Some of the world's most famous chefs, gathered together in Israel for a charity dinner, visited Carmel Winery's Zichron Ya'acov Wine Cellars.

Two helicopters took the precious cargo of Michelin star chefs from Jerusalem to Zichron Ya'acov. They included some of the very greatest names of international cuisine including: Chef Georges Blanc (3 Stars Michelin), Chef Michel Lorrain (3 Stars), Antonio Santini, husband of Chef Nadia Santini, (3 Stars),Chef Michel Rostang (2 Stars), Isabell Haeberlin, wife of Chef Marc Haeberlin (3 Stars) and Vito Cinque, owner of Il Sanietro Positano (1 Star.) If this was not enough, they were accompanied by Gilles Pudlowsky, owner of the Pudlow Guide, France's most famous restaurant guidebook.

The guests were met by the senior management of Carmel Winery including: Israel Ivzan - Chairman & CEO , Lior Laxer - Chief Winemaker, Adam Montefiore – Wine Development Director and Arnon Geva - International Business Director.

Ruth Ben Israel, of Carmel's new Center for Wine Culture, welcomed the group in French and Italian and reminded them of Carmel's French beginnings. Lior Laxer then took them a tour of the small state-of-the-art winery, built in 2003, within the premises of the larger winery, and the new barrel room. This was followed by a tasting of the following wines in the new tasting room:

Appellation Johannisberg Riesling, Upper Galilee 2007
Appellation Viognier, Upper Galilee 2008
Appellation Carignan Old Vines, Zichron Ya’acov 2004
Kayoumi Vineyard Shiraz, Upper Galilee 2003
Carmel Limited Edition 2004
Sha'al Vineyard Gewurztraminer Late Harvest, Golan Heights 2006

The wines which received most complimentary comments were the Riesling, the Carignan, but the favourite was the Kayoumi Shiraz. There was genuine surprise at the quality of wines and at how far Israeli wines, and Carmel, had advanced in recent years.

The chefs then gathered at the winery restaurant, Bistro de Carmel, for a light three course meal. The wines to accompany the meal were Carmel Ridge White 2008, Appellation Carignan Old Vines 2006, Kayoumi Vineyard Shiraz 2006 and Sha'al Vineyard Gewurztraminer 2006.

On their visit, these culinary giants were able to see the results of Carmel’s recent investments to advance quality, which have all occurred within the framework and setting of the historic 120 year old winery.

In the photographs:
Antonio Santini, Michel Lorrain and Georges Blanc, (nine Michelin Stars combined), with Israel Ivzan and Lior Laxer of Carmel Winery.
Adam Montefiore, Carmel Winery, pours wine for Chef Georges Blanc in Carmel’s tasting room.

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