Traditional vinification techniques include barrel-fermented Chardonnay, Methode traditionelle sparkling wines, carbonic maceration for light reds and maturation in French and American oak barrels for premium red and white wines.[6]
The Golan Heights Winery is credited with starting the "quality revolution" in Israeli wine, creating a brand identity for the country's vintages, spurring the creation of new wineries and motivating existing wineries to improve the quality of their wines. Michal Neeman, director of the Israel Export & International Cooperation Institute's food and beverage division, describes the role of the winery as crucial: "Everyone agrees that they were the first winery to produce excellent wine. Then came the boutique wineries, then the medium-sized, and then the large ones. There were a lot of other factors as well, but when you pinpoint the revolution, it started at Golan Heights."[1]
A number of Golan Heights wines were marketed by Systembolaget, Sweden's state-owned monopoly alcohol retailer, as "Made in Israel" on shelves and in the sales catalog. Following customer complaints and consultation with Sweden's foreign ministry, Systembolaget changed the shelf labeling to read, "Made in Israeli-occupied Syrian territories."[7] However this prompted complaints from Annelie Enochson and officials in Israel.[7][8] Systembolaget's solution was to remove all reference to the product's country of origin on shelves and in catalogs, classifying the wine as of "other origins."[9]
The winery has won worldwide acclaim and awards at the most prestigious festivals, including wine shows in France.[10] Golan Heights Winery was named Best Foreign Winery at the Prague Trophy 2008 international wine competition. At a ceremony on January 16, 2009, the winery received the award after winning seven medals at the competition.[11] In 2011, Golan Heights Winery won the Gran Vinitaly Special Award as the best wine producer at the 19th International Vinitaly Wine Competition in Italy. The winery earned two Grand Gold Medals for its 2009 Yarden Chardonnay Odem Organic Vineyard and its 2008 Yarden HeightsWine.[12] Its 2004 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon was the first Israeli wine to be listed on the Wine Spectator Top 100.
After planting vineyards in the Golan in 1976, the Golan Heights Winery was established in 1983 by four kibbutzim (collective communities) and four moshavim (cooperative communities). In 1984, the Winery released its first wine creating great excitement in Israel and abroad. Golan Heights Winery cultivates over 600 hectares (1500 acres) of vines across 28 vineyards which are divided into 430 vineyard blocks. Each block is harvested individually and fermented separately, to show the extreme care that goes into each wine made by Victor Schoenfeld, Head Winemaker since 1992. Golan Heights Winery is made up of four brands; Mount Hermon, Gilgal, Golan, and most famously, Yarden. Each brand is a unique study of Israeli terroir and distinctive winemaking philosophy. Combining state-of-the-art winegrowing technologies and traditional winemaking techniques, Golan Heights Winery has succeeded in producing award-winning wines that have firmly placed Israel on the international wine map.
Yarden is the premier label and flagship brand of Golan Heights Winery. Each year the finest grapes from the best vineyards are reserved for Yarden wines. Yarden is the Hebrew for Jordan River, which bisects the Golan Heights from the Galilee. The label features a symbol of ancient Israel: an oil lamp decorated with mosaic tile.
Soil. Topography. Climate. These are the three distinct grape growing conditions for producing quality wines on an international level. In Israel, such optimal conditions exist in the Golan Heights. Everything in this magical strip of land begins with the right conditions in the Golan, a combination of volcanic basaltic soil, suitable topography and high altitude resulting in cool climate. This is what gives the Golan Heights its second name: "Wine Country." Over the years, the distinctive wines of the Golan Heights Winery have placed Israel on the world wine map.
Founded in 1983, Golan Heights Winery has played a significant role in developing and nurturing Israel's modern wine culture. Golan Heights Winery encompasses three brands Yarden, Gilgal and Mount
There is a spirit of optimism in the Golan Heights. As part of the Israeli wine industry, the wines from the forerunners of the Golan Heights stand for the new excellent quality and the technical innovations with which wine from Israel is fighting its way into the wine elite. Because standing still is not an option for viticulture between Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Since the dawn of time, ever since the Bible taught us to drink wine, viticulture has been a constant part of the culture there. No matter which people it is. Because taste is debatable, but all the better to toast to it - enjoy an even grandiose glass of wine from the Golan Heights.
