Wines from The Ancient Deserts of Israel

The idea behind “what’s old is new again” certainly applies to the wine industry in Israel. While scholars can date winemaking practices in this region back thousands of years, it is only recently that Israeli wine has been making a comeback.

No longer just a sacred beverage reserved for religious ceremonies, the wines of Israel now promise premium quality and are being produced for a global market.

For those who are looking for endless history paired with great wines, this is one place to find both.

When planning a trip, here are four top wineries to consider. Each is in a different region around the country. If you can’t get over to visit in person, it’s not hard to find bottles from these Israeli wineries on select shelves in South Florida. If you’re thirsty for more, ask for Israeli wine recommendations from your local shop or restaurant sommelier.

Barkan Winery

Barkan Winery is one of the largest wineries in Israel, founded at

the end of the 19th century as Friedman Winery. The original winery made sweet Kiddish wine and brandy. In 1990, after several transformations, Yair Lerner and Shmuel Boxer took ownership of the operation and began the modernization process. Now, Barkan brings in around 8,000 tons of grapes during harvest from their vineyards across Israel’s major viticultural areas. The winery produces over 10 million bottles of premium wine a year under the leadership of Head Winemaker, Ido Lewinsohn, Israel’s second Master of Wine.

Wine lovers have an opportunity to visit and taste at a state-of-the-art visitor center nestled among the vines in Kibbutz Hulda in central Israel, less than an hour drive from both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The visitor center and ultra-modern winery are nothing less than impressive. It would be hard not to be in awe of the barrel room, featuring more than 6,000 barrels, and the other sophisticated winemaking equipment here at Barkan. Truly a modern winery for modern times.

Look For:

Barkan Classic 2020 Merlot/Argaman, $12.99

Argaman is a native Israeli grape that gives this wine a dark, inky character. Violets, ripe dark fruits, and dark chocolate greet on the nose. This is a full-bodied wine with juicy ripe blackberry and blueberry, velvety tannins, and a rich mouthfeel.

Psagot Winery

The Berg family founded Psagot Winery outside of Jerusalem in the early 2000s. Under the direction of CEO, Yaakov Berg, the winery has grown from humble beginnings to an operation of over 750,000 bottles with a global presence.

Perhaps the hallmark of Psagot is the story of the ancient caves. While working their land, the Berg family discovered two ancient caves on site that house an impressive olive and wine press dating back to the Second Holy Temple era. Additionally, the family found a coin within the caves traced back to the Great Revolt (66–73 CE). The coin features a vine leaf, and the back face reads “Year Two” (of the Revolt), with an image of an amphora. Clearly, wine was an important aspect of this same land thousands of years ago.

Look For:

Psagot Winery 2019 M Series Viognier, $29.99

This viognier from Jerusalem Mountain Vineyards is medium bodied with a lot of ripe fruits like pear, green apple, and lemon. It’s dry and fresh with a long fruity finish.

Carmel Winery

Carmel Winery is a historic winery with roots back to the late 19th century when it was founded by Baron Edmond de Rothschild, owner of Château Lafite in Bordeaux. It was due to the influence of the Rothschilds and the beginning of Carmel Winery that the modern Israeli wine industry emerged.

Located on the southern slopes of Mount Carmel in the charming town of Zichron Ya’acov, the winery features a large underground cellar system constructed by Baron Rothschild to keep a constant cool temperature for wine storage. Visitors to the historic Carmel Winery learn about the rich history of the Israeli wine industry over three different centuries from the Ottoman Empire to the British Mandate, and the current State of Israel, while tasting fine wines produced by Israel’s largest historic wine producer.

Look For:

Carmel Selected 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, $12.99

This wine is full bodied and full of ripe red fruits with a touch of blackberry and vanilla spice. Overall, a smooth, integrated value find!

Teperberg Winery

Teperberg Winery is the first family-owned winery established in Israel during the modern era of winemaking. It was founded in 1870 by Avraham Teperberg within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Now, the winery is run by the fifth generation of the Teperberg family and produces more than 7 million bottles, which are exported to markets around the world.

The current winery is in the Judean Hills outside of Jerusalem, along Israel’s main wine tourism route. Teperberg offers a diverse portfolio of fine wines in their various lines, from age-worthy collection bottles to light and refreshing moscato.

Look For:

Teperberg Legacy 2018 Cabernet Franc, $63.99

This cabernet franc has aromas and flavors of cranberry, green bell pepper, and savory spice. Medium bodied with soft tannins and a lingering dried red berry finish.