Icon 3:Yarden Series of Golan Heights Winery
By Eldad Levy

3 – Yarden Series of Golan Heights Winery

There are few cases in the global wine industry when a single wine makes a decisive impact on an entire industry. In Israel, Golan Heights Winery generated a major and substantial change with Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon. Golan Heights Winery’s Yarden series was accorded the “Icon of Israel” label in the framework of the Israel Wines portal’s unique project, headed by Eldad Levy. Eldad Levy tells the story, from the beginning till today.

Eldad Levy
“In the beginning, Baron Rothschild created the Carmel Mizrahi wineries. And Carignan ruled over the desolate land, and here and there the spirit of God hovered over one winemaker, Freddie Stiller. And Stiller produced two amazing Cabernet Sauvignon wines, in 1976 and 1978. And then the land was silent for six more years, until the emergence of the first Cabernet Sauvignon from Golan Heights Winery.”

This, perhaps, is how someone will ultimately write the opening scene of the most important revolution the Israeli wine industry has ever experienced. The story is well-known: Soon after the Six Day War, Professor Cornelius Ough, a senior faculty member at the University of California, Davis, visited the Golan Heights. After an enthusiastic assessment of the potential of the basaltic and high terrain in the area, several communities decided “to go for it” and to establish a commercial winery in the Golan Heights. Quite quickly an ownership group came together for the newborn venture – seven communities from the Golan, and one from the Galilee.

The first wine produced by the winery was a Sauvignon Blanc that won rave reviews. But the real revolution began with the Cabernet Sauvignon in the Yarden series that first entered the market from the grape harvest of 1983. At the time, we did not know much about medals and trophies, so we paid little attention when the 1984 harvest was awarded a gold medal and trophy in the IWSC competition in London. When the wine from the next harvest also won honors (in 1987), we woke up a bit. “The double win was a turning point,” says Victor Schoenfeld, the winery’s chief winemaker since 1991. “At the winery, they did not understand the significance. It was the English importer who entered the wine in the competition, but the potential of the area was clear. A young area, vineyards only seven years old, and already such a prize!”

A few years later, “the French paradox” was publicized, informing the world that red wine is good for one’s health; the Americans became drinkers of red wine, we followed behind them – and the rest is history. And Israel changed from a land of Carignan and Semillon to a land of Cabernet.

The Uniqueness of the Yarden Series
There are few cases in the global wine industry when a single wine makes such a decisive impact on an entire industry. Reports on the harvest of the past decade tell the story in absolute numbers: Cabernet has surpassed Carignan and is responsible for more than 20% of the grapes harvested in Israel. In second place is the previous king, Carignan, with about 17%, but most of this is used to produce grape juice or who knows what. So if we focus on the premium industry, Cabernet accounts for about half, plus or minus. If this isn’t a knockout – what is?

One could argue that this is a not a big deal. Cabernet is an international, well-known and popular variety that is easy to grow almost anywhere that wine grapes are cultivated. The exact same reasons can be cited to argue that this variety does not offer any advantages in competition in international markets. All this is true, yet the Cabernet of the Golan Heights is the wine that took the sleepy – if not to say backward – wine industry and turned it into a modern, successful and popular industry. Today, the popularity of the local wines in Israel seems natural. But two decades ago, until the wine revolution of Golan Heights Winery, we drank much more imported wine, most of which was not even of particularly good quality. Today, in a nearly exact mirror image, we drink red and Israeli wine, apparently in a much larger absolute quantity (though still very insufficient). There is no dispute that Golan Heights Winery sparked this process, and they did this with the iconic label of Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Yarden Cabernet has a clear aesthetic signature: ripe, concentrated fruit with a present wood frame, and tannins that will always be soft and friendly, even when the wine is young. Thus, it became the yardstick of the entire industry. Some of the vineyards try to produce a cabernet that will be “more of everything”: more fruit, more wood, more richness and concentration. Some of the vineyards adopt the opposite approach and try to present Cabernet wines that will be “less of everything” – less alcohol, less concentration and less wood. But both almost always consciously measure themselves against the Yarden Cabernet. Incidentally, the first to admit this was Yair Margalit, who said he used to set the price of his Cabernet at twice the price of the Yarden Cabernet.

Until this point, the Yarden Cabernet was the most expensive wine in Israel, and probably also the only one that today’s marketers would define as quality-premium. But even today, with a much broader and deeper basket of products, the Yarden Cabernet is still considered a nearly sacred product at the winery. Even when there is Katzrin and Rom and single-vineyard wines – first and foremost, there is the Yarden Cabernet, and all of the other wines are born only if there is enough quality material to ensure the consistency in its style and quality. “Wine is not a short-term game,” says Schoenfeld. “And the most important part in the business is to maintain consistency.” Arnon Harel, the winery’s marketing director, agrees: “Actually, this is the winery’s flagship wine. From a marketing perspective, we could make a lot more of it. In practice, what determines the amount we produce is our ability to make it without compromises.”

