{"id":44732,"date":"2024-07-12T01:33:16","date_gmt":"2024-07-12T08:33:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=44732"},"modified":"2024-07-19T09:37:27","modified_gmt":"2024-07-19T16:37:27","slug":"enjoy-a-glass-of-israeli-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2024\/07\/12\/enjoy-a-glass-of-israeli-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"Enjoy a glass of Israeli wine – the award-winning industry has struggled since Oct. 7 attacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to historian and former ambassador Michael Oren, on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after the terror group Hamas\u2019s brutal assault on southern Israel, the following things happened: 80% of Israelis volunteered to help in any way they could, 360,000 Israelis reported for military duty and thousands of Israelis who were not in Israel on Oct. 7 returned to defend their country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This remarkable resilience and dedication have also been apparent in Israel\u2019s wine industry. Workers from wineries that could finish their 2023 harvests went to other wineries to help with harvesting and winemaking. A poignant example is the support for Kibbutz Nir Oz\u2019s winery. When Kibbutz Nir Oz was attacked, Hamas murdered the winemaker, Gideon Fauker, z\u2019l, and took his two partners captive to Gaza, where they remain today. In a recent Israel21c article, Andrea Samuels recounts how people in Israel\u2019s wine industry came together to turn Nir Oz Winery grapes into wine and save the vintage, to honour their Nir Oz colleagues.<\/p>\n

Jews have been making wine in the land of Israel for more than 3,000 years, a fact confirmed by archeological evidence. King David had vast vineyards and kept large stores of wine, and wine was a major export and economic mainstay for Jews during the time of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Even when outsiders invaded the land and mandated pulling out the vines many centuries later, a limited number of vines remained to produce wine for sacramental purposes. Viticulture was reintroduced in the late 19th century and, by the end of the 20th century, Israel was garnering international recognition for the quality of its wines. Today, there are more than 300 wineries of all sizes in Israel, and a well-established wine culture.<\/p>\n

Since the massacres and kidnappings by Hamas on Oct. 7, the wineries have faced tremendous obstacles due to the ensuing war with Hamas in Gaza and daily rocket and missile attacks on northern Israeli land and communities by the terror group Hezbollah. There are labour shortages, as Israelis are repeatedly called up for reserve duty and many foreign workers have left the country. In the north, some employees who have been evacuated because of the Hezbollah attacks can\u2019t get to the wineries. Any work at the wineries and vineyards in this prized Galilee viticulture region remains a dangerous proposition and there is concern for the 2024 vintage. Vineyards in the north and south have been damaged by rockets and some in the north are inaccessible in closed military zones. Domestic wine sales, on which the wineries heavily rely, plummeted after Oct. 7 and, although they have recovered somewhat, a tourism decline and restaurant and bar closures have exacerbated the sales slump. And, of course, there is the human cost as the wars and threats continue and as many in Israel\u2019s wine industry have lost family, friends and co-workers.<\/p>\n

Despite these challenges, the people of Israel\u2019s wine industry have shown classic Israeli resilience, determination, collaboration and commitment to the country and to one another. Samuels\u2019s article noted that, since Oct. 7, Alex Haruni and his Dalton Winery team have been making Shabbat dinners for soldiers posted at the nearby Lebanon border. And, in his article \u201cA taste of total victory,\u201d Adam Montefiore, a 38-year veteran of Israel\u2019s wine industry, wrote about Tom Carbone and his Be\u2019eri Winery.<\/p>\n

Carbone and his friend Dror Or, z\u2019l, the Be\u2019eri Dairy cheesemaker who was murdered by Hamas when they attacked the kibbutz, had a dream of collaborating to make Kibbutz Be\u2019eri a food and wine tourism destination. Carbone is working to fulfil that dream for both of them, commuting to Be\u2019eri from the hotel he and his family now live in at the Dead Sea. So far, he has produced an outstanding Be\u2019eri Chardonnay and is continuing his friend\u2019s work at the dairy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We in Canada can support Israel in many ways, including by buying and enjoying the beautiful wines of her irrepressible wineries. Israeli wines available in British Columbia are highlighted below with tasting notes.<\/p>\n

GALIL MOUNTAIN WINERY<\/b><\/p>\n

Established in 2000 as a joint venture between Golan Heights Winery and Kibbutz Yiron, Galil Mountain Winery (galilmountain.co.il<\/a>) has five vineyards in the Upper Galilee mountains, with topographical and climatic conditions well-suited to growing grapes of the highest quality for wine production.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Galil Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2022<\/b>: A young, refreshing character with accentuated fruity aromas. No barrel aging. The wine was stored in stainless steel tanks after fermentation to preserve its fruity character.<\/p>\n

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon<\/i><\/p>\n

Colour: deep opaque purple<\/i><\/p>\n

Aroma: pure ripe raspberry and blueberry primary fruit character, with hints of herbs and tobacco leaf<\/i><\/p>\n

Taste: a medium-to-full bodied wine with delicate tannins; the finish is long and firm<\/i><\/p>\n

Food: best served at 64\u00b0F (18\u00b0C) to accompany a wide range of meat dishes<\/i><\/p>\n

