In Israel, the cultivation of the vine goes back to about 5000 years BC.
The Torah tells us that Noah, after salvation from the Flood, planted some vineyards. A bas-relief of 2700 BC, kept in the British Museum in London, depicts an army background with vines full of grapes. Written records tell us that in 1000 BC in Galilee there were many wineries producing wine.

Anyway, the modern history of viticulture in Israel began in 1882 with the Baron Edmond de Rothschild, who founded the company Carmel, the first of Israel. One hundred years later, in 1983, he founded the Golan Heights Winery, and in the nineties there was an explosion of viticulture, with the setting up of many small companies. Today there are about two hundred and thirty-five commercial small enterprises.

Durung our tour in Israel, we visited three different geographical areas of wine production:
– Zone of Carmel: the heart of the wine industry and the Israeli model of modernization as regards the means of production.
– Zone of the Galilee and the Golan Heights: area in increasing development in the 80’s.
– Zone of South Israel – Jerusalem and the area of Yatir – wine production area from ancient times until today with terroir very similar to that found in southern Italy (hot days and cold nights).

Viticulture is a peculiar world. Companies often have their headquarters in the industrial areas, with hot and humid climates, while the vineyards are in the hills, with cooler and dry climates. In general, the climate is Mediterranean, with no summer rains and short and wet winters. There are no problems of ripening and are not required special chemical treatments in the vineyards. The total number of hectares of vineyards is around 5,000 ha, with numerous vine varieties: almost non-existent the so-called indigenous grapes – due to the grubbing of vines occurred during the period of Islamic rule, while there is a strong presence of international grapes such as Barbera, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Carignano.

Golan Heights, Upper Galilee and Jerusalem are the most suitable wine-growing areas, due to their heights. Samaria, instead, is the largest wine region. Currently, much of the production is for the Jewish people of France and the United States.

Particular attention is devoted to Kosher wines.
What is Kosher Wine? It is the wine produced in Israel following the Jewish dietary rules – the Kashrut. The term Kosher means “suitable”.
There are three main rules to be observed in the production of wine certificated Kosher:
– Orlah: the first three years is prohibited pick the grapes.
– Shmitah: Every seven years, the screw must be left at rest and it is not allowed to reap the benefits.
– Kilai Hakerem: you can not have mixed crops.

All operations in the phase of winemaking should be made by practicing Jews, before the harvest all the machines are checked and cleaned. An appointee, called Mashghiach, checks the winemaking process. A bottle of Kosher wine has three seals, one on top, one on the cap and one on the label, where there is also the mark of those who have followed the process of Kashrut.

Kosher wine is defined Mevushal when pasteurized. After this process, even if it is manipulated by non-observant of the Sabbath, it maintains the capacity to be used for the blessings. In principle, all companies produce wine according to Kosher rules, to have more space in the internal and Hebrew markets.
Among the wineries visited, particularly relevant for productions and tradition was the Carmel Winery: historic winery, the first, the biggest, the oldest, the largest producer of kosher wines in the world, exporting to 40 countries. It holds 40% of the Israeli market. Cooperative wine growers since 1882, born with the help of Baron Rothschild, after its constitution has never lost a vintage either under the rule of the Ottoman Turks or under the protectorate of the British. A total of 1,500 hectares divided in 300 vineyards scattered throughout the territory of Israel, over 20 million bottles produced each year and first company to plant vineyards in the Negev desert.

www.carmelwine.com

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