The wineries of Yehuda (Judah) have published an excellent booklet on the Judean Wine Region. This area spreads from the Shefela, aka the Judean Lowlands, through the Judean Foothills, to the higher altitude Judean Hills. It is a scholastic study of the fastest growing region in Israel in terms of wineries and vineyards. The report covers the history, ancient history, climate, soil, temperature and viticulture of the region.

The project was the initiative of Eran Pick, the winemaker of Tzora Vineyards. Pick graduated from UC Davis and gained experience in the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Barossa Valley and in Bordeaux before joining Tzora in 2006. He was the prime author. Others involved were Shuki Agur, owner-winemaker of Agur Winery; Eran Harcavi, viticulturist at the Ministry of Agriculture; Amit Nir, vineyard owner, and Mark Perl, from the meteorological department of the Ministry of Agriculture. The forward was written by Adam Montefiore, wine development director of Carmel Winery. The postscript was written by Professor Amos Hadas, author of the book "The Wine & Vine - Archaeology in the Land of Israel.'

It is appropriate that the winemaker of Tzora would take a lead in this. The founder of Tzora Winery was Ronnie James z"l (1945 - 2008). He spent his life researching the terroir of the same region, but in the practical, instinctive way of the wine grower.

There are twenty seven wineries that form part of an active group to promote the region together. Amongst them are wineries like Castel, Clos de Gat, Ella Valley, Flam, Sea Horse, Teperberg and Tzora. They organise their own exhibitions, events and operate together. This booklet is another example of the excellent work they do. Unfortunately, it is, as yet, only published in Hebrew.