Wine from the Middle East - that is tradition, history and modernity at the same time. What used to be mass wines for religious ceremonies are, thanks to the strengthening of viticulture from the 19th century onwards, quality wines that play in a league with the best from Europe and overseas. On the approximately 5000 hectares of Israeli vineyards for wine, pure and powerful red wines, fresh and filigree white wines and exquisite sparkling wines are produced, all vinified from noble grape varieties of the old world. Cultivated viticulture is made possible by the high altitudes on which the usually dry and hot climate is tempered by cool winds and precipitation. Together with the proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, a Mediterranean climate develops in the high altitudes, which offers ideal conditions for grape varieties of all colours to grow and thrive in full splendour.
Viniculture in Israel, perhaps apart from Argaman, does not have any native grape varieties and therefore relies completely on the cultivation of imported grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah and Merlot in particular produce excellent results and deserve awards from the highest authorities. A result that is due to the modern understanding of quality wine and innovative cultivation and cellar work. A trend-setting movement that has recently brought Israeli wine to the radar of all kinds of wine connoisseurs. As a result, the portfolio of Israeli wine enjoyment no longer knows any limits. From red wine and white wine to dessert wine and fortified wine - wine from Israel stands for diversity and openness.
Wine from Israel is often a great unknown to many people outside the country. Perhaps because Israeli wine is often kosher and can thus be found in the trade under specialities and therefore in other corners than conventional wine. The addition of kosher in the context of wine is based only on a few interventions that do not specifically distinguish Israeli wine from other wines. The wine only has to meet three conditions to be considered kosher:
This purple cuvÃe from Golan Heights Winery combines charming aromas of sour cherries, blackberries, plums and forest berries with a smooth and fruity body. Every sip of this dry red wine is rounded off by an elegant acid composition from Galilee's coldest appellation at 1200 metres. Matured both in steel tanks and barrique barrels, the Yarden Mount Hermon Red invites you to a cosy glass for many occasions.
Wines from the Golan Heights may not be declared as wines from Israel. Under European Union international law, the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 have not been recognised as part of the State of Israel. These include the Golan Heights. And since the designation of origin must be both correct and not misleading, the designation wine from Israel is not permitted for wines from the Golan Heights. Alternatively, wines from the Golan Heights may be called the "product of the Golan Heights (Israeli settlement)".
Enjoyment has nothing to do with politics. That's a good thing, because wine is there for everyone, doesn't lie and is easy and inexpensive to buy online at VINELLO. So order noble and internationally recognized red wines and white wines from Israeli territory. Discover the delicious variety the Golan Heights has to offer. Simply order online and benefit from our fast, insured and climate-neutral delivery. Kosher Israeli wine on VINELLO - pop a cork, pour, LeChaim!
Golan Heights Winery is an Israeli wine producer located in the Katzrin settlement in Galilee. It has an extensive portfolio of wines, the most important of which is Yarden, produced from selected grapes from the best vineyards...
The 2020 Mount Hermon Red presents aromatic aromas of red and black fruits, layered with hints of fresh herbs, earth and cocoa. Great for everyday drinking, this young blended wine exhibits satisfying body and lingering flavor.
As recently as the mid-1990s, there were just seven wineries in Israel. Today, the nation boasts nearly 300 wineries. Every winery has its distinctive qualities, but the Golan Heights Winery is one of the most well-known, exporting its celebrated bottles to over 25 different countries.
Fast forward to 2019 and I was asked to attend a press luncheon for the Golan Heights Winery. Quite a different topic of study here! But I was excited to explore winemaking in a region with such a rich history. Golan Heights Winery (and Galil Mountain Winery) fall under the Yarden, Inc. umbrella. The seminar took place at Gwen in Los Angeles with Victor Schoenfeld, head winemaker since 1992, walking us through the Yarden portfolio.
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