It is impossible to separate the work of Golan Heights Winery from its main wine that has recorded over twenty harvests at the winery. When Schoenfeld arrived at the winery, white varieties accounted for 80% of its plantings. Today the situation is the opposite, “though in recent years we have consistently been short of white wine.” Schoenfeld arrived earlier in Israel and worked at the Tishbi Winery in 1985-1986. He was in charge of the vineyards there, and the winemaker was none other than… Yair Margalit. “Contrary to what is happening today, the studies at Davis were separate for viticulture and winemaking.” The pedantic Schoenfeld realized in order to be responsible for the entire process, he needed to learn winemaking. He returned to California, completed his studies, came back to Golan Heights Winery – and the rest is history.

Tasting the Wines – From the Mature to the Young
Is there a point in conducting a study of the vineyards, blends and percentages that build the Yarden Cabernet? “There is nothing thematic in this search,” Schoenfeld says. “In our view, the wine in the Yarden series is a ‘regional wine’ that should reflect the character of the center and north of the Golan Heights, and most of the relevant vineyards participate in the game every year.” In most years, there was also Cabernet from the excellent vineyard (of blessed memory) in the Kadesh Valley in the Upper Galilee. Incidentally – if there is 85% or more fruit from the Golan, then “Golan” will be written on the Hebrew label. If not, the label will read “Galilee” – which is the wider region. In any case, “Galilee” will be written on the foreign labels, because there is no separate recognition of the Golan in the Israeli wine standard.

First Group: The Veterans
(Note: These wines underwent quick filtering en route to the decanter and then immediately from the decanter to the glasses.)

1988: The age is evident in the color. Raisins and dried fruits already overwhelm the nose. A bit of old leather. It even feels “Pinot Noirish” – forest floor, red fruit, leather. A little sherry and chocolate. The mouth – alive, with good acidity and remnants of fruit. We drank it with pleasure – a fascinating wine that elicits respect.

1990: Just two years – and the wine feels much younger. You could say that it is an upgrade over the 1988 in terms of the vitality of the fruit. The nose suggests red fruit, a drop of cassis, something earthy with a nuance of mushroom. In the mouth – high acidity, the fruit is in retreat, but still offers original flavors. A good finish. An experience.

1993: After 1990, we drank another Katzrin year for those who remember. Another upgrade. The fruit is already deeper and even has something fresh in it. A bit of tar, lightly smoked, a bit green, leather and a little truffle. On the mouth – the volume is good, the fruit is a bit in retreat but feels complex and balanced on the palate. The tannins are still present, but are soft and not “kicking.”

1995: At first, it feels a bit less lively than the 1993. But after a while, it awakens and takes its place – the youngest in the foursome. In the nose – aromas a bit smoked and even “whiskeyish”/mineral (malt iodine), and lots of fruit. The mouth – lacks volume a bit, though it lasts in a completely honorable way. Here we meet the original and sweet flavors of the fruit for the first time. Schoenfeld: “At the time, I recommended drinking the wines within a decade. In some ways, this wine re-writes the books and the winemaker notes – you can still feel the freshness nearly twenty years after the harvest.” At the top of the list: There is a nearly complete consensus for the 1990 and 1995, with lots of respect for the older of the two.

Second Group: Prime Time
1996: Apparently the most dramatic year in the history of Yarden Cabernet, and not for the proper reasons. If you take a peek at the pictures, you can see that the wine received “California-style” bottles that year. The issue was with the corks – they did not exactly fit the new bottle, and very quickly dampness was detected around the cork. The market responded with hysteria – despite the winery’s claim that there was no problem. “Those who benefited were the employees,” Victor smiles. “We bought quantities of this wine, and at an excellent price.” Change the corks? “The damage would outweigh the benefit, if there was indeed damage.”

Apparently there was no damage, because the wine we taste – with an original cork and a bit wet – is simply amazing. Even young, with loads of initial fruit, together with dried fruits, raisins and carobs. A bit of cassis, full of life, perhaps the first in the series so far. Very ready for drinking, with the correct balance of age and fresh fruit.

1997: Less expressive than the previous, but more detailed and nuanced. A bit green, toward cooked vegetables, but they are very much in the background and do not disturb. A bit mineral. On the palate, there is less fruit than the 1996, but still enough, and it is lively and does not crash. It reminds one of the 1990, the character of a cold year, and it is the most exceptional wine of the foursome. And apparently the weakest of them.

1999: Really wow. Not only because it successfully meets the test of time – but in general. Black fruit, juicy and fresh with truffles and a bit of moss, excellent volume on the palate, a long finish and full of the flavors of original fruit. A charming wine and full of life. Good concentration. We go up another level: From here and onward, it is possible to easily keep the bottles for a number of years.