\"image<\/a>Galil Mountain Ros\u00e9 2021<\/b>: A dry, light ros\u00e9 with refreshing acidity. A combination of two winemaking techniques \u2013 skin contact followed by cold fermentation.<\/p>\n

Varietal: a blend of Sangiovese, Barbera, Pinot Noir<\/i><\/p>\n

Colour: bright pink\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Aroma: scents of strawberry, pomegranate and ripe nectarine with notes of blooming wildflowers<\/i><\/p>\n

Taste: presents characters of flowers, strawberry and pomegranate; a joyful wine with invigorating and well-balanced acidity<\/i><\/p>\n

Food: try with a fresh summer salad, with sushi or as an aperitif on its own<\/i><\/p>\n

Galil Mountain Alon White 2020<\/b>: The grapes are carefully selected at harvest, pressed gently, and half of the blend is fermented and aged in French oak barrels for three months.<\/p>\n

Varietal: blend of Chardonnay, Viognier<\/i><\/p>\n

Colour: pale lemon<\/i><\/p>\n

Aroma: citrus blossom, alongside hints of fresh mint<\/i><\/p>\n

Taste: ripe citrus, stone fruit and a hint of herbs on the palate, with refreshing acidity, light body and a lingering finish<\/i><\/p>\n

Food: pairs beautifully with grilled fish and fresh salads<\/i><\/p>\n

GOLAN HEIGHTS WINERY<\/b><\/p>\n

Golan Heights Winery (golanwines.co.il<\/a>) gained international recognition after releasing its first wines in 1984 and led a winemaking revolution that put Israel on the world wine map. The Golan Heights, a volcanic plateau with rich basaltic soil, is the coldest region of the Galilee appellation and considered the best for viniculture.<\/p>\n

\"image<\/a>Mount Hermon Indigo 2022<\/b>: Made from classic varietals, a young medium-bodied wine full of flavour.<\/p>\n

Varietal: blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah<\/i><\/p>\n

Colour: deep indigo-purple<\/i><\/p>\n

Aroma: black currant, tobacco and smoke<\/i><\/p>\n

Taste: medium bodied with notes of raspberry and black cherry, characters of aniseed and cocoa, and hints of flowers and earth<\/i><\/p>\n

Food: beef brisket, grilled lamb shanks or a barbecued beef burger<\/i><\/p>\n

TEPERBERG 1870 WINERY<\/b><\/p>\n

Teperberg 1870 Winery (teperberg1870.co.il<\/a>) is located in the foothills of the Jerusalem Mountains with vineyards in several growing regions. It is one of the oldest wineries in Israel, founded in Jerusalem in 1870 and, for a time, known as Efrat Winery. Efrat remains a label of Teperberg 1870. The Teperberg and Efrat wines listed are mevushal<\/i>, wine that has been flash pasteurized.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"image<\/a>Teperberg Malbec Vision 2021<\/b>: The Malbec Vision undergoes stainless steel fermentation and is aged in French and American oak for five months prior to release.<\/p>\n

Varietal: Malbec<\/i><\/p>\n

Colour: deep red with purple hints<\/i><\/p>\n

Aroma: black fruits and spices<\/i><\/p>\n

Taste: a deep and layered wine that combines a wealth of fruit with vibrant acidity<\/i><\/p>\n

Food: beef dishes, charcuterie, beet salads<\/i><\/p>\n

Teperberg Efrat White Blend 2022<\/b>: Fermentation in insulated chilled stainless steel tanks for two weeks before the final blend is composed. To retain its crispness, the wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation.<\/p>\n

Varietal: blend of Riesling, Semillon, French Colombard<\/i><\/p>\n

Colour: light, pleasant yellowish<\/i><\/p>\n

Aroma: mainly citrus aromas<\/i><\/p>\n

Taste: fresh, balanced with pleasant acidity and medium body<\/i><\/p>\n

Food: fried or grilled fish<\/i><\/p>\n

Efrat Judean Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Argaman 2022<\/b>: Fermentation in insulated chilled stainless steel tanks.<\/p>\n

Varietal: blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Argaman, Carignan<\/i><\/p>\n

Colour: purple<\/i><\/p>\n

Aroma: fruity aromas with black and red fruit<\/i><\/p>\n

Taste: balanced, rich, medium-bodied with a long finish<\/i><\/p>\n

Food: lamb dishes or pasta in meat sauce<\/i><\/p>\n

Visit bcliquorstores.com to find a store near you with Israeli wine. L\u2019chaim!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rochelle Golumbia<\/b> is an advocate of supporting Israel through Israeli wine and initiated Vancouver\u2019s first Israeli wine festivals.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to historian and former ambassador Michael Oren, on Oct. 8, 2023, one day after the terror group Hamas\u2019s brutal assault on southern Israel, the following things happened: 80% of Israelis volunteered to help in any way they could, 360,000 Israelis reported for military duty and thousands of Israelis who were not in Israel on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4329,4],"tags":[23398,959,4242,4330,23396,22725,23399,23400],"class_list":["post-44732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-israel","category-local","tag-galil-mountain-winery","tag-golan-heights-winery","tag-history","tag-israel","tag-israeli-wines","tag-oct-7","tag-teperberg-1870-winery","tag-viniculture"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44732\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}