I’m not going to write much about the Golan Heights Winery because it is one of Israel’s best known – and best – wineries. If you aren’t familiar with their wines from the Katzrin, Yarden, Gamla, and Golan labels, than go out RIGHT now to pick something up (from the GHW, I would say, with the exception of the highest level Katzrin, preferably a varietal wine and not a blend). From the moment Golan Heights Winery released its first bottle in 1984 (after a UC Davis Professor realized that the Golan Heights was perfect terroir for growing vineyards in 1972, with the first vineyards planted in 1976), Golan Heights Winery proved that Israel could make quality wines.
I recently returned from a tour of the winery and some of its vineyards, having the chance to sample some wines that I had not had before. While everyone is familiar with the supermarket entry-level Mount Hermon series, this is not representative of their truly excellent wines. This California-inspired winemaker has some excellent Cabernet Sauvignons (both a blend from vineyards throughout the region and the tremendous El Rom), Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sangiovese, as well as top level dessert wines which were highly praised in the Wine Advocate.
Among other wines, I had the Yarden Gewürztraminer and their HeightsWine, an award-winning ice wine, which makes an excellent dessert. The Golan Heights Winery is my favorite large Israeli winery who is bringing the wonderful world of Israeli wine to the masses abroad. (They have their own arm, Yarden, Inc. in the US, and recently took out a new ad campaign ‘Savor the Mediterranean’ in Wine Advocate, which I hope to comment more on later).
Golan Heights Winery is owned by the vineyards themselves, ensuring top quality grape production, and excellent wine.
