Israel’s Wine and Gourmet magazine recently published an article by Israeli wine writer and TV personality Meni Peer about Adam Montefiore, Carmel Winery’s Wine Development Directory and the ‘Ambassador of Israeli Wines.’ This is a translation of that article (reprinted with permission): Montefiore Returns To London Big Time by Meni Peer When Adam Montefiore of Carmel Winery received the prize for ‘The Best Wine’ of its category for Kayoumi Shiraz, at The Royal Opera House in London, he felt that […]

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The Wall Street Journal published a profile about wine in the Judean Hills, near Jerusalem, in March 2010. Tzora Vineyards The vineyard of kibbutz-based Tzora. Winemaker Yaakov Berg has a recycled winery under his land. Hewn out of stone in the days of Jerusalem’s Second Holy Temple, it holds an ancient wine press now flanked by oak barrels in which Mr. Berg’s best wines are aging. Above ground stands the home vineyard of his Psagot Winery—a player in an unexpected […]

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In 1884, a year before his death, Sir Moses Montefiore, then 100 years old, made his last donation to the new village of Rishon le Zion, birth place of the modern Israel wine industry. Over 100 years later a young Englishman with blue eyes made aliyah (immigrated) to Israel. The great, great grandson of Moses Montefiore’s heir had the same objective – to contribute to Israel and to advance Israeli wine. He began by specialising in the ‘on trade’ – hotels […]

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Wherever Jews have resided, there has always been home based wineries making wine for the Kiddush sanctification of the Sabbath. For the required blessing, grape beverages are necessary. Apart from a regular wine, either raisin wine or even grape juice is also suitable according to Jewish traditions, being regarded by Jewish law with the same reverence as wine. Jewish agricultural laws, with regard to vineyards in the Land of Israel, go back to the Biblical times. The Kosher wine laws […]

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Jewish holidays are full of wine. On Shabbat, evening and morning, Jews say the kiddush (sanctification) blessing over wine. On Jewish holidays, we also say the blessings over wine. However, on one holiday, it really is all about wine — on Passover, in addition to the holiday meals during the day and the last day or two (2 days outside of Israel, 1 in Israel) of the week-long holiday, Jews have to drink four cups of wine at the seder […]

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SCOOP: The latest issue of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has a new tasting of Israeli wines by Mark Squires. This is important because it means that the Wine Advocate is paying continued attention to Israeli wine. As I said, the secret’s out. Israeli wine is good and not just for kosher-keepers. Here are Squire’s scores from the latest issue of Wine Advocate: 2005 Carmel Limited Edition 87 2006 Carmel Carignan Old Vines 85 2005 Carmel Shiraz 88 Early 30 2005 […]

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During the two-week period preceding Rosh Hashanah, Israelis purchase 40 percent of all the wine that is sold during the entire year. It’s not that people go on drinking binges during this time of year, but fine wine is increasingly perceived as part of the cultured way of life, especially when consumed in moderation, during meals with friends and family. As recently as 20 years ago, the vast majority of wine consumed during the holiday season was red, sweet and […]

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Daniel Rogov has a positive review of the Benyamina Winery in last week’s Ha’aretz. Benyamina is a large winery, often overlooked. It’s great to see that this Israeli winery is constantly improving. Wine and Spirits / Sophisticated Binyamina By Daniel Rogov That Binyamina winery is on the way up is beyond question. With far better control over its vineyards than in the past, increasingly modern equipment, and Sasson Ben-Aharon and Assaf Paz aboard as winemakers, it is clear that the […]

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Verdant swathes of ripening cabernet sauvignon unfold against undulating mountains while the chirping of birds rings out in the pristine silence. This idyllic viticultural scene is not in Bordeaux or Napa Valley, but in Bekaa Valley, the agricultural heartland of Lebanon. While wines from the Middle East are unknown to the average wine drinker, winemaking in the region dates back to biblical times, before waves of Islamic rule stamped out the trade. But over the past two decades, winemaking, mostly […]

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The Tishbi Winery recently released their newest addition to their Single Vineyard series their 2007 Tishbi Single Vineyard Old Vine Carignan. This 100% Carignan is from their 45 year old vineyards in Shefaya from which the Tishbi’s got their Hebrew name (an acronym in Hebrew) from renown Israeli poet Chaim Nacham Bialek which stands for “a resident of Shefaya in Israel”. With only 13% alcohol, low for an Israeli red wine, its well balanced between its alcohol, its fruit and […]

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