The results of Israel’s most professional wine tasting competition, Eshkol Ha’Zahav, were announced at a recent Gala Dinner held at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv. (Eshkol Ha’Zahav translates to ‘The Golden Cluster’ in English.)

This annual competition, held since 2003, is a rare opportunity for small, boutique wineries to have their wines judged against the larger commercial wineries.

In the 2007 competition the most successful wineries were Tabor Winery, which won four gold medals and Carmel Winery, which won nine medals in all.

The prestigious Cabernet Sauvignon award was as always the most hotly contested prize. Previous winners include Flam, Yatir and Saslove wineries. The winner in 2007 was the Kayoumi Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, a single vineyard wine produced by Carmel Winery.

One of the most popular winners was Tulip Winery, which received two gold medals for the best Cabernet Franc and red wine blend other than Cabernet Merlot.

The list of the winners is below.

WHITE WINES

Aromatic Wines

1. Appellation Johannisberg Riesling 2006, Carmel Winery

1.  Yarden Gewurztraminer 2006, Golan Heights Winery

2. Vitkin Riesling 2005
3. Gamla White Riesling 2006, Golan Heights Winery

Sauvignon Blanc

1.       Adama – Gir Sauvignon Blanc 2006 , Tabor Winery

2.       Ella Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006

3.       Lisa Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Alexander Winery

Chardonnay

1. Ella Valley Chardonnay 2005
2. Amphorae Chardonnay 2005
3. Tabor Chardonnay 2006

Viognier

1. Amphorae Viognier 2005
2. Yarden Viognier 2005, Golan Heights Winery
3. Psagot Viognier 2006

Value for Money – Up to NIS 49

1.       Tabor Chardonnay 2006

2.       Reches White 2006, Carmel Winery

3.       Recanati Sauvignon Blanc 2005

1. Adama – Harsit Cabernet Franc Rose 2006, Tabor Winery
2. Teperberg Zinfandel Rose 2006
3. Chateau Golan Rose 2006

RED WINES

Cabernet Sauvignon

1.       Kayoumi Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Carmel Winery

2.       Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, Amphorae Winery

3.       Reserved Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 , Saslove Winery

Merlot

1.       Aviv Merlot 2005, Saslove Winery

2.       Primo Merlot 2004, Chillag Winery

3.       Tradition Merlot, Ben Haim Winery

Syrah/ Shiraz

1. Kayoumi Shiraz 2003, Carmel Winery
2. Reserve Syrah 2005, Tulip Winery
3. Reserve Shiraz, Recanati Winery

Pinot Noir

1. Yarden Pinot Noir 2003, Golan Heights Winery

Blend – Cabernet/ Merlot

1.       Rhyton 2003,  Amphorae Winery

2.       Tabor Mescha 2003

3.       Grand Reserve 2004, Villa Wilhelma

Blend – Others

1. Mostly Shiraz 2005, Tulip Winery
2. Sapir – Choshen, Binyamina Winery
3.  Appellation Cabernet  Sauvignon Shiraz 2005, Carmel Winery

3.  Yatir 2004 – Cabernet Shiraz Merlot

Cabernet Franc

1. Mostly Cabernet Franc 2005, Tulip Winery

2. Vitkin Cabernet Franc 2004

3.  Reserve Cabernet Franc, Recanati Winery

Petite Sirah

Reserve Petite Sirah 2004, Yiftach’el Winery

1. Vitkin Petite Sirah 2004
2. Reserve Petite Sirah Zinfandel, Recanati Winery

Carignan

1.      Vitkin Carignan 2004

Italian Varieties

1. Ramim Barbera 2003, Psagot Winery
2. Kfir Barbera 2005

3.= Aligote Sangiovese 2005

      Gamla Sangiovese 2005

Value for money – up to NIS 69

1. Adama – Bazelet Merlot 2005, Tabor Winery
2.  Appellation Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2005, Carmel Winery

     La Petite Sirah 2004, Ben Haim

3. Yogev Cabernet Merlot 2005, Binyamina Winery

DESSERT WINES

White

1. Yarden HeightsWine 2004, Golan Heights Winery
2. Sha’al Gewurztraminer 2005, Carmel Winery
3. “Or” 2006, Tzora Winery

Port Style

1. Avihuport, Levona Winery
2. Mescha Dessert 2003, Tabor Winery
3. Carmel Vintage 2004

LITTLE BOUTIQUE WINERIES 

White Wine

1. Chardonnay Somek 2004

2. Chardonnay Yaffo 2006

3. chardonnay  Kfir 2005

Merlot

1. Aligote 2005

1. Erez 2003

2. Psagot 2005

3. Somek 2003

March 2007