2000: A nose very much “in place,” serious, and less abundant than the 1999 (a bit mineral and green), but very precise and … young. Impressive volume and vitality that commands respect. Relatively sweet fruit, a bit of cassis. The finish is a bit tannin and dry, but perhaps this due to an accumulation of tannin during the tasting.
Aviram: 1999 / Arnon, Mor and Ayala: 96 / Cooper: 99, 97 / Ehud: 96 and the 2000 will get there / Anat: 97 right now / Eldad: 99, 96 / Uri: 2000

Third Group: Funky Town
This is the most fascinating foursome in terms of the great diversity of the wines. Most of them are at a stage that is not very communicative, with an abundance of aromas, some of which can be considered “funky”(not clean), closed. In short, something that reminds one of human adolescence, for those who have raised teenagers in their home.

2001: The most precise of the four. A combination of ripe fruit, black, fresh and invigorating. A bit of mineral, seasoning and chocolate in the background. Excellent volume, good fruit concentration, a long and full finish. Seasoned, compressed – the age is not yet clear. Just emerging from “adolescence.”

2002: An extreme heat wave in August gave a bad name to the harvest that year. With a bit of imagination, your nose can detect it. The mouth – a little soft, a bit thin, a relatively short finish. The acidity is a little high vis-à-vis the fruit. In comparison to the others, it seems a bit mature, but as a ten-year-old wine it is very impressive. Aging potential – less, but it is much better than the reputation of this harvest at the time.

2003: This was the least convincing for me of the four. A bit of cooked vegetables, a bit soft and ripe on the palate. It seems that it is mainly a matter of the stage in life – lots of fruit, but closed and tightened. The summaries stage proves that is apparently worthwhile to give it time to rest.

2004: Similar to 2001, but much younger and kicking. Seasoned, with cassis and even a hint of liquor. In the mouth it is also very rich and seasoned, full and invigorating. Young. It needs time – and a lot, but it is worth saving. A moment before the “teenage” years; those who want the fruit direct and pristine – this is the time, or forget about it for 3 or 4 years.

Uri: 04, 01 / Aviram: 04 / Mor: 01 / Arnon: 04, 01 / Cooper: 04, 02 / Ehud: 04, 03 / Anat: 01, 04 / Ayala: 01, 04 / Eldad: 01, 04

Fourth Group: Childhood Dreams
All of these wines are in their childhood stage – original fruit, fresh, vigorous, kicking and not always restrained. Of course, unfortunately 90% or more of the bottles are gulped down at this stage. Not that the wine is bad, but it is capable of more.

2005: The most seasoned of all. The nose offers an abundance of seasoning from the barrel and in general. Relatively extroverted, with aromas of aniseed, licorice, perhaps a bit simplistic in comparison to the more successful years. All in all – very Cabernet.

2006: A bit out. Very seasoned, young and fresh. The fruit is very out front and so is the barrel – well blended, but present. But it has something a bit different than the “regular” line of wines, mainly in the aromas.

2007: The complex one. It undoubtedly presented the most interesting aromatic profile. There are those who found that there is a bit too much of everything here. Will time moderate it? Schoenfeld “All of the predictions are a bit out of context. It’s hard for me to say whether it will be similar to this or that, and when it will occur. But I can say that nothing will disturb it from aging honorably.”

2008: The paradox of the child. Not as deep and powerful as the 2007. Completely a child. “Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon always looks better after two years in the bottle,” says Schoenfeld. That is the paradox – it starts to look good just after it is gone from the restaurant market.

Uri: 08, 05 / Arnon: same / Mor: same / Cooper: 07 / Ehud: 07, 05 / Anat: 07, 05 / Ayala: 07 / Eldad: 07

Summary
The most interesting way to summarize the tasting is to examine several undisputed “axioms” regarding Israeli wine.

Golan Heights Winery and Israeli wines are the “most new world” around
If wines of the new world are built for “accessibility” more than “aging” – that is not exactly the category of Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon. And if the wines of the old world punish someone who touches them in their youth – okay, here too, this is not the case (though not everyone will relate to its abundant style). Cabernet Yarden is on a third path – a combination of the new world and the old world. Wines that are very accessible in their youth, but offer something else and reward those who manage to be restrained and keep them long enough.

There are no differences between the harvests in the State of Israel
Think again. The differences exist, and they are not negligible. Through the narrow prism of tasting Cabernet Yarden, we saw that there are differences. The differences are not necessarily dramatic, but they affect the character and aging ability of the wines.

Cabernet Yarden is a first-rate Israeli icon
Okay, sometimes the axioms are as solid as a rock.

