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 דף הבית   |   אודותינו   |   תקנון האתר   |   פרסום באתר   |   מפת האתר   |   צור קשר כל הזכויות שמורות: www.wines-israel.co.il