Two interesting Israeli wine events in North America this week – including one in Canada (any Canadian readers?): Canada – The Vancouver Israeli Wine Festival runs May 4 (tomorrow – Sunday!), 5-9 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel with wines from nine wineries around that country, whose history of viticulture dates back 2,500 years. Many of these wines are well worth tasting, including Galil Mountain barrel-aged 2006 Chardonnay (BCLS $17.83), Dalton, Yarden, and Parker rated Yatir. Tickets, $35 from VTC […]

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Daniel Rogov, Israel’s premier wine critic, has reviewed several great Israeli wines in recent editions of Ha’aretz. Chateau Golan, Royal Reserve, Rose, 2008: Made entirely from Cabernet Franc grapes, developed partly in stainless steel and briefly in used barriques. Medium-bodied, with appealing red and black berries, strawberries and red currants on a spicy background. Plenty of good acidity here. A more than usually complex rose. Drink now. Score 89. Tabor, Adama, Rose, Charsit, 2008: Ruby to cherry red, medium-bodied, a […]

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If you use Facebook and love Israeli wine, then check out the new “Israeli wine” page on Facebook and become a fan. Help spread the word about this blog and about wine from the emerging eastern Mediterranean country of Israeli via viral Web 2.0 methods! Check it out!

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I just found this video on ISRAEL21c‘s beta site. ISRAEL21c is a great place that tells the story of Israel – it’s technology, arts, humanitarian efforts, and culture … including winemaking. Among other stories, I wrote an article on Domaine du Castel for them. Did you know that Sea Horse Winery’s owner/winemaker was in film? I didn’t!

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Although many wineries benefit from having their own vineyards, it can be restrictive if there’s a particularly challenging year. Ultimately you need to use what grapes you got, sell them or take a loss. Many winemakers shop year to year for their grapes on the open market or depend on contracts with growers. That can present its own challenges but also its own rewards if the winemaker is discriminating enough and gets involved in the vineyards early enough to help […]

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The small Israeli wine world is in shock at the premature, untimely death of Tsina Avidan, the owner and winemaker of Avidan Winery, one of the country’s most up and coming, fastest improving boutique wineries. A boutique winery should almost by definition be characterful and highly individual. Avidan Winery certainly fits the bill. The wines are bold, the blends sometimes unconventional, the labels and brand names idiosyncratic. They were made in the image of Tsina who came from the Provence […]

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The 2008 harvest has just begun and, here in Israel, a handful of super-young wines have just been released or are about to be released. The Golan Heights Winery has already released their 2008 Moscato, a light and fizzy wine. This is Daniel Rogov’s tasting note: Golan Heights Winery, Moscato, Golan, 2008: Oh what a lovely little wine. Made in the style of Moscato d’Asti entirely from Muscat Canelli grapes, with generous sweetness set off nicely by lively acidity and […]

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This article originally appeared on wines-israel.co.il and is reprinted with permission. Sparkling wines have become very popular almost overnight in Israel. The number of imported sparklers, mainly Cava from Spain or Prosecco from Italy, has increased dramatically. The trend is led by the young adults, in particularly women. They may be heard ordering a ‘glass of Cava’, when what they really want is any sparkling wine. It has almost become the new generic word in Hebrew, to cover anything sparkling! […]

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I regret to inform my readers that Israeli wine critic Daniel Rogov died last night. You can read his last words here. As you may have noticed from the tributes to him over the past month, he had been very ill. I will be posting my tribute to him later today or tomorrow. In the meantime, you can read past articles of him on this site here: http://www.israeli-wine.org/tags/daniel-rogov/

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It’s that time again – the Jerusalem Wine Festival is coming up again. Sunday 15 August through Thursday 18 August. The festival costs 70NIS and will be held 19:00-23:00. For tickets: www.imj.org.il or 02-6259703 If you go, please send us your review to [email protected] and post pictures on Facebook

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