Within a few weeks, Carmel’s  Private Collection Ramat Arad Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 finished in first place in a tasting of Israeli wines held by  The Wine Spectator and then the Private Collection Ramat Arad Cabernet Sauvignon 1999  was listed by the Manhattan Restaurant – Capsouto Freres, one of New York City’s finest restaurants & winner of The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

These two unconnected successes have drawn some attention to the Ramat Arad vineyard. Today Ramat Arad wines appear in Carmel’s new Kerem or Single Vineyard series. Previously they were used in the Private Collection blue label wines. Some of the reviews or achievements  of the last 18 months are as follows:

Private Collection Label (Blue Label)

• Ramat Arad Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 – listed by Capsouto Freres, one of Manhattan’s finest restaurants with the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence; October 2004
• Ramat Arad Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 – finished in first place in a tasting of Israeli wines by the Wine Spectator, October 2004
• Ramat Arad Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Magnum – selected for sommelier tasting  by Howard Goldberg as one of the most exciting wines at Vinexpo, July 2003
• Ramat Arad Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Magnum – awarded three stars in Decanter magazine tasting, October 2003

The magnum was a special edition wine produced to commemorate the 120^th year of Carmel. A photograph of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, who founded the winery, is shown on the label.

Single Vineyard Label ( Black label)

• Ramat Arad Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 – ranked as one of top 12 Israeli wines by Daniel Rogov in Rogov’s Guide 2005, September 2004
• Ramat Arad Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 – written up as ‘exceptional single vineyard’ in Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Guide 2005, September 2004.
• Ramat Arad Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 – received 92 points in Ha’aretz newspaper; October 2004
• Ramat Arad Syrah 2002 – Israel’s first single vineyard Syrah; August 2003
• Ramat Arad Sauvignon Blanc 2003 – One of Israel’s best ‘new’ quality Sauvignon Blancs; Best buy – Ha’aretz Wine Magazine; Pesach 2003

Ramat Arad is a large, beautifully kept vineyard in the north east Negev. It is situated at Tel Arad, next to the new Yatir Winery. The vineyard, which is 500 meters above sea level is often shrouded in mists in the morning; this and the cool nighttime temperatures protect the grapes from the strong sun. Furthermore the low humidity means there is little disease.  The Ramat Arad vineyard was planted in 1988 in a semi arid region, mainly with red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Syrah. The grapes are fed by drip feed irrigation and mechanically harvested at night when it is cool.

The wines are produced by Carmel under the Ramat Arad label and are using the facilities of Yatir Winery, as a contract, quality station. For instance, the Sauvignon Blanc was pressed at Yatir, next to the vineyard, and then transferred to Rishon Le Zion Winery for fermentation.

Ramat Arad,  being situated in the Negev, really fulfills the dream of Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, of making the desert bloom. Ramat Arad has also proved to be the source of some of Israel’s finest wines.

November 2004