The 2008 harvest has just begun and, here in Israel, a handful of super-young wines have just been released or are about to be released. The Golan Heights Winery has already released their 2008 Moscato, a light and fizzy wine. This is Daniel Rogov’s tasting note: Golan Heights Winery, Moscato, Golan, 2008: Oh what a lovely little wine. Made in the style of Moscato d’Asti entirely from Muscat Canelli grapes, with generous sweetness set off nicely by lively acidity and […]

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This article originally appeared on wines-israel.co.il and is reprinted with permission. Sparkling wines have become very popular almost overnight in Israel. The number of imported sparklers, mainly Cava from Spain or Prosecco from Italy, has increased dramatically. The trend is led by the young adults, in particularly women. They may be heard ordering a ‘glass of Cava’, when what they really want is any sparkling wine. It has almost become the new generic word in Hebrew, to cover anything sparkling! […]

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I regret to inform my readers that Israeli wine critic Daniel Rogov died last night. You can read his last words here. As you may have noticed from the tributes to him over the past month, he had been very ill. I will be posting my tribute to him later today or tomorrow. In the meantime, you can read past articles of him on this site here: http://www.israeli-wine.org/tags/daniel-rogov/

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It’s that time again – the Jerusalem Wine Festival is coming up again. Sunday 15 August through Thursday 18 August. The festival costs 70NIS and will be held 19:00-23:00. For tickets: www.imj.org.il or 02-6259703 If you go, please send us your review to [email protected] and post pictures on Facebook

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Carmel Winery has just announced the launch of its award-winning premium brandy, the Carmel 100. This quality Israeli brandy was aged for at least eight years in oak barrels. This new release of the Carmel 100 brandy is in honor of the hundredth anniversary of Carmel Winery. Brandy Carmel 100 is made with Columbard (70%) with the addition of Chenin Blanc and Emerald Riesling. Most of the brandy (75%) was produced with double distillation (pot still) as is common in […]

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The following article is from wines-israel.com and reprinted with permission. In December 2011, Zichron Ya’acov enters its 130th year. It was way back in December 1882, that settlers from Romania, first arrived in Givat Zamarin to put up their first tents and then houses. It was 130 years ago that they took their first tentative steps to viticulture. The first exploratory vineyards were planted using Carignan cuttings taken from the Mikveh-Israel Agricultural School. It was the start of a romance […]

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The White and Rosé Wines Binyamina, Chardonnay, Teva, 2008: Golden straw in color, an unoaked, crisply dry with fine acidity and showing appealing tropical and citrus fruits. Not at all complex but a very pleasant quaffer and at NIS 28 fine value for money. Drink now. Score 86. K (Tasted 30 Mar 2009) Binyamina, Rosé, Yogev, 2008: Light rose petal pink in color, opens quietly but develops nicely after a few minutes in the glass. Good acidity here to keep […]

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This article is reprinted with permission from Wines-Israel Arguably the most famous wine family in the world are the Rothschilds. This Jewish family originally were owners just of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, and Chateau Clarke, all situated in Bordeaux. Since then, they have expanded to all parts of the wine globe with their respective negociant businesses. Now through Domaines Barons Rothschild (Lafite), Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA and Compagnie Vinicole de Edmond & Benjamin de Rothschild, they have […]

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Boycott Israeli wine! No, really, start a boycott of Israeli wine! Have I gone nuts? Too much time in Israel has made me anti-Israel? No, rather, perhaps you should boycott Israeli wine because that will lead to more Israeli wine being bought! Does that make any sense? Well, yes, this is what happened last April when a group of Canadians called for a boycott of Israeli wine – the community went out and bought Israeli wine. Of course I don’t […]

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It’s a few days until New Years – or Sylvester as we call it in Israel – and with that comes bubbly. Yup, sparkling wine (or champagne, but champagne really only refers to sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France). Well, Israel isn’t known for being a world-class leader in this category but there are several worthwhile (and a few lacking, I admit) Israeli sparkling wines worth opening this December 31. The always-excellent Golan Heights Winery makes two different […]

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