Autumn in Israel is more often found in songs than in reality, where summer reigns for most of the year. Late October and early November bring the fleeting presence of Israeli autumn. The grape harvest has concluded, the olive harvest is nearing its end, and the shortening days are no longer as warm.
Here and there, one can spot squills, beach lilies, and autumn crocuses. The birds migrate (where has the wagtail gone?), and the sky appears bluer. The scent of citrus fills the air, and above all, the golden foliage heightens the melancholy in our hearts.
During this period of seeking an escape—or perhaps a shelter—from this difficult, melancholy time, I was reminded of a few wines that, in recent days, have brought me a measure of comfort.
The Grenache, Syrah, and Marselan grapes, cultivated in three vineyards in the Ayalon Valley at the foothills of Judea, harmonize beautifully in this wine, maturing together for about eight months in barrels.
Its bright red color is pleasant to the eye, and the floral, fruity aroma is a delight to the nose. In the mouth, it reveals a soft, pleasant texture with balanced acidity—a joyful wine.
Price: NIS 65.
One of the most summery yet autumnal reds, this wine is made from 100% Grenache grapes sourced from the organic Nahalot vineyard in Bar Giora. The wine undergoes spontaneous fermentation with wild yeast—a method that, according to the philosophical winemaker Ze'ev Dunie, directly influences the wine’s flavor, enriching its complexity and expressing the terroir of the Jerusalem Hills. A wine that captivated me.
In my view, it is one of Sea Horse Winery's best wines. It offers a fascinating character, a wide range of flavors, light acidity, and is, above all, truly delicious.
Price: NIS 96.
Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Misgav Am vineyard, Israel’s northernmost vineyard, are known to many due to the missile and rocket fire often reported near it.
This wine transitions from autumn to winter with spicy aromas of red and purple berries, black pepper, earth, and tobacco, offering a full, velvety texture and a long, enjoyable finish.
Price: NIS 195.
This Spanish white kosher wine from the Rioja region is made from Viura grapes, the classic white variety of Rioja. The grapes are grown sustainably, without irrigation, on the west bank of the Ebro River in Rioja Alta.
With aromas of white flowers and citrus, this wine brings the scents of autumn, featuring balanced, pleasant acidity and a slightly sweet finish.
Price: NIS 55.
Recanati, another Galilean winery, is a place we are currently unable to visit.
Galilean Chardonnay grapes created a wine with citrus and summer fruit aromas, very pleasant acidity, and subtle oak notes from the barrels in which part of the wine fermented and aged.
Price: NIS 65.
