Wines of Israel and Palestine

This post was originally written in September 2019. Some updates were added in 2026 to reflect modern geopolitics.

The wines in this tasting come from a geographically small but remarkably varied part of the southern Levant. Vineyards extend from the high, volcanic landscapes of the Golan Heights to the limestone hills around Jerusalem and Bethlehem and the arid highlands of the Negev.

Wine History. Wine has been produced in the southern Levant for thousands of years, and the region participated in ancient trade networks linking Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Mediterranean. Archaeological evidence includes a roughly 3,700-year-old wine cellar at Tel Kabri and evidence of commercial grape cultivation and wine production in the Negev during Late Antiquity (Cohen et al., 2023; Deckers et al., 2024; Koh et al., 2014).

Under successive periods of Muslim rule beginning in the seventh century, restrictions on alcohol contributed to a major decline in commercial winemaking. Grape cultivation did not disappear, however. Grapes continued to be grown for food, raisins, syrup, and limited wine production, helping preserve regional varieties that are now being studied and revived (Drori et al., 2017).

Modern commercial wine-growing was reestablished in the early 1880s with support from Baron Edmond de Rothschild, who brought French grape varieties and winemaking expertise to the region and helped establish what became Carmel Winery. After nearly a century of producing mostly sweet, bulk, and sacramental wines, winemakers increasingly turned toward European grape varieties and dry table wines. By the 1980s, winemakers from Israel and abroad were reinvigorating the industry through new vineyard practices, cooler growing sites, and techniques influenced particularly by California and Australia (Israeli Wines—Pride of Israel, n.d.-a).

By the mid-2000s, Israeli wines had begun winning international awards and receiving stronger critical recognition. The number of wineries grew into the hundreds, ranging from large commercial producers to small boutique operations. These wines are generally classified as New World wines, with notable influences from California and Australia. Red wines have often been made in a ripe, heavily oaked style, while many white wines are fermented in stainless-steel tanks to preserve acidity and fruit.

Wine and Jewish Tradition. In Israel and elsewhere, wine is incorporated into many Jewish religious traditions. A cup of wine begins and ends religious observances, accompanies the Sabbath meal, and plays a prominent role during Passover and Purim.

Not all Israeli winemakers follow kosher production requirements, although major producers, including Golan Heights Winery, produce kosher wines. Kosher winemaking requires supervision, kosher-certified ingredients and equipment, and particular rules regarding who may handle the wine after the grapes have been crushed. Some yeasts and processing or fining agents—including gelatin, isinglass, and casein—may be prohibited unless they meet kosher requirements. These restrictions concern how the wine is produced rather than its sweetness or overall style (Orthodox Union Kosher, 2007, 2017).

Most contemporary Israeli wine is produced as table wine rather than specifically for religious use.

Wine Varieties

White Grapes

Chardonnay

• Produced in styles ranging from low- or no-oak versions to richer, barrel-fermented wines.
• Cooler, higher-elevation vineyards tend to preserve more acidity.

Sauvignon Blanc

• The best examples are often fermented in stainless steel.
• Generally performs well at higher elevations, where cooler temperatures help preserve freshness.

Gewürztraminer

• An emerging aromatic variety.
• Produced in dry, off-dry, and sweeter styles.

Riesling

• An emerging variety grown primarily in cooler sites.
• Sometimes labeled White Riesling to distinguish it from Emerald Riesling.

Muscat Canelli

• Also known as Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.
• An emerging variety used for floral and aromatic wines.

Emerald Riesling

• A warm-climate grape developed by Harold Olmo at the University of California, Davis.
• Despite its name, it is a cross between Muscadelle and Grenache rather than a Riesling hybrid.
• Historically important in Israeli wine production, although less prominent today (UC Davis Foundation Plant Services, n.d.).

Muscat of Alexandria

• An aromatic Mediterranean variety used in both table and sweet wines.

Chenin Blanc

• Produced on a relatively limited scale.
• Can be made in both fresh, unoaked and fuller-bodied styles.

