The 2013 winners of the annual Eshkol Hazahav Awards were announced at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv, June 3rd to a good turnout of many of Israel’s best winemakers & an array of wine insiders. It’s the only annual wine awards focusing entirely on Israeli wines (supplemented a Best Value Awards) organized by sommelier Avi Ben Ami. Fifty four Israeli wineries submitted 236 wines to be judged. It was hosted as part of Culinary 2013, an exposition which featured several wineries, a dozen gourmet cheese dairies and an assortment of boutique olive oil, honey, smoked fishes, artisan breads, “molecular cusine”, fresh pastas, ice cream and Israeli microbrews.
Sauvignon Blanc 1) 2012 Carmel Sauvignon Blanc, Appellation 2) 2012 Amphorae Sauvignon Blanc 3) 2012 Tabor Sauvignon Blanc Gir-Adama
3) 2012 Binyamina Sauvignon Blanc Reserve
Chardonnay (Oak Aged) 1) 2011 1848 Chardonnay Reserve 2) 2011 Yarden Chardonnay Odem Vineyards, Golan Heights
3) 2011 Carmel Chardonnay Appellation
Other White Varietals 1) 2011 Carmel Riesling Single Vinyard Kayoumi 2) 2012 Binyamina Viognier 2) 2012 Yarden Gewurztraminer, Golan Heights
3) 2012 Binyamina Roussanne
White Blend 1) 2012 Carmel Appellation White Ridge 2) 2012 Binyamina Yogev White Blend
3) 2011 1848 5th Generation White Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon (NIS 60-100) 1) 2009 Carmel Cabernet Sauvignon Appellation 1) 2010 Tabor Cabernet Sauvignon Terra Rosa 2) 2010 Gamla HaShmura, Cabernet Sauvignon
3) 2010 Mony Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon (NIS 100+) 1) 2008 Carmel Cabernet Sauvignon Kayoumi Single Vineyard 2) 2009 1848 Cabernet Sauvignon 7th Generation
3) 2009 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon, Golan Heights
Merlot (NIS 60-100) 1) 2010 Jerusalem Winery, Niknor Merlot Reserve 2) 2010 Recanati Merlot Reserve
3) 2010 Tabor Merlot Adamah-Bazelet
Merlot (NIS 100+) 1) 2010 Dalton Merlot Reserve 2) 2010 Tura Merlot 2) 2009 Segal Merlot Unfiltered – Rechasim-Dovev
3) 2009 Bazelet Merlot, Bronze
Syrah/Shiraz (NIS 60-100) 1) 2010 Tabor Shiraz Terra Rossa 2) 1848 Syrah 5th Generation
3) 2011 Kedma Syrah
Syrah/Shiraz 1) 2011 Recanati Syrah/Viognier Reserve 1) 2009 Carmel Shiraz Kayoumi 2) 2010 Tura Shiraz 3) 2010 Binyamina Odem Syrah
3) 2009 Yarden Syrah, Golan Heights
Cabernet Franc 1) 2011 Vortman Cabernet Franc 2) 2009 Carmel Cabernet Franc Appellation 2) 2010 Stern Cabernet Franc
3) 2010 Recanati Cabernet Franc Reserve
Petite Sirah & Carignan 1) 2008 Carmel Petite Sirah Appellation 2) 2009 Ella Valley Petite Sirah
3) 2009 Carmel Carignan Appellation
Red Blend (NIS 60-100) 1) 2010 Tabor Shiraz-Cabernet, Adama 2 2) 2010 Dalton Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot-Cabernet Franc, Alma
3) 2010 Stern, Peleg
Red Blend (NIS 100+) 1) 2010 Tura Mountain Peak 2) 2009 Tigra Reserve, Kitron
3) 2009 Tzion Winery, Armon
Other Red Varietals 1) 2009 Weizman, Petite Verdot, Dionysus 2) 2011 Teperberg 1870 Malbec Terra
3) 2011 Tura Pinot Noir
Dessert White 1) 2009 Carmel Late Harvest Gewurztraminer Sha’al 2) 2012 Mony Muscat
3) 2011 Yarden Heights Wine, Golan Heights
Dessert Red 1) 2007 Carmel Vintage 2) 2010 Teperberg 1870, Nevel-Harp
3) 2012 Zion, Dolev, Cabernet Sauvignon
Small Boutique Wineries — Up to 12,000 bottles per year
Cabernet Sauvignon
1) 2010 Aligote Cabernet Sauvignon 2) 2010 Simchon, Cabernet Sauvignon
3) 2010 Nahmani, Gilad Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot 1) 2010 Nahmani Hagar Merlot 2) 2010 Aligote, Merlot
3) 2011 Berenice (Berneki) Merlot
Blends 1) 2010 Ramat Naftali, Duet 2) 2011 Wertman Shambor
3) 2011 Berenice (Berneki) Blend
