The history of Israel’s wine industry mirrors that of the country itself. You therefore do not need to be a ‘wine buff’ for a visit to wineries to be worthwhile. Indeed it is possible to get a taste of history and sample the pioneering spirit from ‘Palestine’ of the first aliyah in the 1880’s to the Israel of the 21st century, without so much as a sip of wine!
However if your interest is vinous rather than historical, Israel provides you with the opportunity to visit both the largest winery in the Eastern Mediterranean & Middle East (Carmel) and some of the finest (Castel, Golan Heights, Yatir etc) in the region. Israel can also boast a large range of boutique wineries and a wide range of micro climates from the snow covered Mount Hermon in the north, to the sandy desert in the south. It is extraordinary for such a small country to offer so great a variety – all the more for the tourist to enjoy & sample. For the first time a tourist to Israel can visit & learn about the country through the prism of its wine industry.

Northern Tour – Golan Heights, Upper Galilee & Lower Galilee Wine Regions

“The Upper Galilee and Golan Heights are Israel’s finest wine growing regions.”

It is best to start this tour of the north in the southern Golan. The Golan Heights & Upper Galilee are unarguably Israel’s finest wine growing regions, producing Israel’s finest wines.
Begin your tour in the southern Golan Heights overlooking the Sea of Galilee by visiting Chateau Golan. It is an example of one of the lavish new boutique wineries built in Israel in the last five years. There is a strong connection between art & wine at this winery, and your visit may even coincide with an exhibition of a local Israeli artist.
As you travel north, the altitude will steadily rise.
At the small town of Katzrin, higher up in the central Golan Heights, you have the opportunity to visit the Golan Heights Winery, a typical Californian style winery. This is the third largest winery in Israel, and they are the pioneers that brought about most of the positive changes in Israeli wine. Modern, hospitable and very successful, the Golan Heights Winery offers a tour and tasting. They will also explain the procedure for producing champagne method sparkling wine.
Then drive slightly further north to Moshav Kidmat Zvi to visit Bazelet ha Golan. This is a small, unpretentious boutique winery, producing only Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Further north, 1,000 meters above sea level, you will find Odem Mountain Winery. This family operation is the most northerly and highest altitude winery in Israel.
When you come off the Golan, drive north on Route 90, then follow the 886 and 899 into the Upper Galilee. Rising peaks, plunging valleys and stony ridges make up this scenic region. At Kibbutz Yiron, lies the Galil Mountain Winery. It is a pleasant surprise to see a commercial winery in Israel, which is not situated on an industrial estate. The winery is modern, and the wines represent superb value. If you are traveling with children, Kibbutz Yiron also have a lake & animals – a perfect place for a family picnic. Drive south on the 886, and you will come to Dalton Winery, situated in the industrial area of the same name. Next door you will see Kerem Ben Zimra, one of the Upper Galilee’s largest vineyards.
When you leave the Upper Galilee, take Route 65 from the Golani Junction, and you will arrive at Kfar Tabor – in the Lower Galilee. This is a village in the shadow of Mount Tabor, which has an important history for both Jews & Christians. Tabor Winery, has a welcoming visitor’s center and arguably the finest Sauvignon Blanc in the country.

Mount Carmel – Sharon Plain Tour

“The Shomron area around Zichron Ya’acov & Binyamina is Israel’s most traditional growing region.”

In this area it is possible to visit wineries founded in the 1890’s, 1950’s, 1980’s and after 2000. Each period represents significant developments in the history of the Israel wine industry. This is the most traditional wine growing region in Israel and the area where the first vineyards where planted in the 1880’s by Baron Edmond de Rothschild.
First stop should ideally be Amphorae Vineyard – ring for an appointment. This is situated at Makura Ranch, north of Fureidis, just off the old Route 4. The winery is an example of the new style of winery founded recently.
Go next to Zichron Ya’acov, and you visit the heart of Israel’s wine industry. Zichron Ya’acov is named after Baron James Jacob de Rothschild, who bought Chateau Lafite for the Rothschild family. Visit first Carmel’s Zichron Ya’acov Wine Cellars, the largest winery in Israel. It was built in 1892 by Baron Edmond de Rothschild, Baron James’ son, with large underground cellars. The visitor’s center is situated in the restored house where the winemaker used to live. Here there is a unique opportunity to see a large commercial winery, a boutique winery and an experimental micro-winery all in one setting – a combination of the old world & new world. This is the only winery in Israel with a restaurant on its premises. The rejuvenation of Carmel Winery – from sacramental to single vineyard wines, represents the journey of the Israeli Wine Industry.
Tishbi Winery is a short distance away towards Binyamina. The town, Binyamina, is named after the Hebrew name of Baron Edmond de Rothschild. Tishbi is a family of vineyard growers, who first planted grapes in the 1880’s and they decided to build their own charming winery in 1985. Here you can taste wine underneath the pergola and enjoy local cheeses. Be sure to see the Alambic Still for producing high quality brandy.
Binyamina Winery offers the opportunity to see a winery founded soon after the birth of Israel, in the early 1950’s. The tour offers a taste of the past and don’t miss the barrel room. You will see the building originally built by James de Rothschild as a perfume factory. It is worthwhile to visit The Cave, site of a boutique wine, but you will need to book in advance via the visitor’s center of Binyamina Winery.

Gush Dan / Central Coastal Plain Tour

“Gush Dan is the area of the greatest wine consumption & most developed wine culture in Israel, and it includes Israel’s two largest wine companies.”

