During the Tishrei holidays, everyone buys wine, even those who don't typically do so throughout the year. The selection grows each year, and most of the locally produced wines, launched just before the holidays, are of high quality.
This past month, I tasted many excellent wines from both large and small wineries. Some will appeal to curious wine enthusiasts, while others will delight sophisticated connoisseurs. Most importantly, many of these wines were simply accessible and delicious.
Barkan Winery, Gold, Chardonnay 2022
A new addition to Barkan's 'Gold' series, released just in time for the holidays. The Chardonnay grapes were harvested in the Beko’a area of the Judean foothills, known as one of the best-growing regions in Israel. The wine offers pleasant aromas of citrus and tropical fruits, with a medium body, low alcohol content, and a refreshing finish.
Price: NIS 39
Carmel Winery, Private Collection, Chardonnay 2023
A dry Chardonnay from the popular and long-standing Private Collection series. It features fresh green apple aromas combined with light tropical notes and balanced acidity. A medium body with a pleasant finish.
Price: NIS 45
Tabor Winery, Adama, Sauvignon Blanc 2023
A classic Sauvignon Blanc made from old vines in Kfar Tabor, considered one of the winery's classics. It offers tropical aromas blended with delicate citrus and a light, pleasant crispness on the palate.
Price: NIS 60
Recanati Winery, Galilee Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc 2023
This Galilean winery, facing challenges due to its proximity to the border, has launched a new series: Galilee Vineyards. The grapes come from old vines in Kerem Ben Zimra in the Upper Galilee and Tel Fares in the Golan Heights. This charming wine has fresh herbaceous aromas and floral hints with grapefruit peel undertones.
Price: NIS 65
Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Gewurztraminer 2023
From the northern winery that proves its quality even in tough times comes a dry, tasty Gewurztraminer with tropical fruit, spice, and floral aromas, a medium body, and a pleasant finish.
Price: NIS 76
Binyamina Winery, Sheba, Chenin Blanc 2023
The Chenin Blanc grapes were grown in Ramat Sirin in the Lower Galilee. This wine, part of Binyamina’s Sheba series, is herbaceous, mineral, and refreshing, with citrus floral notes.
Price: NIS 85
Galil Mountain Winery, Yiron, Sauvignon Blanc 2023
A dry white wine from a winery located right on the northern border, continuing operations despite the challenges. The grapes were sourced from the Misgav-Am vineyard, fertilized with recycled Nespresso coffee compost. The wine offers tropical aromas, subtle herbaceous notes, mineral freshness, balanced acidity, and a very smooth, silky texture.
Price: NIS 95
Sea Horse Winery, Labyrinth 2023
Grenache Blanc grapes that arrived at the winery by 'mistake,' with 20% Roussanne grapes added for complexity, resulted in an aromatic, harmonious, and rich wine with a wide range of aromas and flavors and a long, enjoyable finish.
Price: NIS 107
Lotem Winery, Luana 2022
From the organic winery comes a wine made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in a plot located in a valley at the foot of Mount Meron, in the Tziv’on vineyard. The vineyard is treated using biodynamic methods, respecting the vineyard's natural life cycle and surroundings. The wine is aromatic and elegant, with powerful tropical and citrus fruit flavors and refreshing acidity.
Price: NIS 120
Teperberg Winery, Vision, Semi-Dry Rosé 2023
A blend of Gewurztraminer and a touch of Malbec from vineyards in Mitzpe Ramon. The wine boasts an attractive pink color, tropical aromas, crisp freshness with enjoyable acidity.
Price: NIS 35
Binyamina Winery, Sheba, Merlot Rosé 2023
The grapes were sourced from the Kerem Ben Zimra vineyard in the Upper Galilee. The wine presents citrus aromas and pronounced herbaceousness, enhancing its refreshing feel.
Price: NIS 85
Castel Winery, Rosé 2023
From the renowned family winery comes a dry and festive rosé made from Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc grapes grown in the Jerusalem Hills vineyards. The wine is light, juicy, and refreshing, with tropical fruit, rose, and grapefruit aromas, balanced acidity, and a long, delicious finish.
Price: NIS 109
Tzuba Winery, Rosé 2023
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes were harvested from vineyards surrounding the winery. This dry rosé offers aromas of citrus, cherries, and strawberries with refreshing acidity.
Price: NIS 110
Carmel Winery, Selected, Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Israel's best-selling wine series presents a young, fresh, dry red wine with fruity aromas, a light body, and a pleasant finish.
Price: NIS 35
Barkan Winery, Gold, Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes came from the Kerem Ben Zimra and Alma villages. The wine presents ripe black fruit and sweet spice aromas, a medium body, and a soft finish.
Price: NIS 39
Galil Mountain Winery, Stav, Red 2023
Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah grapes from Upper Galilee vineyards, this young, light red wine offers fresh red fruit aromas and a long, soft finish—perfect for summer.
Price: NIS 55
Golan Heights Winery, Gamla, Cabernet Merlot 2022
From a consistent series that has proven itself for years, this wine blends Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, offering red and black berry aromas, coffee, earth, and a hint of citrus, with a medium body and a delicious finish.
Price: NIS 65
Tabor Winery, Eco, Red 2017
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot from the winery’s ecological vineyards in the Upper Galilee, Golan Heights, and Jerusalem Hills. An elegant, fruity, and earthy wine with a velvety texture and a pleasant finish.
Price: NIS 84
Avidan Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
A limited-edition wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Judean Hills. Rich aromas of blackberries and herbs, with a full and refined body and a long, enjoyable finish.
Price: NIS 99
Domaine Seror Winery, Red Gold 2021
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot from the successful vineyard in Avnei Eitan, Golan Heights. The wine is elegant, quite powerful, rich, spicy, and peppery.
Price: NIS 99
Teperberg Winery, Essence Merlot 2018
The Merlot grapes were harvested from two vineyards—one in the Ella Valley and another in the Ephraim Hills. A complex wine with rich aromas of ripe red fruits and tobacco, a full, balanced body, and a long, pleasant finish.
Price: NIS 100
Segal Winery, Petit UF, 2021
Made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Dalton Plateau vineyard, without filtration or clarification. This elegant, complex, and balanced wine offers fresh red fruit aromas, green herbs, sweet spices, a full, velvety body, and a long finish.
Price: NIS 110
Alexander Winery, Sandro 2022
A blend of five grape varieties grown in Kfar Shamai at the foot of Mount Mitzpe Hayamim in the Upper Galilee—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Franc. The wine offers ripe berry aromas, pleasant wood notes, chocolate, and vanilla.
Price: NIS 119
Amphora Winery, Rhyton Rouge 2022
A blend of Bordeaux varieties, like all wines in the Rhyton series, from mature plots in vineyards in the Golan Heights. The wine is elegant and soft, with ripe red fruit, green spice, and black pepper. A full body and a long finish.
Price: NIS 120
Netofa Winery, Tel Kasser, Mourvèdre 2021
Mourvèdre grapes from an old vineyard and a bit of Syrah from the Lower Galilee, Ein Dor at the foot of Mount Tabor. This wine has a Mediterranean character with red fruit aromas, earth, light smokiness, good acidity, and development in the glass.
Price: NIS 130
Yatir Winery, Under the Foliage 2021
The second vintage of this wine made from a blend of Mediterranean grape varieties—Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. The wine has rich aromas of red and black fruits, black pepper, and light smokiness. It offers good acidity and a juicy texture.
Price: NIS 150
