Wine Advocate tastes and re-tastes Israeli wine

The latest issue of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has a new short tasting of Israeli wines by Mark Squires in the December issue. The Wine Advocate is continually paying continued attention to Israeli wine and, high-level sources have informed the Israel Wine Company, future tastings are planned. It's a bit of a strange potpourri of wines, from cru-level wines meant for long term storage to cheap supermarket wine (such as the Recanti Yasmine series) which are sub-$10 wines.

Here are Squire’s scores from the latest issue of Wine Advocate:

2005 Carmel Limited Edition 87
2006 Carmel Carignan Old Vines 85
2005 Carmel Shiraz 88 Early 30
2005 Carmel Gewurztraminer Sha’Al Vineyard 87
2007 Carmel Gewurztraminer Sha’Al Vineyard 88
2007 Carmel White Riesling 85
2006 Carmel Petite Sirah Old Vines 87
2005 Dalton Zinfandel 81 30
2006 Galil Mountain Avivim 86
2006 Galil Mountain Chardonnay 87
2004 Galil Mountain Syrah Yiron 87
2007 Galil Mountain Viognier 86
2004 Galil Mountain Yiron 87
2003 Golan Heights Winery Cabernet Sauvignon El Rom Vineyard (Yarden) 89
2004 Golan Heights Winery Cabernet Sauvignon El Rom Vineyard (Yarden) 88
2006 Golan Heights Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Golan 84
2004 Golan Heights Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (Yarden) 87
2005 Golan Heights Winery Chardonnay Katzrin Yarden 87
2005 Golan Heights Winery Chardonnay Odem Organic (Yarden) 86
2005 Golan Heights Winery Chardonnay Yarden 84
2005 Golan Heights Winery Gewurztraminer Heights Wine Late Harvest (Yarden) 91
2007 Golan Heights Winery Gewurztraminer Yarden 86
2003 Golan Heights Winery Merlot Yarden 86
2004 Golan Heights Winery Syrah Ortal Vineyard Yarden 88
2006 Golan Heights Winery Viognier (Yarden) 85
2007 Recanati Cabernet Sauvignon 80
2007 Recanati Chardonnay 86
2006 Recanati Merlot 82
2005 Recanati Merlot Reserve 85
2005 Recanati Syrah 82
Red Wine 2007 Recanati Yasmin 79
White Wine 2007 Recanati Yasmin 81
2005 Yatir Cabernet Sauvignon 87
2005 Yatir Merlot Shiraz Cabernet 88
2005 Yatir Yatir Forest 90

Israeli Wine Route

'Israeli Wine Route? What? Since when did Israel have a wine route? The last time I had Israeli wine, it was at bubbie's seder - perhaps Tishbi or Carmel, and I don't remember it being very good. I haven't seen any Israeli wine besides maybe one or two wineries. What is the Israeli Wine Route?' you may be thinking.

Adam Montefiore, the Ambassador of Israeli wine, dispels these myths in the video below. Israel has over 200 wineries, all improving, and the quality revolution is being led by the small wineries, including several available at the Israel Wine Company. Adam Montefiore is my mentor and teacher - now via the magic of YouTube you can learn from him.

Dalton Winery

Israel’s Upper Galilee is one of the best areas to make wine. Dalton Winery was founded in 1993 by Mat Haruni and is consistently making high quality wines at reasonable prices. In fact, Daniel Rogov writes that “Dalton has earned a consistently good name for high quality wines, providing excellent value for money.” It is also unique in Israel for having a female winemaker, Na’ama Mualem, who trained in Australia and California.

In February, I traveled up north from Jerusalem to visit the Dalton Winery. Situated in a small cabin, surrounded by its vineyards (the absolutely fascinating book The Wine Route of Israel states that it is one of the few wineries in Israel surrounded by its own vineyards.) This reduces time between harvesting and storage, preserving the quality of its grape harvest.

Among other wines, I had the Dalton Cabernet Sauvignon, Alma blend, and several other excellent wines (I didn’t take formal tasting notes, as I was too busy enjoying their wine!). For export, they also make a mevushal Canaan Red (the Israeli version is not mevushal), which is an excellent wine for kosher weddings and B’nai Mitzvot, or just everyday drinking. They also make an excellent single vineyard, Reserve, and regular line. Dalton is an excellent New World producer in Israel. If you haven’t opened up a bottle, now is the time.

(crossposted from an earlier post on HaKerem: The Israeli Wine Blog)

Israeli wineries near Jerusalem

This great video showcases the Judean Hills wine route - that is, wineries near Jerusalem. I already wrote about Ella Valley last time, but other wineries including Clos de Gat (available from the Israel Wine Company), Ruth, Flam, Tzora, Agur, Teperberg 1870 are also located in the area.

Ella Valley Vineyards

Ella Valley Vineyards, in Israel's Judean Hills just outside of Jerusalem, was one of the earliest wineries in Israel to make absolutely fantastic wine. Founded in 1997, the winery, under the supervision of French-trained winemaker Doron Rav Hon, released its first harvest from the 2002 harvest.

