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!

The Wine Barrel Shop Opens in London
Corks were popping last Thursday at the opening of the new Wine Barrel shop in Stamford Hill.
The Wine Barrel was first established in 2006 by Joel Herzog and has been one of the ideal places to sell kosher wine since its inception. Mr. Herzog, together with his partner Avrumi Roth, now brings his years of experience in dealing and showcasing his wines to the general public at their brand-new premises in Stamford Hill.
Conveniently located at the heart of the busy shopping intersection, The Wine Barrel is the shop of its kind in Europe. The polished glass storefront belies the veritable cornucopia of treasures held within. Upon entering the shop you feel like you have been transported to another time and place. The wooden floor, the open brickwork and the oversized decorative wine barrels lend an olde worlde rustic charm, providing a tranquil and relaxed haven away from the frantic pace of the outside.
The wines themselves are organised in such a way that customers are able to browse in complete comfort and make their selections quickly and easily. The front wall of the shop is divided into sections by country, with each section clearly identifying the region. The shelves are sorted according to grape variety; at eye level sit the white wines, below them the Merlots, then the Cabernets and so on. This arrangement is maintained throughout each individual region, providing a flow to the room, and makes finding what you are looking for simple and effortless. The Wine Barrel currently boasts extensive selections from France, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain and California and will shortly be importing wines from the increasingly popular regions of Australia and New Zealand.
In addition to the expansive wine selection, The Wine Barrel carries a host of spirits, including Scotch whiskies and American whiskeys, vodkas and various other liqueurs from crème de menthe to creamy Advocaat.
The Wine Barrel, however, is so much more than a simple off licence; it is a complete experience. It is the first kosher wine store in the United Kingdom to feature a temperature controlled room, maintaining optimum levels of humidity and moisture to ensure that the best vintages and aged wines are stored in the most favourable of conditions.
A specially designed Tasting Room, just off the main shop floor, provides the ideal atmosphere for either a formal or informal tasting session. Comfortable seating and ambient lighting allows an individual to choose the perfect selection of wine for their simchah or other occasion in a relaxed setting. The Tasting Room can be pre-booked by small groups of people who wish to hold a private tasting session, as Mr. Roth states, “many of our customers know what kind of wine they like, but will sometimes want to try something different.”
Both Joel Herzog and Avrumi Roth have received intensive training from professionals in the trade and are always on hand to advise on the best wine for any specific occasion, how to store wine and the optimum way to drink wine. The Wine Barrel will also be hosting tasting events on a variety of different topics, as Mr. Roth explains, “You don’t have to be a wine aficionado to appreciate a good bottle of wine, and that is the ethos of our shop.”
Baalei simchah will no longer have to navigate the complexities of having their wine served. The Wine Barrel will take care of the entire bar service including a heimishe bar staff.
The Wine Barrel also offers a gift presentation service. Each arrangement is designed with flair and panache and includes an item which will last beyond the taste of the chocolates and the wine, such as a vase or a tray, making it extremely good value for money.
Whether you are a seasoned oenophile or a complete wine novice, there is something for everyone at The Wine Barrel. (As published in Hamodia. 22 Dec 2011)

Bubbles of Joy
6 fun facts about Sparkling Wines

By: Danielle Mann

“I am drinking stars”
(Dom Pérignon, 17th Century)

Effervescence has been observed in wine throughout the ages, long before winemakers could reliably capture and preserve it in a bottle. The cause of this mysterious phenomenon was not fully understood and was even viewed as a nuisance when bottles would burst spontaneously. Early success in producing sparkling wines in the French district of Champagne resulted in the area’s worldwide fame, so much so that the name “Champagne” has become a generic term for all sparkling wines. That sparkling wine was “invented” in France though is a common misconception and true credit is really due to the Brits. English scientist and physician Christopher Merret was the first to document the deliberate addition of sugar for the production of sparkling wine and in 1662 presented his findings to the Royal Society. In the lead up to Chanukah, here are six fun facts about sparkling wines from Debby Sion, head of the training department at the Golan Heights Winery in Israel.

