How To Get Access To Israel's Best Wine
Israel has quickly become a major factor in satisfying American demand for wines. The unique climates of Israel have made it a hotspot for growing numerous different types of wine. Being geographically located near the Mediterranean Sea, Israel also has very many types of soil to support different growing conditions for wine.
Located in the far North of Israel are the Golan Heights and Galilee regions. These areas are home to limestone and volcanic tuff, which provides a much more humid climate for certain species of wine grapes. Along the western coast of Israel is the Coastal Plains region, which has a clay terrain. Because this coast is near the Mediterranean Sea, the air there is much more humid, which can help support wine grapes that need a moist environment and allow the grapes to grow fuller.
Towards Central Israel, the Central Mountains are home to a chalk soil type. Slightly west of the Central Mountains is a small fertile area with terra rossa as the soil type. Finally, near the South of Israel, loam soil is available for growing wine grapes. Across the country, these temperatures range from 14 degrees Fahrenheit to 91 degrees Fahrenheit, and the amount of rainfall can be as little as 100 millimeters in the South and 1,100 millimeters in the North. But where does Israel trace its wine making roots?
As early as 4,000 BCE, wine trading was established between Mesopotamia and Egypt. Thousands of years later, wine in this area is referenced several times throughout the biblical literature with a variety of uses. During the medieval era, winemaking was temporarily suspended by Muslims during 637 AD. Near 1,000 AD, the Crusaders revived the practice of winemaking by planting vines in Bethlehem and Nazareth. This resurgence would only be revitalized for a century later, where the crusaders returned to this area with grape varieties from around the Jewish temple.
During the Industrial Revolution era, the first documented wineries in Israel began appearing. In 1882, Baron Edmond De Rothschild grew the winemaking scene by importing grape varieties, planting new vineyards, building wineries with deep underground cellars, and being the first to use electricity in an Israeli winery.
Nearly 100 years later in 1980, independent winemakers from California and Canada brought their knowledge and skills to revolutionize the way Israel was making wine. Nowadays, there are more than 300 wineries located throughout Israel, and over 220 are boutique and medium-sized. This equates to hundreds of thousands of bottles that are produced yet cannot be exported in a timely manner.
Moreover, Israel has 120 indigenous grape varieties in addition to the species imported. Marawi, Bittuni, and Argaman have grown in popularity as wine exports. In addition to consumers, wine judges have also supported this increase in popularity. In the 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards, Israeli wine received 6 golds, 31 silvers, and 21 bronze awards. Because of the recent turn of events, much of Israel's top-quality wine is sold before they are even considered for international sale. So with the increasing recognition of this wine, how is it possible to get access to these wines?
Fortunately, it's easy to make sure you're at the forefront of finding the best wines in Israel. The Cork & Cellar Club offers you an exclusive network of access to the finest Israeli spirits and delivers wine, beers, and other liquors straight from Israel to your door. They even offer you a monthly newsletter and exclusive access to Israeli wine to keep you abreast of what Israel's wine industry has to offer. To make sure you get your taste of Israel's wine, Cork & Cellar makes it easy to get your hands on the finest wine Israel has to offer.
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