How do you store your wine? | HaKerem: Israeli Wine

This weekend, I opened up a bottle of the 2006 Galil Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Unusually, Rogov says that it is best starting in 2009. Yet, like most people, I am not going to store this wine until 2009 – as the wine is still good and I lack adequate storage solutions. For those who don’t have an extra $20,000 or more lying around and a basement to construct a home wine cellar, how do you store your wine? Do you […]

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Wines, Settlements, & Politics | HaKerem: Israeli Wine

The following is from wines-israel.com and reprinted with permission. It represents the opinions of the author. Israeli wine has always had a special place in its surrounding society. It has had the same relevance and prominence from the days of Ancient Israel in Biblical times, through the Pre-State period at the end of the 19th century, to the now, more than 60 year old, State of Israel. In ancient times wine was a major industry and vines, grapes and wine […]

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Ring around the Rosé | HaKerem: Israeli Wine

Rosé is a tremendously underappreciated wine that goes well with an incredible array of food with the ability to provide welcome respite from the uncomfortable summer heat and humidity. With all due respect to Eric Asimov, while I do sometimes enjoy Rosé during the year Rosé is and always will be the perennial summer wine for me. As someone who revels in the continuous proliferation of great kosher options for the budding wine lover, I enjoy most varietals and many […]

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2012 Blind Israeli Cabernet tasting in Tel Aviv | HaKerem: Israeli Wine

Recently, I participated in an unprecedented tasting of Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon wines in Tel Aviv in the garden of Chef Alon Gonen’s home. We had all been invited by wine writer Rani Rogel of Food & Beverage/Israel. Three panels of wine writers, enthusiasts and wine makers sampled 37 wines so each panel averaged about 12 wines with the wines divided into three price categories, under 70 NIS (under $20), 70 to 120 NIS   ( $20 to $35) and over 120 […]

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Top 10 Israeli Wines, according to Calcalist, Israeli Financial Paper | HaKerem: Israeli Wine

In the financial paper Calcalist, respected wine critic, Shlomo Papirblat, has named his top ten Israeli wines. They are as follows: 1. Yarden Katzrin 2004, Golan Heights Winery 2. Castel Grand Vin 2007, Domaine du Castel 3. Yatir Forest 2006, Yatir Winery 4. Sycra Merlot 2006, Clos de Gat 5. Carmel Limited Edition 2005, Carmel Winery 6. Recanati Special Reserve 2006, Recanati Winery 7. Eliad 2007, Chateau Golan 8. Flam Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006, Flam Winery 9. The Cave 2005 […]

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Reporting from the Israwinexpo | HaKerem: Israeli Wine

So I returned Wednesday night from the first public night of the Israwinexpo 2008, Israel’s 2nd international wine trade show. While the two public days were mostly wine tastings attended by Israel’s growing oenophiles (and a few tourists, including my parents), the first day was only for professionals. Journalists from Wine Spectator, Decanter (one of Europe’s top wine magazines), several Asian wine journalists, and top wine critics (including Mark Squires, from the Wine Advocate, who recently wrote a piece on […]

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Yom Hatzmaut – Looking Back | HaKerem: Israeli Wine

This article first appeared on wines-israel.com and is reprinted with permission of the author. On Israel’s 64th Independence Day, it is worthwhile to look back at some of Israel’s most influential wines, which have helped to advance Israel’s image as a wine producing country of international quality. These are some of the wines that charted the progress of Israel in the international court of public opinion. The coming list is a story of Israel through its wines – each one […]

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A History of Grape Varieties in Israel 1848 – 2008 | HaKerem: Israeli Wine

by Amos Ravid Amos Ravid is Wine Education Manager of Carmel Winery. This article first appeared in Wine, Gourmet & Alcohol and Wines Israel. Although Israel has a long history of winemaking, the country does not have its own indigenous grape varieties. The Ottomans, when in control of Palestine, virtually only permitted the planting of vineyards designated to produce food grapes, which brought winemaking to a halt for hundreds of years. It is likely that many local grape varieties disappeared […]

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LeChaim To London! | HaKerem: Israeli Wine

The London 2012 Olympics are about to start. England is known for frenetic, physical football, unique pubs, flat beer, tea with milk, fish and chips and the Queen. it is also a city which is known for being the center of the wine trade and has been so for over 200 years. It was there where Port, Sherry, Champagne and Bordeaux were first brought to the world’s attention. Most of the world’s best wine writers, apart from Robert Parker, are […]

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