According to Daniel Rogov and his 2009 Guide to Israeli Wine, here are the Top Ten Up-and-Coming producers of wine in Israel:
- Pelter
- Tabor
- Assaf
- Odem Mountain
- Vitkin
- Savion
- Psagot
- Tulip
- Avidan
- Kadita
I love how social media can be used to introduce people to Israeli wine. On my Twitter account (@hakerem – you arefollowing me, I presume), I found a wine blogger who was looking for some wine tips. Well, first we bonded over a few tweets about (the lack of) social media in the wine industry. 
Then, I suggested some Israeli wine — which she had never had before.
Upon taking my suggestion, @foodwinechickie ordered a bottle of Segal Cabernet Sauvignon from Wine Library (yes, that Wine Library – the one owned by @garyvee’s dad and from Wine Library TV).
Well, she just received her wine over the weekend from Wine Library. This is what she had to say:
Last night, I had the pleasure of sharing a bottle of Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon with some guests at my home. What was neat about the wine, is that:
- It was my first taste of Israeli wine – definitely not my last
- The bottle was recommended by Avi, a wine communications consultant from Ranaana who I ‘met’ on Twitter (@hakerem) – how great is social media?!
- I was able to find, order online and receive the wine within 2 business days from the savvy folks at Wine Library in Springfield, NJ, who I also exchange Tweets with (@winelibrary).
I opened the bottle of 2004 Segal’s Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve a couple of hours prior to dinner, and when I first tasted it, I felt like it could improve from decanting for all the elements to come together.
After about 45 minutes in the decanter, I found the beautifully dark wine to be rich, spicy and full of bold red current flavors.
We enjoyed the well-priced wine with grilled filet mignon kabobs, basmati rice and a four pepper sauce, enhanced by a splash of the Segal’s. I feel the meal was a worthy pairing to the well-balanced oak and tannins of this pleasant wine.
For more information and for a buying guide on Israeli wines and kosher wines, visit: www.israeli-wine.org
Wine 2.0 at its finest.
How has social media introduced you to new wines?
This article about Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book first appeared on wines-israel.com
Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2010 is published already, even though it is only late August 2009. 
However early or not, it represents good news for Israel! No less than twenty six Israeli wineries have made this prestigious guide book, which is similar to the Michelin Guide but for wine. The most encouraging thing is that a number of wineries have progressed in the ratings received since last year. This reflects the reality that Israeli wines are not only improving in quality, but being seen as such by one of the world’s most famous wine writers. Two wineries succeeded to get the ultimate rating possible: the elusive four stars. Furthermore two other wineries had wines personally recommended by Hugh Johnson himself. The four wineries to receive pride of place were: Castel, Yatir, Golan Heights & Margalit. The main highlight is that two Israeli wineries were awarded the prestigious, four star recognition. Four stars are usually awarded only to the very finest wineries in the world. Domaine du Castel received four stars and Yatir Winery was awarded three to four stars. This reflects great credit on Israel. Furthermore two more wineries, Margalit & the Golan Heights, not only were awarded three stars, but also were honored to have a personal recommendation of one of their wines. The Margalit Special Reserve and Yarden El Rom Cabernet Sauvignon were singled out. Some wineries were highlighted as having especially good wines in their price range. Those selected for good value wines were: Barkan-Segal, Carmel, Galil Mountain and Tabor. The only winery left off from last year’s list is Amphorae. The only new addition is Agur Winery, which is included for the first time. The Pocket Wine Book was first published in 1977. Since then it has become a vital source of information for wine lovers and connoisseurs alike. It is the world’s largest selling wine book and is published by Mitchell Beazley. Hugh Johnson is the world’s most famous and prolific wine writer. His books like World Atlas of Wine, The Wine Companion, The Story of Wine, and The Art & Science of Wine are ‘must haves’ for any wine library. The wineries listed and the ratings they received are as follows: Four Stars ****
CastelThree to Four Stars ***>****
Yatir
Three Stars ***
Golan Heights, Margalit
Two to Three Stars **>***
Carmel, Chateau Golan, Clos de Gat, Flam
Two Stars **
Barkan-Segal, Galil Mountain, Pelter, Recanati, Saslove, Tulip, Vitkin
One to Two Stars *>**
Agur, Chillag, Dalton, Ella Valley, Sea Horse, Tabor, Tzora
One Star * Bazelet Hagolan, Binyamina, Teperberg, Tishbi
The following is from the Reuters wire service. Read the full article at Reuters
JERUSALEM (Reuters Life!) – Israeli wine has long stirred up associations with the syrupy libations of religious rituals, but modern techniques imported from top winemaking nations are now helping it find space on shelves from Paris to New York.
“Today, you’ll find that people are looking for Israeli wines that meet international standards and the good thing is we are actually producing wines like that,” Israeli wine critic Daniel Rogov says in an interview at a busy Tel Aviv wine shop.
“There is no contradiction between wines that are kosher and wines that are excellent.”
Israeli wineries, both industrial-scale and boutique, make over 33 million bottles a year, according to the Israeli Wine Council, but the vast majority of Israeli wine is kosher or made in accordance with Jewish dietary laws.
Whilst the rabbinical seal has long been associated with wines made to appeal to observant Jews rather than connoisseurs, the quality of Israeli wines is improving, helped by government incentives for smaller producers, and some vintages are now garnering international plaudits.