For more information on the Icon Wines of Israel project
To the site of Eldad Levy

The Cabernet Sauvignon Experience

One Variety—Four Cups—Four Stories

 Drinking wine on Pesach is a mitzvah we can enjoy to its fullest if we know what to drink. As we stand in the wine shop perusing our options for the seder,there are many choices of wine styles, grape varieties, countriesand wineries that face us. But this Pesach, how about doing something a little different? How about choosing four different expressions of the same grape variety, grown in the same area, by the same winery? Four stories, four experiences and the perfect way to enjoy the four cups.

 Leading Israeli wine producers, The Golan Heights Winery, owes its place on the world wine map to one extremely important grape variety—Cabernet Sauvignon. The first Cabernet Sauvignon, under the Yarden label,was produced from the 1984 vintage only one year after the establishment of the winery. In 1987, after its stunning debut at the world-renowned International Wine and Spirit Competition in London, the wine picked up a gold medal and the Winiarski Trophy for the ‘Best Cabernet Sauvignon Worldwide’. This was the first time an Israeli wine had received a prestigious international accolade and was the definitive moment that opened the door to international recognition of the winery,as well asquality Israeli wines in general.Since then, the Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon hascontinued to win significant honours, making it the most awarded wine in Israel, as well as the benchmark for all other Israeli Cabernets.

Let us first understand a bit more about the essence of the variety. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most widely recognized red winegrape varieties and is grown in nearly every major wine producing country, among a diverse spectrum of climates. A favourite of winemakers and connoisseurs, and the basis for the most prestigious Bordeaux wines, its popularity is often attributed to its ease of cultivation and to its consistent presentation of structure and flavours which express the typical character of the variety.

What follows are’four cups’ of Cabernet Sauvignon all produced by the Golan Heights Winery, all grown in the same specified area, and all created by the same winemaker. Despite these similarities, each ‘cup’ has its own special story, its own individual nature, scents and tastes, and each one will contribute another layer of enjoyment to your seder experience. In a way, you can think of it like one family with four sons (after all, it is Pesach!).  The four sons have the same parents and the same upbringing, yet each one has his own distinct personality.

These wines arerecommended to you by Debby Sion, Head of Wine Education at the Golan Heights Winery.

“Let us fill our first cup with GolanCabernet Sauvignon. This is an ideal wine for the first cup of the seder, since it is easy to drink a full glass of it without any food. A fruity and rich wine, the Golan Cabernet Sauvignon is pleasant to drink and has a round finish. Spending six months in oak barrelscreatesa scent of ripe berries, with a touch of fresh herbs, vanilla and spice. The Golan Cabernet Sauvignon is enjoyable up to five years from the time of harvest.”

“For the second cup, let us enjoy the Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon, which is one of the Golan Heights Winery’s most popular and best-selling wines in Israel and around the world. It is a full-bodied, bold-flavoured wine, which exhibits aromas of blackberries and blueberries blended with subtle scents of earth, spices and fresh herbs—all that is expected of a quality Cabernet. The Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon has aged for twelve months in French oak barrels and is ready to drink immediately on purchase (although you can also age it for up to ten years from its time of harvest). It is also a wine that will give you extremely good value for money.”

“Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon is perfect for the third cup. Displaying a high concentration of scents and flavours,  it is characterized by aromas of ripe red and black fruits, scents of earth, spice, chocolate, tobacco, and subtle hints of herbs (typical of a wine that spends 18 months in new French oak barrels). Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied with a long and pleasant finish. I would recommend opening the bottle several hours before drinking it to let it breathe and develop, and you’ll see that even with each sip the wine will continue to evolve and surprise you. Earlier vintages that have aged for a while, will allow for an even more pleasurable experience when you come to drinking it. Under the right conditions this wine can age for up to twenty years. There is nothing more perfect than drinking this wine with the main course of your meal, such as beef, lamb or a meat casserole. And if you really want to spoil yourself, this wine is also available in a magnum bottle (1.5 litres), allowing the fun to continue to the next day.”

“For the fourth and final cup, it’s time for the Yarden Katzrin Red 2007. The flagship wine of the Golan Heights Winery, this wine is only produced in outstanding vintages and in a limited number. Yarden Katzrin Red is a blend of Bordeaux varieties, with approximately 90% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Out of all these four wines, the Yarden Katzrin Red 2007 has spent the longest amount of time in French oak barrels—a total of 24 months, as well as another year and a half ‘resting’ in its bottle. It is a deep, complex and rich wine, full-bodied and full-flavoured, with a very long finish(in fact, since it perfectly complements full-flavouredfoods, you may also want to have a glass with your main meal). With 1990 being its first vintage, the 2007 edition is only the seventh time the wine has been produced, and will therefore act as a special treat for the climax of your seder!”

Four Cabernets, four styles, four distinct and delicious tastes…and one memorable seder.

