Tim Atkin MW was one of the highest profile wine writers to visit Israel for Israwinexpo. He spent five days in the country and visited or tasted the wines of the finest and largest Israeli wineries and some of the more unusual smaller ones.

He wrote a spirited defence of Israeli wine in The Observer and Off Licence News saying: “In such a climate, tending vineyards and producing wine is an act of courage and of optimism. I have enormous admiration for the majority of Israel's winemakers….”

He continued: “As Israel prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of its creation, peace seems as distant and unlikely as ever. But that shouldn't blind us to what Israel's winemakers have achieved. Surrounded by anger, dogma, devastation, deprivation, mutual suspicion and, there is no other word for it, politics, they offer the possibility of hope for a better future.”

He rates his top 10 Israeli wineries as:

 1. Domaine du Castel, 2. Margalit, 3. Golan Heights, 4. Vitkin, 5. Carmel, 6. Segal, 7. Galil Mountain, 8. Sea Horse, 9. Chillag and 10. Clos de Gat.

This is his view of what he tasted in the glass and is not meant to be swayed by conventional wisdom, reputations.

Tim Atkin MW is the wine correspondent of The Observer. He has won more than a dozen awards for his wine writing. Passing the challenging Master of Wine exams on his first attempt, he judges wine all over the world and is Chairman of The International Wine Challenge, the world’s largest blind tasting competition.