Posted at 19:39h in Wine industry, Wineries by GuestPost 0 Comments
Carmel Winery has announced, with deep regret, the untimely death of Israel Ivzan (Ishkovitz) after a short but harsh illness.
Ivzan, 58 years old, was Chairman of SCV des Grandes Caves and CEO of Carmel Winery.
He was born in Haifa and graduated in economics and accountancy. In 1986 he was the founder of the company Aleph-Tav (Ishkovitz Tnuva), where he was chairman and CEO. In stages he sold his shares to Tnuva, Israel’s largest food company.
He joined Carmel in 2005 as chairman following a consecutive years of instability and financial losses. In 2007 he was appointed also to be the CEO. By implementing his well-known management skills and using his immense experience, he managed to effect real change. He brought stability and order to this historic company and was largely responsible for a turn around in its fortunes. He introduced a new management structure, new procedures and returned the winery to profitability. At the same time he also oversaw a great improvement in wine quality and a soaring in the winery’s image. In 2005, he stopped production of all fringe products so Carmel could concentrate on wine. The production of spirits, liqueurs, gourmet food products and olive oil, ceased almost as soon as he took over. The number of wines produced was drastically reduced and the main labels went through a program of renewal. Selected, the largest selling brand in Israel, Private Collection, once known as ‘Rothschild’, and Carmel Single Vineyard wines, all received new brand identities and new labels during his tenure. He launched the two flagship wines of the winery. Carmel Limited Edition, a Bordeaux blend, was first launched in 2006 and Carmel Mediterranean, a Mediterranean inspired blend, was launched in 2010.
He consolidated the relationship between Yatir Winery and Carmel. When he arrived, Carmel had 50% of Yatir in a partnership with the local growers. Ivzan changed this to 100% ownership, but still gave Yatir the winemaking independence crucial to its success.
He closed Carmel’s traditional visitors’ centers at Rishon Le Zion and Zichron Ya’acov Cellars and opened the original and innovative Carmel Center for Wine Culture at Zichron, in their place. In 2010 he organized the celebrations around Carmel Winery’s 120th harvest. Ivzan, a music lover, commissioned the famous Israeli composer, Gil Shohat, to write the Carmel Symphony of Wine. The premiere performance, with Shohat conducting, was held at Carmel Winery’s Zichron Ya’acov Cellars before an audience of 2,000 people. In 2011, the Rishon Le Zion Winery was closed as a production center and the center of winemaking operations moved to Zichron Ya’acov. There, the winery was totally renovated at a cost of 30 million shekels, in order to bring the winemaking technology into the 21st century. The leap in quality of Carmel wines was a credit to the new direction the winery took under Ivzan’s leadership. Whilst his control was absolute in every aspect of the running the company, the winemaking and professional departments were given total support and leeway to make the right decisions in the search for ever improving quality. The rewards came in third party recognition at the highest level. For example, the Carmel Single Vineyard Kayoumi Shiraz 2006 won the Decanter International Award in 2010, arguably the finest award ever received for an Israeli wine. When the world’s most famous wine critic, Robert Parker, first tasted Israeli wines, Yatir Forest 2003 scored 93 points. This was at the time, the highest score received for an Israeli, Eastern Mediterranean or Kosher wine. Israel Ivzan was therefore responsible for rejuvenating and reviving one of Israel’s most famous companies. Carmel, Israel’s largest & most historic winery, was Israel’s first brand and first exporter. It was founded by the Rothschild family at the end of the 19th century. Ivzan’s contribution was crucial to the well being and stability of Carmel’s management, workers, growers and customers, and no less important to the Israel wine industry which needs a strong, successful Carmel. When Israel Ivzan became ill in 2012, Mrs. Michal Reiss (ex Tnuva & Coop.) was appointed acting CEO. She had been until then Ivzan’s strategic and marketing consultant at Carmel. Even during the time of his poor health, Ivzan continued to take care of the project to sell 35% of SCV Carmel’s shares to an outside investor. He shepherded the process, attending meetings and gave direction until the very end. Unfortunately he passed away, just before the program came to fruition. He shepherded Carmel Winery through stormy times, revitalized both the company and the Carmel brand, and made the preparations for the future. In August 2012, Israel Ivzan hosted a party to celebrate the harvest at Gan Ehud. Guests saw him looking thinner and weaker sitting in between two members of the government, the Minister of Trade & Industry, Mr. Shalom Simhon and the Minister of Agriculture, Mrs. Irit Noked. To many in the industry, it was a kind of farewell. At his funeral hundreds of people from all walks of life came to pay their final respects. The main speakers were Rabbi Grossman and Shalom Simhon. Rabbi Grossman lamented Israel Ivzan’s passing at such a young age, but pointed out that in view of all he achieved in his life he was 100 years old. Simhon mentioned how he had benefited from Ivzan’s wise counsel, noting he was always the first to identify a problem and recommend a solution.
Sincere condolences go to Israel Ivzan’s wife Oshie, and children Nadav, Anat and Ofer. May his memory be a Blessing.
