VINEYARDS
Israel apart from being part of the Middle East, is also often regarded as being part of the Eastern Mediterranean; Near East; or The Levant.
Climate: Mainly Mediterranean. Long , hot dry summers; short wet winters; snow on higher ground. Also semi arid & desert conditions in the Negev.
Soils: Volcanic in north ; sandy red soils on coast & chalk & limestone on hills.
Hectares: 3,800 ha. (9,500 acres; 38, 000 dunams.)
Harvest (tons):
2005: 45,483 tons; 2004: 53,468; 2003: 45,242; 2002: 43,077; 2001: 44,684 (1995: 31,668)
Vintage: August to end of October - (also known to begin in July & end in November); Machine & hand harvested.
GRAPE VARIETIES
Main Quality Varieties:
Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Shiraz / Syrah; Cabernet Franc; Pinot Noir; Chardonnay; Sauvignon Blanc; Gewurztraminer; White Riesling; Emerald Riesling; Muscat Canelli; Muscat of Alexandria.
Varieties by Quantity (% of hectares):
Cabernet Sauvignon 22%; Merlot 16%; Carignan 16%; French Colombard 7%; Chardonnay 4%; Emerald Riesling 4%; Shiraz / Syrah 3%; Sauvignon Blanc 4%; Argaman 3%; Muscat of Alexandria 2%; Petite Sirah 2%.
WINERIES
The three largest wineries account for 75 % of the harvest; the top 5 wineries total 84 % of the harvest and the top 11 account for 95%.
Number of Commercial Wineries: 25
Number of boutique Wineries & Garagistes: 150 +
Large Wineries (2,000 tons + ):
1. Carmel – Rishon Le Zion, Zichron Ya’acov, Yatir, Ramat Dalton;
2. Barkan – Hulda, Barkan;
3. Golan Heights – Katzrin, Yiron;
4. Efrat - Motza
5. Binyamina - Binyamina
Medium Sized Wineries (500 tons + ):
6. Tel Arza; 7. Tishbi; 8. Dalton; 9 Galil Mountain; 10. Zion; 11.Recanati.
Small Wineries (100 – 500 tons):
12. Hebron Heights; 13. Hacormin; 14. Tabor; 15. Yatir; 16. Ella Valley;
17. Latroun; 18. Domaine du Castel.
Commercial Boutique Wineries (50 – 100 tons):
19. Chateau Golan; 20. Cremisan; 21. Amphorae; 22. Flam; 23. Tzora; 24. Saslove; 25. Clos de Gat
Boutique Wineries – a selection (15 – 50 tons):
Alexander; Bazelet ha Golan; Ben Haim; Chillag; Gush Etzion; Gustavo & Jo; Karmei Yosef; Margalit; Mony; Nachshon; Odem; Ramim; Sea Horse; Sorek; Tulip; Vitkin; Yaffo; Zauberman.
Garagistes – a selection (Under 15 tons)
Agur; Bustan; Deux Paysans; Galai; Gustavo & Jo; Hamasrek; Hans Sternbach; La Terra Promessa; Meishar; Meron; Miles; Pelter; Ruth; Savion; Sde Boker; Sea Horse; Yaffo; Zauberman;
ISRAELI MARKET
Wine Market in Israel: $ 175 million dollars (20% imports.)
Consumption: 7 liters a head
EXPORT
Export of Israeli Wines ($m):
2005: $ 13.8 million; 2004: $ 13.6 m.; 2003: $ 11.3 m.;
(2001: $ 8.01 m.)
Main Importers of Israeli Wines : 1. U.S.A; 2. France; 3. U.K.;
4. Germany; 5. Canada
Sales: . Over 50% of exports to North America; Over 30% to Western Europe; Remainder to over 30 countries in 5 continents.
Main Exporting Wineries:
Carmel; Golan Heights; Barkan; Efrat; Binyamina; Tishbi; Dalton; Galil Mountain; Recanati; Castel.
ISRAELI WINERY RANKINGS
Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2006:
Three Stars: Castel & Golan Heights Winery
Two Stars: Flam, Margalit & Yatir
One Star: Amphorae, Carmel, Galil Mountain & Saslove
Also Listed: Barkan, Chateau Golan, Clos de Gat, Dalton; Ella Valley; Recanati, Saslove; Tabor; Tishbi; Tzora
Daniel Rogov’s Guide To Israeli Wines 2006:
1. Golan Heights Winery; 2. Castel; 3. Flam; 4. Margalit; 5. Yatir; 6. Galil Mountain; 7. Saslove; 8. Amphorae; 9. Recanati; 10. Carmel.
WINE REGIONS
Hectares of Vineyards by Wine Region (%):
Samson 37% - central coastal region, Shefela, Judean Lowlands & Foothills
Galilee 34% - mainly Upper Galilee & Golan Heights
Shomron 18% - mainly in valleys around Zichron Ya’acov & Binyamina
Judean Hills 7% - mainly Jerusalem Hills & Yatir Forest - southern Hebron Hills
Negev 4% - mainly Ramat Arad, Sde Boker & Mitzpe Ramon
WINE REGIONS |
|
Region in Hebrew |
Name in English |
Vineyard Areas |
|
Galil |
Galilee |
· Upper Galilee
· Lower Galilee
· Golan Heights |
Shomron |
Samaria |
· Mt. Carmel
· Sharon |
|
Shimshon |
Samson |
· Dan
· Adulam
· Latrun |
|
Harey Yehuda |
Judean Hills |
· Beth-El
|