Chag kasher ve’sameach. Le’chaim!

4Cups 4 Your Budget

By: David Green

You’re having guests for the seder and you want to impress. You also know that four cups multiplied by ten guests equals quite a substantial amount of wine being consumed! Since there are so many wines on the market today, it can be useful to have some help, especially when it comes to managing your budget. So as you stand in the wine shop perusing your options, use these recommendations of fine Israeli and European kosher wines to assist you in your mission.

Since we have the first two cups towards the beginning of the seder and the second two after the main meal, it is best to start off with light and ‘easy’ wines before moving on to the more complex medium and full-bodied styles.

Under £15:

 (Cup 1: Les Floreales Chardonnay (Italy)

This young and dry white winecomprises of 100% Chardonnay grapes grown in Sicily. Since ithas not spent any time aging in oak barrels, it is light and extremely fruity, imparting a refreshing feel and leaving you wanting more.

Cup 2: Yarden Mount Hermon Red:(Israel)

A delightful blend of the five Bordeaux red varieties, this young wine allows for refreshing experience filled with vibrant black and red forest fruits, and a light touch of spices and fresh herbs. It is also available in a larger 1.5 litre bottle (magnum).

Cup 3: GamlaPinot Noir(Israel)

Produced entirely from Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Golan Heights, this wine ages in French oak barrels for seven months, yielding a complex bouquet of violets, raspberries, sour cherries and spice.These qualities, along with the wine’s medium body, create an immediately approachable, yet classic, Pinot Noir.

Cup 4: Cantina Merlot Rouge (Italy)

This young Merlot from Lazio in Italy exhibits a deep ruby red colour, tender scents of forest fruits and a lightly spicy touch.It has a medium-bodied taste and is softly tannic.

 Over £15:

 (Cup 1:Bravdo Chardonnay (Israel)

A delightful product of the Jerusalem Mountains, this lively and fruity dry white wine has a well-balanced acidity and a scent of citrus, green apples and apricots, with crème friache and woody notes to the finish.

 Cup 2: Mas Noir 2008 (France)

This deliciously complex, dry red wine is made from 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache grapes, grown in the Coteaux du Languedoc region in Southern France and has been aged in barrels for 16 months.

  (Cup 3: GalilYiron 2007: (Israel)

Sparkling red in colour, this wine displays abundant aromas of cherry and blueberry on a background of vanilla, clove and toasted oak characters, along with a slight hint of butter. It is a balanced and elegant full-bodied wine with a long, velvety finish.

Cup 4: Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon (Israel)

The Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon is the Golan Heights Winery’s flagship wine, and for good reason. Full-bodied and concentrated with a long complex finish, this is a wine that will continue to evolve throughout your meal, revealing layer after layer of complex aromas. Spending 18 months in small French oak barrels causes it to develop mature fruit aromas of plum, blackberry, cherry and blackcurrant, with hints of tar and spices and lower notes of woody vanilla.

 Over £30:

 There are many wonderful wines in this price category. Here are two recommended ones that have just been launched in time for Pesach, and are sure to be the highlight of your seder.

The YardenKatzrin Red 2007(Israel) is a limited edition wine, produced in only the most exceptional of vintages.It spends a total of 24 months in French oak barrels and another 12–18 months in the bottle before being released to the market. The YardenKatzrin Red shows exceptional depth and complexity, and layers of ripe cherry, blackberry, plum and cassis, with rich oak, vanilla, spice and chocolate notes.

 The Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2009 (France) is a rich and opulent wine, which exhibits a glorious nose of acacia flowers, liquorice and black raspberries. Fresh and perfectly balanced, itis a perfect example of a Bordeaux wine at its finest and received a perfect score of 100 points from leading U.S. wine critic, Robert Parker.

 Although, of course, both of these wines can be enjoyed immediately upon purchase, leave them to age for a few years to really enjoy them to their fullest.

!Happy Pesach

Choosing the Best Wines for Your Seder Celebrations   

By Yissachar Stephens

When Jewish families congregated around the seder table in ancient Israel thousands of years ago, they made a blessing over thick wines produced from the lush vineyards and abundant wine cellars, which permeated the Judean Hills and the Galilee/Golan regions.

Since the rebirth of the Israel’s winemaking industry in the late 19^th century by scions of the Rothschild family, and the revolution in creating award-winning premium international vintages led by the Golan Heights Winery in the 1990′s, Jewish families all over the world now have an opportunity to choose from a growing number of quality wines and grape juices for the Pesach holiday.

When choosing a proper wine and/or grape juice to celebrate the “Arba Kosot”, there are several halachots which accentuate the purity of the seder ceremony.

