1848 Winery 
 12.03.2011 

 By: Yonatan Sternberg

It all started some 163 years ago, the year was 1848 and Rabi Mordechai Avraham Shor, along with his son Itzhak established the first commercial, modern, family run winery in Palestine. The Zion Winery was first set up in the narrow alleyways of Jerusalem’s old city and some say that the winery’s cellar was situated so close to the Western Wall, that worshipers coming to pray at the site, could literally see the large oak barrels resting against the wall. Due to new regulations during the British Mandate limiting the size of businesses allowed to operate within the walls of the old city, the Zion Winery was moved to the Beit Israel neighborhood and then switched several venues before recently relocating to Mishor Adomim.

For many years Zion produced wines and grape juice for local consumption and export to Jewish communities around the world that offered very little interest to wine aficionados and used primarily for religious purposes. Several years ago, Zion embarked on a mission to change the quality of their wines and their image resulting in constant improvement in the quality of their offerings. I recently tasted their Chardonnay, Armon, 2009 and found it very enjoyable. While they still have a way to go, these changes are definitely welcomed.

Today that Shor family is still a major player in the local wine industry, operating the Zion Winery, the Arza Winery, Hacormim Winery and as of last week, Yossi Shor, an 8th generation member of the Shor family is also the owner of a new boutique winery named 1848, with his brother Tzvika Shor serving as head winemaker.

At an official press launch event held on March 3rd at the Mercado restaurant in Tel Aviv, Ronald Mogendorff, CEO of the 1848 Winery mentioned that “the Shor family has been involved in the wine industry for many years and this is only a natural continuation of their activities. The 1848 winery will be run and operated in complete separation from our other wineries and we are currently looking for a permanent venue where we will establish 1848’s facilities". When asked about the wines, owner Yossi Shor replied "I am not a winemaker and primarily handle business maters leaving the wine related decisions to my brother Tzvika, but I can say that we will definitely draw on our vast accumulative knowledge as a wine producing family for the past 163 years and produce top wines under the 1848 brand".

1848 currently offers wines in two series, titled Reserve and Special Reserve.
The event started off with a barrel tasting of the Chardonnay, 2010. Medium bodied, suggesting pleasant aromas of green apples, citrus peel, white flowers and a touch of cloves. The wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation (a secondary fermentation process that creates rounder buttery aromas and flavors); resulting in a refreshing, crisp white wine. (the winery did not release official prices yet)

Next was the 1848, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 – blended with 10% Merlot and 3% Petite Sirah and aged for 25 months in barriques. The wine is full bodied and still rather firm, on the nose and palate, blackberry fruits, tart plums, cherries, black pepper and slight notes of smoke all leading to a long and generous finish. NIS 128 – 6,725 bottles produced

1848, Special Reserve, 2006 – A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Petite Sirah, the wine was aged for 30 months in both new and used French oak barrels, dark and concentrated in color, full bodied, the Special Reserve suggests various berry fruits, ripe plums, raspberries followed by notes of leather and toasted oak. NIS 228 – 7,184 bottles produced

Over the past few years dozens of new boutique and garage wineries were established throughout the country. Unfortunately, some of these wineries offer low quality wines and due to their high operational costs try to sell them for relatively high prices. After sampling 1848’s offerings, in my opinion, while their prices are not cheap, the wines are very enjoyable and I look forward to tasting their future releases.

L'chaim!