Posted at 19:58h in Wine industry by David Rhodes 0 Comments The holidays of Purim & Passover and the weeks in between are a great time to explore Israeli wines whether at home or by visiting the wineries. Many smaller wineries not typically open to the public open their doors to visitors who might be looking for wines for two of Judaism’s most traditional drinking related holidays. While Purim is more like Halloween or Mardi Gras or St. Patrick’s Day […]

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Posted at 11:51h in Wine industry, Wineries by Avi 0 Comments 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… Posted at 21:04h in Events, Wine industry by Avi 0 Comments This article is from Ha’aretz by Lital Levin: Israel awaited the celebration of […]

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Posted at 14:43h in Wines by David Rhodes 0 Comments The Judean Hills hosts its 16th Annual Wine Festival, Thursday Night at Mini-Israel starting at 730PM to go as late as 11PM. Some Wines Are More Obvious than Others from the Judean Hills Not only is it the longest continuous running annual wine event in Israel, it recognizes the Judean Hills as the most established wine appellation as it not only stresses wines made in the region but wines sourced […]

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Posted at 17:32h in Wine 101 by 0 Comments This weekend, I opened up a bottle of the 2006 Galil Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Unusually, Rogov says that it is best starting in 2009. Yet, like most people, I am not going to store this wine until 2009 – as the wine is still good and I lack adequate storage solutions. For those who don’t have an extra $20,000 or more lying around and a basement to construct a home wine […]

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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 […]

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Ella Valley Winery is located in the valley of Ella in the Judean Hills, which has been a viticulturally important area for 2000 years. While, from an historical point of view, the aesthetically stunning Ella Valley is primarily known for the monumental show-down between David and Goliath; it does have other claims to fame. As with many other Israeli wineries, an ancient wine press was discovered on the site of the winery providing additional visual confirmation that the area had […]

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When Daniel Rogov passed away there was a real void left in the Israeli wine world. Rogov’s Guide to Israeli Wine was one of the most important books in the Israeli wine world, providing a comprehensive guide to hundreds of Israeli wines, including tasting notes and scores – notably in English (Rogov was raised in New York). Several writers tried to take Rogov’s place and taste and score wine but none have succeeded. A new contender, however, is trying to […]

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Posted at 21:48h in Wines by David Rhodes 1 Comment     Wine by the glass, a rip-off or an inexpensive way to expand and enhance your lifetime journey with food and wine. At times it can be one or the other or both depending on how your approach it and where you partake.     Wine by the glass is generally determined by the wholesale price of the bottle so if a restaurant paid NIS 30 or NIS 45 per bottle for instance […]

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(This story first appeared on Wines-Israel and is reprinted with permission) There has been a trend in recent years of boutique wineries becoming kosher. Now two more wineries, have decided to make kosher wines from the 2010 harvest. The first is Flam Winery which was the largest Israeli winery producing non kosher wines in recent harvests. Flam Winery is owned by the Flam family. Situated in the Judean Foothills near Beit Shemesh, the winery produces well over 100,000 bottles a […]

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Posted at 21:56h in Wine industry, Wineries by 1 Comment The latest (June 30) issue of the Wine Spectator has an article about Israeli wine as well as a travel piece on the Galilee, including food and wine. I haven’t yet seen the article yet, but the editor and author, Kim Marcus, also scores numerous Israeli wines. Here are the scores (please correct me if there are errors): 2005 Yatir Forest – 92 2005 Tulip, Syrah Reserve – 92 2004 […]

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