Rabbi Shalom Aronzon, kashrus supervisor (mashgiach) at the Golan Heights Winery for the past 21 years, explains that the 4 cups contain a significant spiritual dimension. “From a historical and halachic perspective, renowned ancient and contemporary rabbinical sages from the Rambam to Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, of blessed memory, encouraged Jews all over the world to use non-mevushal red wine because of its inherent purity. The author of the Shulchan Aruch, Rabbi Yosef Caro, did allow for the use of mevushal wine for Kiddush on a few occasions, but even he admitted that the use of non-mevushal wine was preferable. As a result, a majority of today’s rabbinical sages consider non-mevushal wine to be the desirable choice when making Kiddush,” says Rabbi Aronzon.

Rabbi Aronzon reiterated that while the halachic element of using non-mevushal wine is the premium standard, many contemporary sages allow adults and of course children to make Kiddush over grape juice, for both health and practical reasons.

Which types of wine does Rabbi Aronzon prefer using at his seder, so he’ll be able to stay awake throughout the evening? He revealed, “I’ll use a delicious red wine, such as a Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon or Yarden Merlot for the first two glasses. Both wines boast robust flavors and contain significant alcohol content (at least 12%), but then I’ll make a switch during the second half of the seder. For bentching I’ll use a white Golan Moscato wine, which is light, sweet and lively wine. For the last bracha I’ll use a semi-dry Yarden Gewurztraminer, which is also an excellent white wine. Though many sages prefer the usage of red wine throughout the seder, the renowned Ashkenazic sage, Rabbi Moses Isserles permitted the use of non-mevushal white wines.”

L’chaim!

Wine Lovers Find Your Match                                       

By: Tami Benmayer

For as long as there has been a Jewish People, there has been a Jewish love of wine. The enjoyment of wine and its place in Jewish life date back millennia. From Noah, the first recorded viticulturist, who, after the flood, “planted a vineyard”, to King David who sums up general sentiment by saying, “and wine gladdens the spirit” (Psalms 104), classical sources are replete with references to this alcoholic libation. Used in traditional ceremonies and festive meals alike, no Jewish event is fully complete without a selection of premium wines.

Since Pesach is approaching and with it, the absolute necessity to drink (at least!) four cups of wine, Debby Sion, chief wine trainer of the esteemed Golan Heights Winery, is on hand to provide us aspiring connoisseurs with some useful tips in order to enhance our vino enjoyment. “Understanding wine is as much of an art as it is enjoyable to drink. But, like any art, it is easy to acquire the fundamentals, yet far harder to hone.”

Here are some of Sion’s expert suggestions:
How much: Working out how much wine you need for the specified meal is key. A standard 750ml bottle is enough for six glasses. Therefore, estimate how many glasses each person will drink and multiply it by the number of guests, in order to ensure you buy the right amount.

Wine Glasses: Never fill a wine glass more than half way. This allows for the person to swirl the glass, so the wine can breathe. Red wine should be poured in to a large wide glass, white wine can be sipped from something slightly smaller and dessert wines should be served in relatively small glasses. One should drink sparkling wine from a tall narrow glass, as this slows down the disappearance of the effervescence.

Which Types: Make sure to have a diversity of wines at your meal, in order to cater for each guest’s personal tastes. Although certain foods go best with specific types of wine, it is more important to satisfy your guests preferences. Purchase a selection of both white and red wines in order to add richness and variety to the meal.
Where to Buy: Wine can be found almost anywhere; at any supermarket, petrol station or newsagent, but you are far better off shopping in specialist wine shops or on specialist websites if you want to select the ideal bottles for your meal. You will be treated to professional guidance and can be assured that the product you are buying is of high quality and has been preserved well. Since wine is a product particularly sensitive to changes in temperature and heat, do not succumb to the temptation to buy it from places where it may not be stored appropriately, even if the prices are attractive. In addition, refrain from leaving it in the car after purchase, as the heat will cause it to spoil.

Serving Temperature: White wines should be chilled in the fridge several hours prior to the meal (do not put in the freezer!). Ensure that the wine remains cool throughout the duration of the meal by using a wine chiller. Red wines should be served at a temperature of 18-20 degrees. Recommended serving temperatures are stated on allGolan Heights wines.

Storage: If you find yourself with leftover unopened bottles of wine at the end of your meal and do not own a wine fridge, here’s what to do. Place the bottles in a dark closet as close to the floor as possible. Do not store them for too long though.
As mentioned above, matching the right type of bottle to your menu is an important facet of any hopeful wine enthusiast. For example, wines such as Gamla White Riesling (semi-dry) and Gamla Chardonnay (dry) are the perfect aperitifs and work with appetizers to stimulate the appetite. Highly versatile when it comes to food, Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and Mount Hermon Red go exquisitely with just about any savory meat dish. Yarden Muscat is unabashedly sweet, yet retains an elegant drinkability, thus working perfectly with any dessert. Le’chaim!

