, it feels like a Cali Rhone wine more than how the 19 Samuel felt, with black and blue fruit, sweet oak, soy sauce, ripe plum, floral notes, dark and brooding, with roasted animal, and loam. The mouth on this full-bodied wine is ripe, balanced, with good acidity, blackcurrant, blackberry, boysenberry, nice draping tannin, sweet oak, loam, and black tea. The finish on this wine is ripe, with dense black fruit, loam, mushroom, graphite, milk chocolate, and nice smoke. 

40% Grenache Noir 30% Mourvedre 30% Syrah)- Aged in 3-4 yr old barrels for 12 months-

Winemaker Description 

This rich and aromatic wine features notes of black fruit, black pepper, dark chocolate, dried flowers, and minerals. It has a compact structure with a velvety texture and a distinct acidic tone Type of soil. 

Grapes are harvested from several vineyards in the Judean mountains, 900 meters above sea level.

Winemaker Description

Israel. Very elegant, taking local terroir and making some good work with it - the blend with mostly Zinfandel, and a bit of Syrah and Petit Syrah creating balanced and rich wine. Some plum, black fruits, licorice and hints of red fruits.

Asufa is our winemaker Guy Eshel’s personal playground at Dalton Winery; A series of moments and memories gathered throughout his time in the field, brought to life together here at Dalton. Each wine in this series tells a different story – some of the here and now, others of a time and place elsewhere – but all were made to add color and complexity to your dining experiences. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description 

Bright fruit aromas of sour cherry and strawberry, along with attractive notes of flower and spice. With light-to medium body, this wonderfully drinkable Pinot Noir displays classic varietal character.

Winemaker Description 

The grapes of our Volcanic Riesling grow in the Valley of Tears in the northern Golan Heights which is the coldest and highest viticultural area in Israel. The fermentation was at 15.0-18.0 degrees C to achieve a delicate extraction of colors, aromas and flavors.

The wine has a golden straw with hint of green hue, with scents of Jasmin, pear and lime. Through the palate light medium bodied wine, that have flavors of green apples and lime. With nice and well balanced acidity, as well as a crisp and mineral texture.

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The Alfasi family founded Odem Mountain Winery, Israel’s northernmost winery. At 1,100 meters above sea level, it is tucked away in the heart of an enchanting, secluded oak forest, overlooked by Mount Hermon, where snowfall happens each winter. With wine of uncompromised quality, Odem Mountian tells the story of a loving family creating wine in a rugged, yet beautiful place. The Volcanic Riesling has a bouquet of blossoms and citrus and expresses the unique terroir of the high-elevation vineyards and volcanic soil of the northern Golan Heights.

Winemaker Description 

The grapes for the Secret Reserve Petit Verdot are night-harvested from the finest vineyards in the Holy Land, and then aged in French oak barrels for 18 months, which contribute to its complexity and balance.

Dark purple in color, with powerful fruit, aromas of spice, as well as intense multilayered flavors, this is a wine for those seeking excellence. Aging will further enhance this outstanding wine. This wine is unfiltered.

Winemaker Description 

Beit El Or Yakar Cabernet Sauvignon is made from estate-grown grapes in Israel’s central mountain range. Aged for 12 months in new French oak barrels, this wine has a deep purple-black color and concentrated flavors.

Expect tastes of plum and warm blackberries, complemented by pleasant tannins and a long finish. This complex yet approachable Cabernet Sauvignon is both enjoyable now and suitable for aging.

Winemaker Description 

This is the Grand Vin Blanc, mainly made from Roussanne with Clairette and Marsanne. The Roussane was oak aged in French oak barrels. The wine is named after Albert, Jacques Capsouto’s younger brother. The wine is straw colored with a lemony, apricot character and a hint of a floral aroma. It is medium bodied and with good complexity, and a long broad flavored finish.