The New Israel at ProWein 2008 Hall 6 Stand K47 A Fascinating Wine Tour
Israel offers a tremendous and fascinating multitude of climates and landscapes. The wines from the North grow in mountainous ranges with altitudes up to 800 m while those from the South are cultivated in the desert. The different terroirs of Israel vary substantially and thanks to selected wines from leading Israeli wineries presented at the ProWein 2008, you can experience and enjoy these variations yourself.
Visit the first-ever Israeli joint-exhibitors stand in hall 6, stand K47.
The wineries:
• Binyamina
• Galil Mountain
• Recanati
• Tabor
• Tulip
are pleased to invite you to tastings moderated by the film producer, Israel expert and wine specialist Markus Vahlefeld that will take place on:
• Sunday, March 16th at 14:00
• Monday, March 17th at 14:30
• Tuesday, March 18th at 14:00
The New Israel
If it is Robert Parker from the USA or the “Weinwelt” magazine from the German publisher Meininger – the trade press unanimously agree that in the last years Israel has become one of most dynamic and interesting wine countries in the world. No wonder then that in a comprehensive Israel tasting organized by the Wine Advocate magazine of Robert Parker, more than 14 wines from the land of the Bible received over 90 points. You can taste some of these highly rated wines at our ProWein stand.
The Israeli Terroirs
The Upper Galilee region in the North has vineyards in altitudes of up to 600 m. The soils are either limestone or iron-rich clay, both ideally suitable for cultivating quality wines. While until the 1980’s most vineyards were planted in the fertile Carmel and Judean Plains, many of the top Israeli wines today originate from the Upper Galilee. Due to the proximity to Mount Hermon and the many valleys, the surface of the Upper Galilee cools down faster than the plain. The difference of temperature between the days and nights is substantial and the rainfalls begin earlier in the year. Snowfalls in the winter are quite common.
The Golan Heights in the North-East is yet another top quality wine region. The basaltic subsoil reveals the volcanic origins of the Golan Heights. The vineyards are in altitudes of up to 800 m and some of them offer the spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee.
The Judean Plain and Jerusalem Hills west of Jerusalem are wine regions with diverse terroirs and wineries. The proximity to Jerusalem influenced the production of the so-called sacramental wines, often sweet and of lower quality. But the Jerusalem Hills are perfectly suitable for quality-wine cultivation and some of Israel’s best and oldest Boutique wineries are located in this region. Here as well some of the vineyards are at altitude of 600 m.
South of the Judean Hills stretches the Negev desert, certainly one of the unique nature formations on earth. Most of the Negev desert lies in altitudes up to 300 m. During the summer the days are very hot and the nights very cold. Rain is obviously in short supply and the project “Turn the desert into a blossoming garden” can only succeed with irrigation. For wine cultivation the dryness protects from fungal infections and the cold desert nights allow regeneration and acidity building in the grapes. The Negev desert is the youngest wine project in Israel but it is already clear that some of the most interesting and distinctive wines of Israel will emerge from this unique region. And by the way, while at the end of August the grape harvest here is already completed, in the Upper Galilee it has not even begun.
The New Israel is presented to you by The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute and by the Israeli wine exporter ZAG Wines Ltd.
For more information and print-ready pictures please contact:
Renee SALZMAN
Zag Wines Ltd.
renee@zagwines.com
+972-54-223.1409