“Ad D’Loh Yodah”: How to Drink on Purim

Being Jewish, there are not only multiple occasions throughout the year on which we enjoy drinking, but in many instances, we are actually commanded to drink! On Purim, this “legal requirement” goes even further. In expressing the joy we feel at the Jews being saved from Haman’s evil decree, we are told to drink until we “do not know the difference between ‘cursed be Haman’ and ‘blessed be Mordechai’”.  So we drink, we celebrate and we’re happy!

For those of us who would rather not wake up feeling the disastrous effects of a hangover the next morning, Debby Sion, Head of the Wine Education Department at the Golan Heights Winery, is on hand to provide us with some useful hangover-prevention tips.
“In order to really enjoy what we drink, we’re better off drinking sensibly. And the way to do this is to understand the effects that alcohol has on our bodies” says Debby” These effects are certainly not uniform, and vary according to several factors. Understanding these factors will enable each person to determine the drinking level that is right for them.”

• Gender:
A fact of life (and this is not just in relation to alcohol!) is that there are differences between men and women. The enzyme responsible for breaking down alcohol is less prevalent in women than in men, so the effect alcohol has on a woman is therefore stronger. In addition, women usually have a higher body fat percentage than men and therefore alcohol, which is soluble in water but not fat, reaches a higher concentration in a woman, even if she drinks the same amount as a man. Obviously, this is not a hard and fast rule and there are women to whom this does not apply. Each person has to know their own limits.

• Body weight:
As body weight increases, the effect of alcohol decreases. Thus, larger people have a significant advantage in that they can drink more without feeling it!

• Acclimation:
A person who drinks alcohol frequently starts to adapt to it and over time will become more and more immune to its effect. Someone who gets drunk after only one sip is probably not such an alcohol enthusiast!

• Physical condition:
A person’s physical condition will strongly determine the effect that the alcohol will have on him/her. Drinking on an empty stomach will cause you to get drunk quicker, as will drinking when you’re tired. Always make sure to eat something prior to drinking, as well as whilst drinking. A useful tip is to drink a tablespoon of olive oil at the outset, as it lines the stomach well.

• Fluids:
The influence of alcohol also directly correlates to the amount of water in the body. As you drink, your body starts to dehydrate and you will start to feel drunk. Drinking water or soda will combat the process of dehydration, causing the alcohol to have a more moderate effect on you.

• Rate of drinking:
Drinking a lot in a short space of time is never a good idea. Moderate drinking throughout the evening will allow you to remain in control.

• Mixing:
Mixing different types of spirits or mixing wine with spirits is also not recommended. Therefore, try to stick to just one type of drink. Drinking both red and white wines does not constitute “mixing”.

• Wine vs. other alcoholic drinks:
Wine tends to have a lower alcohol content than the majority of other alcoholic drinks (between 11-15%). It must be noted however, that a wine with 15% alcohol does not necessarily cause you to become more drunk that a wine containing 11% alcohol. What is more important is the quality of wine and how well its ingredients are balanced. Therefore, choosing a quality wine is worthwhile.

• Staying safe:
Do not drink and drive! After your Purim seuda, ask somebody else to give you a lift home.

Happy Purim from the Golan Heights Winery!

viagra

A Time to be Grapeful

By: D. Mann

Grapes. One of the seven agricultural specialties the Torah attributes to the Land of Israel. And one of the main products we’ll be enjoying this week on Tu B’shvat. Grapes were one of the three fruits the meraglim brought back to show Bnei Yisrael after spying out the land, illustrating the country’s overt agricultural potential. Although perhaps nowadays the grapes grown in Israel aren’t quite as sizeable as they were at the time of the meraglim, they are certainly no less impressive. Throughout history, Israel played a key role in the grape-growing and winemaking industries, and now after 2000 years, it has returned to its former glory, having become a fascinating and pioneering wine land. This Tu B’shvat, why limit yourself to raisins and grapes in commemoration of the sheva minim? Instead, choose something far more pleasurable and enjoyable… drinking wine!

The Golan Heights Winery is renowned for its many styles and varieties of wine. Here are seven recommended wines for Tu B’shvat, which highlight seven diverse grape varieties grown in the Land of Israel.

1. Golan Moscato—of the Muscat Canelli variety. With its gentle sparkle, low alcohol content and sweet touch, this wine is suitable for everyone. Combining floral, tropical fruit and fresh citrus characters, it will give you the feeling of having a party in your mouth!

2. Gamla Reisling—This is a young and aromatic white wine, which is semi-dry and fruity, leaving you with a refreshing, airy and excitable feeling with each and every sip.

3. Yarden Viognier—A full, powerful, complex white wine, Yarden Viognier will continue to surprise you as you continue to drink. Combining it with food will take you to a whole new level.

