Any recommendations for great wine tasting experiences in Israel? TIA
We visited Somek last year and had a great time. Note that the wines are NOT kosher.
Before you go to Israel, watch this movie - it is on Netflix.
Just outside of Jerusalem (and only 25 or 30 minutes from Tel Aviv) re The Jerusalem Hills Quartet: Castel, Tzora, Flam and Sphera. Castel has a new winery and offers lovely tastings. Their Grand Vin is a bordeaux blend and generally considered among the best red wines in Israel. Their second wine is no slouch and they make a Burgundian Chardonnay. Tzora makes a number of wines. Their top flight Mistly Hills is a Cab/Syrah blend and is great. They make some very nice white wines and an ice wine. Flam’s flagship is Noble. They make other really nice wines as well. The highlight of a trip to Flam is tasting with Israel Flam, the father of the two owners. He has been in the wine business for ages and loves to sit, drink and talk with guests. Sphera, the only non-kosher winery in the quartet, is focused on white wines and is highly regarded. Up north in the Golan Heights I would definitely try to hit Pelter (non-kosher)/Matar(kosher site winery across the street) and Golan Heights Winery. Worth the drive and the Golan Heights is actually very safe to drive around.
Thank you for the info!
Eddie is exactly on target.
Eddie is exactly on target. Flam, Castel and Pelter are all great visits and the wines are all exceptional. Pelter is particularly fun to visit as it is right next to the Quinetra outlook…the line of demarcation between Israel and Syria and currently a hotspot with the Islamist jihadists and the Syrian army with the Russians and UN mixed in as well. Other worthwhile wineries to visit are Margolit (incredibly small but perhaps the best wines in Israel?), Gush Etzion Winery and Galil Mountain Winery along the Lebanon border.