Native and Regional White Grapes

• Regional varieties include Hevroni, Dabouki, Marawi or Hamdani, Halbani, Sharwishi, and Jandali.
• Genetic research suggests that traditional names do not always correspond neatly to genetically distinct varieties.
• Dabouki, Marawi or Hamdani, and Jandali are among the local grapes now being used commercially by Palestinian and Israeli producers (Cremisan Winery, n.d.-a; Drori et al., 2017).

Red Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon

• Usually performs best at higher elevations, often above 2,000 feet.
• Particularly well known from Galilee and the Golan Heights.
• Used both as a varietal wine and in Bordeaux-style blends.

Merlot

• Frequently blended with Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Generally contributes softer tannins and rounder fruit.

Petit Verdot

• Often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to add color, structure, and spice.

Carignan

• Historically planted widely for bulk wine production.
• Some producers now make concentrated wines from old, lower-yielding vines.

Shiraz, or Syrah

• Found throughout the wine-growing regions of Israel.
• Well suited to warm Mediterranean growing conditions.

Petite Sirah

• Often associated with boutique wineries.
• Some wines are produced from vines that are several decades old.

Cabernet Franc

• An emerging variety.
• Used in both blends and varietal wines.

Marselan

• A cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache developed in France.
• Increasingly valued in warm climates.

Grenache

• A Mediterranean variety receiving renewed attention.

Native and Regional Red Grapes

• Regional red varieties include Zeitani, Karkashani, Razaki, Karashi, Baladi, and related local cultivars.
• Baladi Aswad is an indigenous Palestinian black grape cultivated particularly around the Cremisan Valley and Hebron.
• Cremisan Winery produces a varietal Baladi wine following research into Palestinian grape diversity (Cremisan Winery, n.d.-a, n.d.-b; Drori et al., 2017).

Wine Regions

Regional Classification. Israel contains numerous subclimates, especially for a country roughly the size of New Jersey. Although much of the region has a Mediterranean climate, elevations approaching 4,000 feet can mitigate summer heat and produce cooler nighttime temperatures that help grapes retain acidity.

The rainy season generally extends from October through March, while the period from April through October is hot and dry. Because of the dry summers, drip irrigation is common in many vineyards. The traditional Israeli classification recognizes five major wine regions: Galilee, Shomron or Samaria, Samson or Shimshon, the Judean Hills, and the Negev. More recent guides sometimes separate the Golan Heights and Sharon Plain into their own regions (Israel Wine, n.d.; Israeli Wines—Pride of Israel, n.d.-b).

Geographic Note. These wine classifications do not align neatly with internationally recognized political boundaries. Portions of several wine regions lie within occupied Palestinian territory. The Golan Heights is occupied Syrian territory, although it is commonly treated as an Israeli wine region by producers and retailers. Cremisan Winery identifies itself as a Palestinian winery located in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem. These distinctions are important when describing the origins of individual wines (Cremisan Winery, n.d.-a; United Nations, 2025).

Galilee

• Includes Upper and Lower Galilee.
• Israeli wine classifications often include the Golan Heights within the broader Galilee region, although many contemporary guides list it separately.
• Known particularly for Cabernet Sauvignon and other international varieties.
• Contains high-elevation vineyards, well-drained soils, and pronounced differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures.

Upper and Lower Galilee. Upper Galilee contains many elevated vineyards with relatively cool nighttime temperatures. Lower Galilee generally includes warmer and lower-elevation sites.

Golan Heights. Vineyards occur at elevations ranging from roughly 1,300 to nearly 4,000 feet. Volcanic and basalt-derived soils are common, and the climate includes warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. The area is known particularly for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Golan Heights has been occupied by Israel since 1967 and is internationally recognized as Syrian territory (Israel Wine, n.d.; United Nations, 2025).

Shomron, or Samaria

• Includes areas around Mount Carmel, Sharon, and the Shomron Hills.
• Contains coastal areas as well as mountains approaching 2,850 feet.
• Portions of this wine region lie within the occupied West Bank.

Mount Carmel and Sharon. Lower elevations and Mediterranean influence create relatively warm growing conditions.