Robert Parker, among the world’s most influential wine critics, has heaped praise and points on some 40 Israeli wines. Fourteen of them won more than 90 out of a maximum 100 points in Parker’s rating system.
Wines from neighboring Lebanon, which traces its winemaking industry back over 4,000 years, have been winning international awards for decades. Israel enjoys the same Mediterranean climate.
Weighing in with 93 points was the red 2003 Yatir Forest label from a subsidiary of Carmel Winery.
Due to copyright restrictions, I am not posting the rest of the article. Read the rest from http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE57H1R520090818
This is a guest post by Adam Montefiore, which was first published in www.wines-israel.com
These were the words of an English wine journalist who visited Israel four times in the last 15 years and claimed to know to what was good for the Israeli wine industry. His parting advice was: “Learn to love Carignan. Every country has a grape they are known for as their ‘signature’ variety. Why not make some old vine Carignan, it’s your cheapest variety, it’s not unknown, and such a wine could be unique, interesting, and (hopefully) more sensibly priced.”
Continue reading Learn To Love Carignan
Galil Mountain Winery, one of the best new world wineries in Israel, has just launched a new wine, which is going to replace their Yiron Syrah. Called the Meron, it is a blend of 78% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Petit Verdot.
It is now available in Israel’s best wine shops and, I hear, highly recommended. I have not yet had a chance to pick up this fine wine but am thinking about picking up a bottle of it in the next few weeks.
Daniel Rogov’s tasting note follows:
Galil Mountain, Meron, 2006: The term chutzpah in Hebrew is always taken as negative but in Yiddish can have quite positive meanings. It is thus in the Yiddish sense that I observe that winemaker Micha Vaadia indeed is showing chutzpah, for this is the first time I have ever encountered a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. At first thought that might seem an odd combination of the Rhone and Bordeaux but on reflection and after tasting the wine, it is most surely neither of those but a uniquely Israeli combination and one that works very well at that. This full-bodied, softly tannic blend of 78% Syrah and 11% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot most assuredly represents the terroir of the Upper Galilee. An aromatic wine, with a distinctly blueberry scented nose, opens nicely in the glass to reveal a rich array of aromas and flavors, those including blackberries, cassis, cranberries and freshly snipped rosemary and thyme, those yielding on the generous finish to hints of what at one moment seems to be spearmint at another eucalyptus. Long and generous, reflecting its 16 months in French oak with a tantalizing note of white pepper. Fully enjoyable now but best from mid-2010-2015, perhaps longer. Score 92. K
Who are the top ten wineries in Israel? According to Daniel Rogov they are:
- Golan Heights Winery (Katzrin, Yarden, Gamla)
- Margalit
- Yatir
- Domaine du Castel
- Clos de Gat
- Flam
- Chateau Golan
- Carmel (Limited Edition, Single Vineyard, Appellation)
- Galil Mountain
- Pelter
(This list is from Daniel Rogov’s 2009 Guide to Israeli Wine)
Much better than I could ever take, here are some photos of the Jerusalem Wine Festival held August 2009 at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem
(These beautiful photographs are courtesy of Jessica Korman, The F Stops Here)
This week is one of my favorite wine events of the year (although as I recently moved to a suburb of Tel Aviv, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to make it)… the Jerusalem wine festival at the Israel Museum!
From Daniel Rogov’s post:
The annual wine festival held in the sculpture garden of the Israel Museum has, since its inception six years ago, proven to be one of the most pleasant wine events of the year, attracting wine lovers who range in their level of wine appreciation from beginners to the most sophisticated. No less important, the festival has always proven a lively but civil and civilized event, the vast majority coming to sample wines, to enjoy the atmosphere and to meet friends over glasses of wine.
This year’s event is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (4, 5 and 6 August) between the hours of 19:00-23:00 and as usual is sponsored by part by the city in cooperation with the city’s two major wine stores, Avi Ben and Shachar. Admission to the fair, which includes a tasting glass and unlimited tastings, is scheduled to be NIS 60 per person. There will also be a sales outlet on the premises at which one can purchase the wines on exhibit at somewhat reduced prices.
Among the wineries participating – Tishbi, Avidan, Tzuba, Psagot, Bravdo, Pelter, Segal, Barkan, Yatir, Carmel, Kadesh Barnea, Asif, Tzion, Tulip Saslove, Alexander, Dalton, Tzora, Noach, Recanati, Ella Valley Vineyards, Galil Mountain, the Golan Heights Winery, Tabor, Teperberg and Binyamina.
Jerusalem.com (my favorite site about Jerusalem!) also has an interesting post about the Israeli wine tasting event.
Tell them that you found the job at HaKerem: The Israeli Wine Blog
The wine store in the Cardo of the Old City in Jerusalem is looking for an
experienced saleswoman.The job offered is for eight plus hours a day, five days a week, and five
hours every Friday morning.Responsibilities include filling shelves, working the cash register and
general customer service.People and sales skills are imperative to the success of the candidate.
Knowledge of Israeli wines a definite advantage.Please only apply if you are a born sales person.
The appropriate candidate will be responsible, honest and hardworking, with excellent people skills.She will speak both Ivrit and English at mother tongue level, and preferably another language, and be available to start work immediately.
Please send your resume by email to: [email protected]
The Jerusalem Wine Festival starts tomorrow. Here’s a teaser for an interesting video series that a fellow Israeli wine lover is starting. Since I am posting about the Jerusalem wine festival (which starts tomorrow) on the same day, here’s a sneak preview:
