Israeli wineries eagerly wait each year to see the rankings of wineries in the new annual wine books. This year there are three such books: two of them international & for the first time, a local one.
Hugh Johnson is the world’s most read wine journalist. His World Wine Atlas, Wine Companion, The Story Of Wine & The Art & Science Of Wine are classics. The world’s biggest selling wine book is still his annual Pocket Wine Book.
The Hugh Johnson Pocket Wine Book 2005 has just been published. It provides the following rankings of Israeli wines:
1. Domaine du Castel: 3 stars
2. Yarden ( Golan Heights Winery): 2 to 3 stars
3. Flam: 2 stars
4. Yatir: 2 stars
5. Margalit: 1 to 2 stars
6. Amphorae: 1 star
The other Israeli wines listed are: Barkan, Carmel, Chateau Golan, Dalton, Galil Mountain, Harel, Recanati, Saslove, Tabor, Tishbi & Tzora.
Chateau Golan, Harel (Clos du Gat) & Yatir, three new quality wineries, are listed for the first time – Yatir being awarded two stars. Flam has gone up from one star to two, Amphorae has lost a star. Sorek has been delisted.
This year for the first time there is also a similar Israeli wine book. Israel’s most famous wine journalist, Daniel Rogov, lists a top ten wineries in his Rogov’s Guide To Israeli Wines 2005. They are:
1. Golan Heights Winery
2. Domaine du Castel
3. Flam
4. Amphorae
5. Margalit
6. Dalton
7. Saslove
8. Galil Mountain
9. Tzora
10. Recanati
His top ‘New & Up & Coming Wineries’ include: Harel, Chateau Golan, Ella & Yatir. Carmel, the county’s biggest winery, is listed as the ‘Fastest Improving Producer.’
His ‘top 12 wines’ include:
Four wines from the Golan Heights Winery
Two from Castel
Two from Carmel (including Yatir)
One each from Margalit, Flam, Amphorae, & Barkan.
That the lists are similar is no surprise. Daniel Rogov wrote ‘Rogov’s Guide’ and contributed to the Hugh Johnson book (though the final views in the Pocket Book are of Hugh Johnson himself and the editorial team.)
The third book – first published last year, is the Wine Report 2005 by Tom Stevenson. Here the Israeli rankings are the same as Rogov’s Guide, because Daniel Rogov writes the section on Israel – however the book is in a very informative, innovative format. Well worth a read.
September 2004
