May 25

Written by: Jarrod Price
5/25/2008 3:46 PM

When we think about Israeli wine it is difficult not to imagine the sweet syrupy Mogen David and Manishewitz wines, traditionally served on the holiday table. What may surprise you is that Israel has developed a wine industry making first class wines, for any occasion. Wines are made from a variety of grapes, and compete with wines produced in countries all over the world.

Israeli winemakers have gone to great lengths over the last few years to shed Israel’s image as a producer of simple sweet wines. As a testament to this trend, this year marked the first time that Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate turned its attention to Israeli wines, awarding 14 wines with a score of over 90 points, with many of the highest scores going to Kosher wines.

Robert Parker says “Wine has been made in the Holy Land for millennia, but Israel's wineries have come into the modern age since the 1980. The region's wines are getting better all the time, and some are superb."

Israel is also the largest producer of Kosher wine sold worldwide. In actuality, Kosher wines are made exactly the same way, using the same grapes and equipment as other tables wines, with an extra set of rules added to make it consistent with Jewish dietary law. Basically, the entire winemaking process from picking to bottling must be handled by Sabbath-observant orthodox Jews, the equipment used in the winemaking process must be rabbinically certified and no preservatives, meat products or artificial colours may be added. These are nuances that have no effect on the end product. Wine writers often use the symbol K to indicate that a wine is Kosher. With that in mind, choosing a wine for the Passover Seder, if Kosher for Passover is a requirement, very much becomes a matter of taste. Below is a list of Passover wines available right now:

• 2003 Ella Valley Merlot (Available at Vintages #58891 | $28.95 /btl) - Produced from 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, this estate bottled red is harvested from vines within the northern slopes of the Ella Valley Vineyards. Aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, Ella Valley Merlot exudes concentrated notes of berries with layered fruit flavours, concluding in a velvety, smooth finish. Rogov, Guide to Israeli Wines 2008 - Score 90
• 2003 Ella Valley Cabernet Sauvignon(12 bottle case | $36.70 btl) Produced from 100% select Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, this expertly crafted red has been aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, half of which are new. Deep ruby in colour, this estate bottled Cabernet is characterized by rich fruit, supple body, depth and complexity.
• 2005 Ella Valley Chardonnay (12 bottle case | $31.25 /btl) Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. 60% harvested from Ella Valley Vineyards' Aderet vineyard, 40% harvested from the Nes-Harim vineyard.
• 2003 Ella Valley Muscat (12 bottle case | $22.95 /btl) Medium-bodied, with honeyed sweetness set off nicely by lively acidity, the wine offers generous and ripe apricot, peach and dried apple fruits matched nicely by spices and floral aromas and flavors. Equally good as an aperitif.
• Golan Heights Winery Yarden Mount Herman Red (Available at Vintages #611293 | $15.60 /btl) Yarden Mount Hermon was produced from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a small amount of Cabernet Franc, all grown in the Golan Heights. The cool climate, rocky volcanic soil and high altitude are ideal conditions for growing classic wine grape varieties. Moderately early pressing yields a wine with good colour and ample fruit that can be enjoyed without extensive aging. To preserve the quality of the wine, this bottle should be stored on its side in a cool, dark place. Best served at 55-60 degrees.
• Golan Heights Winery 2003 Yarden Pinot Noir (Available in Vintages #60756 | $21.95 /btl)Yarden Pinot Noir was produced entirely from Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Golan Heights. The cool climate, rocky volcanic soil and high altitude are ideal conditions for growing classic wine grape varieties. Aging in French oak barrels for 16 months yields an elegant, complex wine layering fruit, floral and spice characters with that of rich oak and nuances of vanilla. To preserve the quality of the wine, this bottle should be stored on its side in a cool, dark place. Rogov, Guide to Israeli Wines 2008 - Score 91
• Golan Heights Winery 2005 Yarden Viognier (Available in Vintages #58883 | $22.95 /btl) Yarden Viognier was produced entirely from Viognier grapes grown in the Golan Heights. The cool climate, rocky volcanic soil and high altitude are proving ideal for this classic northern Rhone Valley variety. Fermentation of one third of the wine was in stainless steel and two thirds were in French oak, yielding a wine with generous fruit, good body and satisfying complexity. Best served at 55 degrees F. Rogov, Guide to Israeli Wines 2008 - Score 90

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