4. Golan Cabernet Sauvignon—The Golan Heights Winery is renowned for its Yarden Cabernet Sauvignons, which in the main are aged and complex. The Golan Cabernet Sauvignon however, will pleasantly surprise you with its young and not-so-heavy feel, while still retaining the high quality of a good Cabernet.

5. Gamla Syrah—Everybody loves a good Syrah. And as more and more people discover its wonder, the Golan Heights Winery’s new addition only adds to its already impressive lineup of Syrah varietals. The accessible Gamla Syrah displays a satisfying body and attractive flavour intensity, while at the same time manifesting a fun and lively character.

6. Yarden Pinot Noir—Pinot Noir is a crucial component of some of the most famous Burgundy wines. It is a variety that necessitates a lot of attention and requires a great deal of skill in order to produce high quality wine from it. When this happens though, it’s heaven! For those who want to enjoy this truly special experience, don’t miss out on Yarden Pinot Noir. 

7. Yarden Heightswine—of the Gewürztraminer variety. With hints of ripe apple, pear, citrus and tropical fruit characters, this intensely rich and sweet stand-alone dessert wine will transport you to an almost-heavenly sphere. As testimony to its success, Yarden Heightswine was awarded the title of “best Israeli wine” by the prominent Parker Wine Guide.

So this week on Tu B’shvat, why not raise a glass of a quality wine from the Land of Israel, enabling you to fully appreciate and take pride in the country’s outstanding agricultural attributes.

The Crème de la Crème of Israeli Wineries
With the Golan Heights Winery recently clinching the award of “world’s best wine producer” at the prestigious international Vinitaly competition, its name has been firmly established as the cream of the crop of Israeli wineries. 
Certainly not a stranger to attracting high levels of worldwide recognition, the Golan Heights Winery has successfully planted Israel on the international wine map. Ever since claiming a Gold Medal in London’s highly esteemed International Wine and Spirit Competition in 1987 for the Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon 1984, the Winery has effectively paved the way for the acknowledgment of Israeli wines on a global sphere.
Founded in 1983, The Golan Heights Winery spearheaded this “quality wine revolution” by combining state of the art technology with traditional vinification techniques. Producing premium varietals, proprietary blends and traditional method sparkling wines, under the labels “Yarden”, “Gamla” and “Golan”, the Winery has not only raised the standard of Israeli wines, but has also opened the doors to global reverence for other Israeli wineries. For example, The Carmel Winery triumphed in receiving the International Trophy in the 2010 Decanter World Wide Awards, and the small boutique winery, Psagot, was recently awarded a gold medal in the eminent Vinalies competition in Paris. Receiving over 90 points from world-class wine critics is also an accolade every winery aspires to, and Israeli wineries are increasingly being paid this honour. In fact, when internationally renowned wine critic, Robert Parker, first carried out an Israeli wine tasting in 2008, not only did numerous Israeli wines exceed the 90 point mark, but he even awarded two wines, produced by the Golan Heights Winery and Yatir Forest, with a staggering 93 points. This was a truly remarkable achievement which spoke volumes for the Israeli wine industry.

There are a plethora of both localised and international wine competitions on offer across the world, handing out awards, medals and trophies. The Golan Heights Winery made the decision to only participate in those contests that are considered the most serious and highly-esteemed. Its consumers can therefore ensure that each and every winning that a Golan Heights wine is identified with, is a significant and well-respected accomplishment, and has been judged by a credited and professional panel of judges. The 2011 Vinitaly Wine Competition in Verona is one such contest. Highly selective, it awards only a diminutive amount of medals to the most elite of wines. In the 2011 contest, over 3,700 wines produced by over 1,000 wineries competed for top honours, judged a panel of 105 of the world’s leading winemakers and wine journalists, who selected the winning wines in carefully supervised blind tastings that ensured the anonymity of each one. The Golan Heights Winery firmly established itself as the star of the show after being bestowed with the Gran Vinitaly Special Award for the world’s best wine producer, having achieved the best results in two distinct categories.  It received two Grand Gold Medals–the highest awards granted to individual wines at Vinitaly–for its 2009 Yarden Chardonnay Odem Organic Vineyard and 2008 Yarden Heights Wine. “We are extremely proud of being the first Israeli winery to be named the best wine producer at Vinitaly—the leading award at one of the world’s most prominent wine competitions”, said Anat Levi, CEO of Golan Heights Winery. “As shown by this historic achievement, our wines are competing successfully with the world’s top-quality wines, and representing us with honor.” After beating out intense competition from 30 countries, including traditional wine-producing powerhouses; France, Italy and Spain, this celebrated win has proved that the Golan Heights Winery, and Israeli wineries in general, are only looking towards a future of greatness, a future of creating remarkable wines and bringing the taste of Israel to discerning wine enthusiasts across the globe.
Raise your glass in celebration… L’chaim!