While commonly found in Israel's finest restaurants, this kosher wine is much harder to find in America, and thus not commonly known – particularly outside the small kosher consumer. But, Ella Valley produces great world-class wine worthy of drinking by anyone who likes fine wine. Luckily, of course, the Israel Wine Company has gift packs which include Ella Valley that can be purchased. It's also distributed to members of the Israel Wine Company's Israeli wine club – great reason to join!

I visited the winery in February and was, of course, treated with the finest service. This boutique winery, located on Kibbutz Netiv HaLamed Hay, blends in with its Jerusalem Hills surroundings, but has been the site of wine making for thousands of years. The image on the front of many of its bottles is a gat, an ancient wine press that was found on the winery's property.

According to Daniel Rogov, the International Herald Tribune and Ha'aretz's wine critic, the winery serves “as a model of efficiency and beauty.” I enjoy sipping Ella Valley's wines from Jerusalem, but now these lush and rich wines are available for you.

The First Erle Family Israel Futures are Ready for Shipment

Dear Friends,

Happy Holidays! Erle Family Wine is here!!! Thanks to the support of my early futures investors, the first wines are now here in the U.S. and ready to drink. My futures investors have already taken their allocation and there are still a couple bottles left. I am offering you, as one of my mailing list friends, a chance to purchase at a 10% discount, before this limited allocation runs out.



These bottles make great gifts as well as the Israel Wine Company Gift Packs and wine club packages (one-time gifts).

Erle International Wine Project


During the harvest of 2006, I launched my international wine project with an intense Syrah from Hopland, CA. Then in August of 2007, I travelled to my family's vineyard in the Crocodile Creek Region of Israel. While there (with the support of my futures investors), I made several barrels of wine, including Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Carignan and Argaman (watch for the reds next year).

This last February, I travelled yet again to Israel to bottle the Rose and Sauvignon Blanc (and take care of the other wines). Now, I have imported them to the U.S. and have prepared them to ship to you. You can visit our website with photos, video and text that tell the progression of the winemaking in Israel http://erlefamilywinery.com.

You can buy the Erle Syrah '06, Hopland, CA ($35 Retail) with this button (10% off - $31.50)

You can buy the Erle Sauvignon Blanc '07, Aroyo Vineyards, Israel ($24.99 Retail) with this button (10% off - $22.50)

You can buy the Erle Rose '07, Aroyo Vineyards, Israel ($19.99 Retail) with this button (10% off - $17.99)

If you prefer to pay by credit card directly or check, please contact me at ari@erlefamily.com Or call 707 307 4303

If you have not yet signed-up for our wine club, this is a great opportunity to get the fourth quarter selections if you sign-up here before the end of the month.



Happy Holidays,


Ari Erle


Erle International Wine Project
Israel Wine Company, Founder
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Erle Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Aroyo Vineyards, Israel



Ari Erle acquired his winemaking experience while working at some of the most sought after, 'cult' wineries in Napa Valley. But it wasn't at O'Shaughnessy Winery, where he presently works, or at Colgin Cellars, where he worked previously, that he found his passion for wine. It was while living in Israel and then biking through Central America and observing the locals’ agricultural connection to the land that Ari realized his deep connection to the Land of Israel and discovered a passion to work with the land to create something unique.

When Ari finally put all the pieces together and realized that he could combine his passion for the land of Israel with his passion for quality wine, he decided to make a career change and come full circle back to his birthplace to study Viticulture and Enology in the Napa Valley. It was always clear to Ari that winemaking involves much more than the technical and management skills: it requires a real love of the land and its bounty. Years of work in the vineyards of Napa taught Ari much more about winemaking than can ever be learned in the classroom and it is that experience that he wishes to share with fellow wine lovers.



In 2006, while working with Master Winemaker, Sean Capiaux, Ari launched his International Winemaking label ‘Erle’ - artisan, crafted wines from CA and Israel. In 2007, Ari travelled to Israel (with futures investment from friends and family) to make this Sauvignon Blanc from his family's vineyards in Israel. This wine was made from The Aroyo Family’s old vine Sauvignon Blanc that has been passed down through the generations. The vineyard is located around 'Moshav' (village) Givat Nili, near the towns of Zichron Yaakov and Benyamina in a special micro-climate along Crocodile Creek.

Tasting Notes:

This is a crisp, bright and slightly bubbly Sauvignon Blanc with aromas of citrus vanilla, pineapple, lemon, qumquat, and Papaya. The great acid balance cleans your palate for a clean taste of your favorite meal.

Recipe:This wine goes great with Organic, sprouted wheat Pappardelle Pasta, topped with onions, garlic, olive oil and grilled vegetables.

Retail Price: $24.99

Erle Winery: Rose 2007, Aroyo Vineyards, Crocodile Creek, Israel

Tasting Notes:
This dark pink Rose has aromas of rose hip, melon, and peach with a sweet, and crisp mouthfeel and buttery finish. This wine will go well with cheese and salad.
Retail Price: $19.99

Erle Winery: Syrah- Hopland Mendocino County, CA 2006

Tasting Notes:
This is a dark, intense Syrah, with aromas of dark chocolate, fudge, figs, carob, black pepper, smoky mesquite and blackberry pie. It has good structure with granular tannins and a coating finish of blueberry syrup.
Retail Price: $35

Please visit: www.IsraelWineCompany.com to learn more.