Start the tour by visiting Ha’aretz Museum in Ramat Aviv. Here you will see a number of wine presses from different periods of history, to remind you of the ancient history of winemaking in the region. Next stop, visit Derech Ha’Yayin (Wine Route) and ‘Wine & More’ (Hinawi). Both are closeby to each other in Tel Aviv. These are Israel’s number one wine stores. Travel towards Rishon Le Zion on the Jaffa to Jerusalem road (Route 44), and you will pass the Mikve Israel Agricultural School, site of Israel’s first winery to use European varieties.
When you arrive in Rishon Le Zion , off Route 4, you will find Carmel’s Rishon Le Zion Wine Cellars – the largest winery in Israel. It was founded by Baron Edmond de Rothschild, whose family owned it until 1957. The winery building, built in 1890, is the oldest industrial building in Israel still in use. The first telephone & electricity used in Israel was here, and the winery will no doubt tell you that David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, was one of its workers. Look out for the deep underground cellars, the 100 year old brandy cellar with its wooden roof, and the fascinating mural in the old metal workshop, depicting the history of Rishon, the first modern settlement.
Walk through the gardens opposite the winery, and you will come to the Water Tower., Baron Rothschild’s first investment to help the settlers, and the Rishon Le Zion Museum, which combine to give you a flavor of the pioneering days.
A short drive, in between the roads with the grand names of “Rothschild” and “Yitzhak Rabin” and you will come across an ancient wine press ‘Ganot Gatot’ – in the center of Rishon Le Zion!
Travel south, and you will arrive at Kibbutz Hulda, where Israel’s second largest winery, Barkan Winery may be found. Barkan is a modern, state of the art winery, with Israel’s largest vineyard directly next to the winery. One third of Barkan’s needs come from this vineyard – it is rare in Israel for vineyards to be close to the winery. Segal wines are also made here.
Travel north on Route 6, and you will find Saslove Winery, one of Israel’s finest boutiques. Owner Barry Saslove is also one of Israel’s most famous wine educators, so it is a good place for a tasting and explanation.

Judean Lowlands/ Judean Foothills/ Judean Hills Tour

“The Judean wine region is the most developed wine route in Israel and has the greatest & fastest growing concentration of wineries.”

The region of Judea have their own wine route. However most of the wineries are quite small, without established visitors centers, so it is recommended to book visits in advance.
The wine connoisseur will start from Route 1, the Tel Aviv – Jerusalem Highway and turn off at the Sha’ar Ha Gay turn off towards Beit Shemesh on Route 38. The first visit – near the Eshtahol junction – should be to the Flam Winery. This is one of the finest boutique wineries in Israel – arguably the best still producing non kosher wines.
Continue along Route 38, the next stop is to follow the turning to to Ramat Raziel. Here lies Domaine du Castel, one of Israel’s most picturesque wineries, which also happens to be one of Israel’s finest wineries. Look out for the meticulously kept vineyard in front of the winery, the deep attractive cellar and the winery building itself – not bad for what was once a chicken coop!
Return to & crossover Route 38 at the Shimshon junction, and you come to Kibbutz Harel. There, amidst the vineyards, is the building where Yitzak Rabin commanded the Harel Brigade in 1948. Today this same building is one of Israel’s best new estate wineries: Clos de Gat. The ‘gat’ – an old wine press situated in the vineyards, dates from the pre Roman period.
Return to Route 38 towards Beit Shemesh and next stop is a kibbutz. The winery at Kibbutz Tzora – Tzora Vineyards is one of the most interesting wineries in the country. Most of the grapes come from surrounding vineyards, and it is a genuine kibbutz affair with the kibbutz members running the winery.
Teperberg 1870, once known as Efrat, have moved into a new winery at Tzora.. The Teperberg story will fascinate if you are lucky enough to meet members of the family.
Back to Route 38 until you pick up Route 375. There at Halamed Hei, you will find Ella Valley Vineyards – a brand new, ambitious commercial winery. Despite the nice visitors center, most interesting here is to ask for a tour of the vineyards – they are immaculate.
Gush Etzion Winery, near the town of Efrat, has an attractive winery building & visitors center.
Christian pilgrims have the option of visiting three winery monasteries in the area: Domaine de Latroun; Mony Winery at Dir Rafat Monastery; and Cremisan, at Beit Jamal. Latroun, a Trappist Monastery, is more French in style, Cremisan, a Salesian Monastery, more Italian.
If you do finish up in Jerusalem, a pilgrimage to Avi Ben Wine Store is recommended. This is one of Israel’s pioneering wine stores, situated in Nahalat Shiva

Negev Tour

“The pioneering vineyards in the Negev fulfill David Ben Gurion’s dream of making the desert bloom.”

On the way south on Route 40, there are interesting small wineries such as Ramim Winery and La Terra Promessa Winery.
Make your way towards Arad on Route 31. At the Tel Arad turn off, is Yatir Winery . Here it is worth tasting the wines already ranked as some of the best in the country. Take time to see the Ramat Arad vineyard – at 750 dunams, one of the largest in the country – next to the winery. Visit Tel Arad, the unique archaeological site with evidence of 3,000 years of history. Afterwards drive 10 minutes to Yatir Forest, Israel’s largest planted forest, in the southern Judean Hills. Here amidst all the trees you will find Yatir’s vineyards and an old wine press dating from 2,000 years ago. This is the perfect place for a hike or a picnic.
At Sde Boker, you will be able to taste the wine & visit the vineyard of Sde Boker Winery. If you continue south towards Eilat, you will be surprised to see the green vineyards of Mitzpe Ramon amid the sea of sand & desert brush as the perfect illustration of making the desert bloom.

TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT, IT IS RECOMMENDED TO BOOK TOURS IN ADVANCE. NOT ALL THE WINERIES LISTED HAVE VISITORS CENTERS.