Epicure
variety of grapes, with warm, humid
summers and mild winters. Many
of the wines produced at Carmel
Winery in Shomron are grown in
this region, but the perfect Samson
winery stop is Segal Winery in the
town of Ramle. The Merlot Special
Reserve 2005 has been a big seller
from Segal Winery – grapes were
aged 12 months in American and
French barrels and offer a peppery
nose, balanced with a deep and
rich flavor.
Most wineries in the region can be
found in valleys near the wine towns
of Zichron Yaakov and Binyamina.
What really makes this region prime
for wine growing is the mediumheavy and limey soil, coupled with
warm Mediterranean summers and
cool winters. In this region, seek out
Carmel Winery, founded in 1882 by
Baron Edmond de Rothschild, owner
of Chateau Lafite in Bordeaux,
France. Grapes here are grown in
the Shomron region and the wine is
aged in oak barrels. If you don’t
enjoy white, then try the Appellation
Carigan Old Vines, a red that is
grown from a vine in Zichron Yaakov
that’s nearly 35 years old. It’s aged
for 12 months in French oak barrels.
say growing wine in the desert is
a bad idea, but the soil is a perfect
blend of sandy and dusty, and
temperatures hot during the day
and cold at night are perfect. There
are over 30 different wines grown
in this region. Carmel Winery has
vineyards in this area and you can
find a variety of smaller wineries
to visit. This includes Barkan Winery
at Mitzpe Ramon with a wide range
of choices, but a particularly
good Cabernet Sauvignon.
Negev
Mount Carmel and Sharon wineries,
which have been popular for years.
Overall land mass stretches from the
coast that is located south of Haifa
to Tel Aviv. The region is home to
over 40 of the varietals you’ll find in
the country and it’s so close to the
Mediterranean you can enjoy wine
and the beach at the same time.
For wine, sure there are many places
in the world to explore, but definitely
count Israel at the top of that list.
This area of the Negev desert is
another wine growing region in
Israel, with about 60% of the desert
being located within the country and
bordering Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula to
the Dead Sea in the east. Some might
Samson
The Samson region is located just
south of Tel Aviv and the Central
and Judean Coast. Wineries within
this region are compiled into a small
area, but grape growing thrives,
with over 50 different wines offered
each year. A fan of the peppery
finish in my wines, this region is
perfect for that taste, particularly
in the Cabernet Sauvignon options.
Soil here works well for growing a
From large conglomerates exporting
around the world to small boutique
wineries, a “must stop” in this region
is the Golan Heights Winery in
Katzrin, offering a large visitor’s
center to explore. The winery was
founded in 1983 and today features
the likes of Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay or Reisling and even
Syrah and Pinot Noir.
Shomron
Even with the Galilee-Golan region
nipping at its heels with its number
of wineries, Shomron is still the
largest wine-growing region in Israel
in land size. The region includes the
57
Images Courtesy of Israeli
Tourist Office.