Posted at 16:25h in Wine industry by Avi 0 Comments
Gat Shomron Winery, in Karnei Shomron, was one of the wineries at the Ra’anana Wine Festival and also was at Sommolier.
Founded by Avigdor Sharon and Lior Nachum on the settlement of Karnei Shomron, not far from Kfar Saba, in 2003, this small winery released its first wines from that harvest in 2005. Grapes are sourced from the areas of Shomron and the Upper Galilee.
Among their wines include two lines of Merlot and Syrah, one meant for early drinking and one that is heavier and more tannic. Both wines were enjoyable, with the heavier series wineries capable of aging 10-15 years — a real rarity in Israel. Their Syrah wines are among the best, most complex wines that I’ve ever encountered in Israel with an aging capacity that is only seen in Yarden’s Single Vineyard wines, considered the best in Israel.
For a select few, Avigdor and Lior also pulled out their latest wine, an ice wine. It is very syrupy, thick, and fruity, it is very enjoyable to drink and sense the complexity of the light summer fruits like mango and passion-fruit that can be tasted. This unique ice wine seems like it would be a great wine served with an ice cream sundae or delicious dessert.
The Forward’s Jew and the Carrot blog also mentioned Gat Shomron’s ice wine.
Gat Shomron Ice Wine
Although Gat Shomron Winery mostly produce red wines, specifically very nice Shiraz and Merlot, their ice wine is what grabbed my attention. Considering Israel’s warm climate, ice wine is difficult to produce and requires mechanically freezing the grapes to achieve the desired effect. A dessert wine, Gat Shomron’s rendition is sweet without being cloying. The flavors — apple and tropical fruits — are well balanced, and the wine goes down nicely. Located in the Karnei Shomron settlement in the West Bank, Gat Shomron has been making wine since 2003. It may be tricky to find in the United States, but winemakers Avigdor Sharon and Lior Nahum say they are happy to export to America. Email [email protected] for information.
Pair with: A cheese platter for dessert.
