Agur Winery, located in Israel’s Judean Hills wine region between Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, was awarded Sunday another international recognition with a Gold Medal from Spain’s prestigious Zarcillo Awards for its 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve.  The Zarcillo medal is Agur’s third international gold-level acclaim in 45 days. 

“This prize is proof of the rebirth of quality wines in Israel.  Of 2,159 wine entries, 17 were from Israel and yet, after Spain, we were the largest prize recipient.  Agur was the only gold, but there were five other Israeli silver medals.   Like the renaissance of Portuguese and Greek wines, Israeli wines are now winning international acclaim,” said Shuki Yashuv, winemaker and co-owner of Agur Winery. Agur’s Spanish prize follows on the heels of top-award recognition from the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition and Israel’s prestigious Eshkol Ha’Zahav (“Golden Cluster”). 

The 2007 Zarcillo competition, held in Spain’s famous Ribera del Duero region, is the third largest wine competition in the world and one of the most acclaimed annual contests of viniculture. With 2,159 entries from 27 countries, the Zarcillo contest is topped only by the Paris-based “Les Vinalies” and the German “Mundus Vini.” The Zarcillo awards are sponsored by the International Vine and Wine Office (O.I.V.), the International Association of Oenologists and the World Federation of Contests for Wines and Spirits. (www.premioszarcillo.com)

“These medals reflect all the good things happening in the wine region of the Judean Hills.  After all, we are where the quality revolution started in Israel,” added Yashuv.

Last April 1st, Agur’s Special Reserve 2004 won Gold Medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in upstate New York (www.fliwc.com).  The Finger Lakes competition gathered over 1,700 entries from around the world that were rated by international judges who are sommeliers, critics, importers, consultants and educators.

In early March, Israel’s most professional wine tasting competition, Eshkol Ha’Zahav, announced a Gold Medal for Agur’s classical blend – Kessem 2004. This annual competition is a rare opportunity for boutique vineyards to have their wines judged against larger wineries. 

May 8, 2007