HaKerem: The Israeli Wine Blog

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 […]

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The Wine Spectator has its latest review of kosher, Israeli wines for the High Holidays. Wines tasted include: GOLAN HEIGHTS WINERY Gewürztraminer Galilee Yarden Heights Wine 2006 Score: 90 | $23 / 375ml BINYAMINA The Cave Galilee 2005 Score: 89 | $65 CARMEI ZVI-SEGAL BROS. Cabernet Sauvignon Galilee Heights Segal’s Special Reserve 2004 Score: 88 | $20 DOMAINE DU CASTEL Chardonnay Haute-Judée C Blanc du Castel 2007 Score: 88 | $45 ZION Armon Galilee 2005 Score: 88 | $35 ZION […]

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While Adam Sandler’s character Zohan may eat American hummus (which, I must ask, what was up with that? No self-respecting Israeli would eat American hummus), it appears that Adam Sandler is enjoying some Israeli wine. On a recent trip in California, Sandler and his entourage visited O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery, where Ari Erle is the assistant winemaker. Ari, as you may know, runs Israel Wine Company, a great wine club focusing on Israeli wines and he also makes wine in Israel. […]

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Binyamina Winery has recently succeeded to get wines listed in both Tesco and Marks & Spencers. Tesco is the largest supermarket chain and wine retailer in the United Kingdom. Marks & Spencer’s is one of England’s most famous retailers specializing in clothing, food and wines. Tesco offer a kosher service for the Jewish community by stocking kosher wines in some of their branches. Marks & Spencer are appealing to those who want to taste something new, by introducing a focus […]

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The Montefiore family, Adam, David & Rachel, were photographed at a private meal at the Ritz Carlton, with bottles of Carmel, Tabor and Montefiore wines on the table. Adam works for Carmel, David for Tabor and Rachel for Montefiore wineries. One family, three wineries. The father , Adam Montefiore, has worked for many years in the wine industry, for Bass Charrington in England, and for the last twenty five years in Israel, for both the Golan Heights Winery and Carmel […]

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This article is from wines-israel.com and reprinted with permission La Revue du Vin, France’s most distinguished wine magazine, has selected four Israeli wines in the list of ‘the 100 Best Wines in the Mediterranean, between Spain & Israel’. The four wineries represented are: Domaine du Castel, situated at Ramat Raziel in the Judean Hills, Flam Winery, situated at Eshtaol in the Judean Foothills, Margalit Winery situated in the Sharon Plain, near Hadera, and Saslove Winery, from Kibbutz Eyal and the […]

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The French make Malbec as a blending agent, but it’s far better known as a distinctive Argentinian wine. But now, Israel’s first varietal Malbec has arrived in Israel. The ever improving Teperberg 1870 has just released a Malbec in the Terra series (Terra 2007 Malbec). It should hit Israel’s wine stores this week, and will most likely be exported within a few months. While used as a blending agent in France, like with Argentinian wine, this first Israeli varietal contains […]

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The following is reprinted from ESRA Magazine with permission of the author Chef Alon Gonen – Zilum Meshaker : Alcohol Events Recently, I had the opportunity to sit with Chef Alon Gonen in his Tel Aviv house. We talked about food and wine over some local Israeli cheeses and what he let me pick from his wine collection. First, we tasted a chilled bottle of 2010 Vitkin Riesling that paired well with pepper jack cheese and Gouda which we sliced […]

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A consortium of investors headed by Benjamin Yeselzon and Jay Shottenstein has purchased a controlling share of Carmel Winery, Israel’s oldest commercial winery. A specially convened General Meeting of the wine growers, shareholders of the winery, approved the sale of a controlling interest in Carmel Winery by an overwhelming majority of over 90%. This follows the guideline recommended by the Board of Directors of Agudat Hacormim – SCV des Grandes Caves, the owners of Carmel Winery. The consortium is made […]

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Wine Blogging Wednesday featured kosher wine and was hosted by The Corkdork. Yes, I know, it’s Thursday, but Wednesday was chag, the last day of Passover in Israel and the second-to-last day in the Diaspora. More importantly, I was invaded by the in-laws, so my Wine Blogging Wednesday post had to wait. For WBW: Kosher Edition, I bring you a list of links on kosher wine – and a reminder that not all kosher wine is from Israel and not […]

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