Terravino 2007 was held in Eilat at King Solomon’s Hotel in Eilat. This is the main international wine tasting competition held in Israel. First held in 2006, this event was the second. The other Israeli competition of note is Eshkol Ha’Zahav, which is open to Israeli wineries only, usually held in Tel Aviv in the spring.

The Terravino organisers invited 16 judges from countries like Canada, Spain, France, England, Italy, Greece, Slovakia, Czeck Rep, Hungary, Argentina, Chile, USA and Japan to make it a competition of truly international standards. They joined Israeli judges made up of winemakers and respected wine connoisseurs. They were joined by the General Director of OIV, the international body for the wine industry, which gave their approval for the event. They converged on the resort town of Eilat, situated on the southern tip of Israel, to taste wines in the quiet and organized confines of one of the leading hotels belonging to Isrotel, one of Israel’s finest hotel groups, and the dominant player in the Red Sea resort of Eilat.

The main Double Gold Medals were awarded to wines from France, the Czech Republic, Australia, Chile, Uruguay, Spain, Germany, Slovakia … and Israel.

The main Israeli medal winning wineries were:

7 Medals - Carmel

6 Medals - Barkan

4 Medals  – Recanati, Zion, Tzuba

3 Medals – Benhaim, Binyamina, Tulip, Savion, Teperberg, Villa Willhelma, Asif

The two main Israeli winning wines, both with Double Gold Medals were:

Vitkin Petite Sirah 2004, Vitkin Winery

Segal Single Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Barkan Winery

‘The Best Winery’ was Barkan from Kibbutz Hulda, the ‘Best Boutique Winery’: Vitkin Winery from Kfar Vitkin and the best ‘Small Boutique Winery’: Alona Winery, nearby to Zichron Ya’acov.

In the Spirits and Liqueurs category, the ‘Best Spirit’ was awarded to Grand Sabra, produced by Carmel Winery at Rishon Le Zion. Grand Sabra, Binyamina Limonchello and Y Chili Liqueur also won Double Gold Medals.

 The major success was the achievement of one Vitkin wine. Their Petite Sirah won the prize of best Israeli wine, the major prize of the competition. Vitkin is one of Israel’s best new boutique wineries. Situated at Kfar Vitkin in the Sharon Plain, the winery makes use of the services of an internationally trained winemaker, who is the brother of the owner.

The other surprise was the four Gold medals for Zion Winery, owned by the same Shor family that opened the first recorded winery in the Old City of Jerusalem in 1848. After many years of supplying sweet wines and grape juice to the Ultra Orthodox market, they have undergone a makeover with new investment in quality to enter the regular wine market. The Gold Medals are their first reward for their enterprising upgrade.

Terravino 2007 was a success and a further advance in Israel’s development as a serious wine producing country. The event promises to become a regular annual event in the international calendar of wine tasting competitions.

The full list

Pictures 1

Pictures 2

November 2007