Winery

Wine talk: Eat well, drink well

From affordable bottles to prestige wines, this Rosh Hashanah guide offers Israeli wine recommendations for every budget, occasion, and level of wine enthusiasm.

|ByADAM MONTEFIORE
YOU CAN make a toast for the New Year with a good sparkling wine, like Yarden Brut Rose.
A PRECIOUS old vine: Carignan vineyard in Mazkeret Batya, on the coastal plain.

Wine Talk: Quality, accessibility, and value

Head winemaker Yiftach Peretz is guiding historic Carmel Winery into a new era from its NIS 160 million Alon Tavor facility, with a focus on quality, accessibility and value.

|ByADAM MONTEFIORE
A sign in a Safed coffee shop showcasing the donation of recyclables to fund a tefillin stand.

Beyond the Headlines: Holiness in unexpected places - opinion

A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news.

|BySIVAN RAHAV MEIR
ITAMAR ALPERIN, who represents Barkan, Feldstein, and Lahat, is very knowledgeable about every aspect of wine.

Wine Talk: Salute the wine ambassadors

I salute the export managers representing Israel at this time. They have to cope with pressures from within and difficulties abroad, but continue to bravely represent Israel.

|ByADAM MONTEFIORE

Surani Winery: Rare value for money

Excellent wines for everyday sipping in any season, surprisingly relevant for glass pours in wine bars.

FEBRUARY 12, 2026ByAVI EFRATI
Surani Winery, Italy

A slow journey through France’s Loire Valley: Chateaux, wine, and quiet beauty

Choosing which Loire Valley châteaux to visit is both a delightful and challenging dilemma, one that quickly becomes overwhelming. There are 300 châteaux in total, and about 100 open to the public.

JANUARY 18, 2026ByMOTTI VERSES
Exterior architecture of the Renaissance castle in the village of Grignan in the Drome department of France on September 23, 2025.

Alone in the desert: The winter experience you didn’t know you needed

Winter is the perfect time to head into the desert. Travel to the Negev, soak in the winter sun, and discover the magic between craters and vineyards. We returned, as expected, completely in love.

JANUARY 14, 2026ByMEITAL SHARABI/MAARIV
Carmey Avdat Winery.

Culinary experience, art, and nature: 24 hours of escaping routine in Mateh Yehuda

Winter in Mateh Yehuda: Drive east through the lush green Judean hills and enjoy a rich, European-like landscape that delights in every season.

JANUARY 14, 2026ByMEITAL SHARABI/MAARIV
Tavlin Distillery.

Pighin Winery: Italian character, Italian price, a real bargain here

Four decidedly successful bottles for your meals.

JANUARY 5, 2026ByAVI EFRATI
Pighin Winery

Wine Talk: Experiencing la dolce vita

All credit to Guy Haran and Vinspiration. Keep onwards and upwards. Wine tourism is crucial, and your success is our success!

JANUARY 4, 2026ByADAM MONTEFIORE
Chateau Montalbert.

Wine Talk: From winemakers to farmers

For the Flam boys, the deep cellars, aromas of the winery, and dark corners were a playground that beckoned them into a world of wine.

DECEMBER 20, 2025ByADAM MONTEFIORE
Flam's vineyard snakes through the valley.

The wine review of Kishor Winery

Kishor Winery: It’s hard to think of an Israeli red wine that offers so much for NIS 85.

DECEMBER 17, 2025ByAVI EFRATI
Kishor Winery

The color is Argaman, the wine is excellent

Talia Levin took a break from international grape varieties to taste two worthy wines made from a grape variety that is one hundred percent Israeli.

NOVEMBER 27, 2025ByTALIA LEVIN
Volcani Center for Agricultural Research

Vitkin Winery: Buy two and keep one — this is a rare Israeli wine

A modest family winery that has only grown over the years.

NOVEMBER 15, 2025ByAVI EFRATI
Vitkin Winery