1. Sparkling wine should only be used for special occasions, right?
 
Not at all! Although it is true that cracking open a bottle of champagne is commonly associated with New Year celebrations and other festivities, the notion that these occasions alone justify opening up a ‘bottle of the bubbly’ is a common misconception. Sparkling wine comprises of various elements that make it a versatile accompaniment to any meal. With its high acidity levels, delicate flavour, and low alcohol content in comparison to most table wines (around 12%), a sip between bites leaves the diner with a refreshing and unique tingle to the palate.

2. How is sparkling wine made?

The “sparkle” in sparkling wine is created as a natural byproduct of the fermentation process, when carbon dioxide is released in the liquid. The production process for a quality sparkling wine is generally long and expensive. Champagne, the most renowned brand of sparkling wine, is made from very specific grape varieties using the “traditional method”. This involves squeezing whole bunches of grapes and carrying out secondary fermentation of the wine in its bottle. Any other wine produced using this method outside of the Champagne region in France is called “Champagne method” or “traditional method” sparkling wine.

Not all sparkling wines are made using the abovementioned means. The “Charmat method” is one in which the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bulk tanks rather than individual bottles, and is then bottled under pressure. The “transfer method” is similar to the traditional method, however, after secondary fermentation, the wine is transferred out of the individual bottles into a larger tank and then filtered into new bottles. Another method is to simply inject carbon dioxide into the wine, which is actually the process used for soft drinks like Coca Cola. This method produces large bubbles that dissipate quickly when poured and is used to produce less expensive sparkling wines.

3. Does sparkling wine equal sparkling prices?

The price of a sparkling wine is mainly determined by the way it is produced. The Champagne method tends to be the most expensive technique, whereas the transfer and Charmat processes are both seen as time and money savers. However, it does not necessarily follow that the more the expensive the wine, the better the quality. There are many wonderful sparkling wines out there which are available at very reasonable prices.

4. The Spanish-Italian response to Champagne

Cava is Spain’s version of “Champagne”. High quality Cava is produced in a very similar way to Champagne using local Spanish grape varieties. Today, simple and inexpensive Cavas can be found across the globe. Famous sparkling wines that hail from Italy are Prosecco and Lambrusco. These are available in varying degrees of dryness, the majority of which are produced in ways other than the traditional style. Moscato d’Asti comes from Northern Italy, and is a sparkling wine with a particularly low alcohol content (up to 6%) and a rather delicate sweetness.

5. What’s Israel’s story?

Sparkling wines have become extremely popular in Israel over the last few years and, as much as the number of imported sparklers such as Cava and Prosecco has increased dramatically, so too has the amount of sparkling wines being produced within the country.

The Golan Heights Winery was the first Israel winery to produce sparkling wines using the traditional method only, and has been creating world renowned varieties for many years. Gamla Brut consists of equal amounts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes and is produced with extreme care, ensuring that each bottle has been aged for at least one year on its yeast lees (sediment). This process produces an accessible sparkling wine, with a crisp, clean taste that will leave you desiring another sip. Yarden Blanc de Blancs 2005, made from Chardonnay grapes alone, is an elegant, full flavoured, sparkling wine which is only produced from exceptional harvests. The fact that it has won numerous prestigious awards stands testimony to its high calibre. In fact, in terms of quality, these wines even compete with certain Champagnes. Their attractive pricing further enhances the notion that price does not always dictate quality. In addition, the wines are not mevushal, so they retain their high quality and age well.

Golan Moscato is an altogether different type of ‘fizzy’ wine, made in the style of Moscato d’Asti using the Muscat Canelli variety grown in the Southern Golan. Exuberantly aromatic, its gentle sparkle and low alcohol content (6%) make it a light and refreshing contribution to any meal.

6. What are some recommended serving suggestions for sparkling wines?

Sparkling wines must be properly chilled before they are served, having spent at least a few hours in the refrigerator. You are essentially committing a heinous “wine crime” if you serve warm sparkling wine, so after opening the bottle, keep it cool in an ice bucket.

Sparkling wines suit a range of different foods and courses. Gamla Brut is ideal as an aperitif, and goes well with appetizers such as fish and sushi. Yarden Blanc de Blancs goes perfectly with rich and/ or salty foods such as cold terrine of goose liver, or toast points topped with avocado puree and caviar. As for dessert, if you’re in the mood for something rich such as crème caramel or cheese cake, enjoy it with a chilled glass of Golan Moscato.

L’chaim!