Shomron Hills. Higher vineyards contain limestone, chalk, and iron-rich terra rossa soils. Some vineyards marketed under this regional designation are located within occupied Palestinian territory.

Samson, or Shimshon

• Includes the central coastal plain, Judean lowlands, and Judean foothills.
• Coastal areas have historically produced larger quantities of bulk wine.
• Inland vineyards with limestone and terra rossa soils are often associated with higher-quality production.

Central Coastal Plain. Lower, warmer vineyards have traditionally supported large-scale production.

Judean Lowlands and Foothills. Moving inland brings higher elevations and greater influence from limestone and terra rossa soils.

Judean Hills

• Includes areas around Jerusalem, the southern Jerusalem Hills or Gush Etzion, and vineyards extending toward Yatir Forest and the Negev.
• Elevations generally range from roughly 1,600 to 3,300 feet.
• Limestone-rich soils and cooler nights help preserve acidity.
• Portions of the region, including some vineyards near Jerusalem and Gush Etzion, lie within occupied Palestinian territory.

Jerusalem and Gush Etzion. High-elevation vineyards often produce wines with firmer acidity and greater structure.

Judean Lowlands. Lower-elevation sites are warmer and may produce riper, fuller-bodied wines.

Negev

• Includes the northern hills and central Negev.
• Has a desert climate with large temperature differences between day and night.
• Some vineyards occur at high elevations, including sites around 2,600 feet.
• Drip irrigation is widely used because rainfall is low.

Negev Highlands. Vineyards at higher elevations benefit from cooler nights despite the region’s aridity. Soils may include loess, sandy loam, chalk, and limestone (Israel Wine, n.d.).

Wines to Try

David’s Land Sauvignon Blanc 2017

• Region. Lower Galilee, near Mount Tabor.
• Grape. Sauvignon Blanc.
• Tasting notes. Citrus, tart apple, baked bread, vanilla, and toast.
• Overall impression. A fresh white wine with fruit, acidity, and gently developed savory qualities (Wine Enthusiast, n.d.-a).

Cremisan Star of Bethlehem Baladi 2015

• Origin. Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, Palestine, in the occupied West Bank.
• Producer. Cremisan Winery, established by the Salesians of Don Bosco in 1885 and producing wine since the late nineteenth century.
• Winemaker. Fadi Batarseh, an East Jerusalem winemaker who studied winemaking in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy.
• Grape. Baladi Aswad, an indigenous Palestinian black grape cultivated particularly in the Cremisan Valley and around Hebron.
• Site. Vineyards grow at approximately 800 to 1,000 meters in limestone hills with iron-rich terra rossa soils.
• Winemaking. Fermented in stainless-steel tanks and aged in large Slavonian oak botti for approximately 14 months.
• Color. Dark ruby red and possibly unfiltered.
• Tasting notes. Roses, black tea, bright cherry, orange peel, strawberry, and raspberry, with a lively candied-fruit quality.
• Style. Fresh and relatively light-bodied, with some resemblance to a fruit-driven Beaujolais.
• Pairings. Roast duck, ham, mushrooms, sausage, or other savory dishes (Cremisan Winery, n.d.-a, n.d.-b).

Yarden Galilee Merlot 2013

• Producer. Golan Heights Winery.
• Origin. The occupied Syrian Golan Heights, classified as Galilee on many Israeli wine labels.
• Grape. Merlot.
• Tasting notes. Cherry, raspberry, and blackberry, with orange blossom, spice, and cocoa.
• Pairings. Beef, venison, lamb, or other richly flavored meats.
• Overall impression. A full, fruit-forward Merlot combining ripe berries with floral, spice, and oak-derived notes (Golan Heights Winery, n.d.).

David’s Land Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

• Region. Judean Lowlands, near Lachish.
• Grape. Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Tasting notes. Cherry cola, juniper, black plum, raspberry, thyme, smoked meat, cranberry, and chalky tannins.
• Overall impression. A savory, structured Cabernet balancing dark and red fruit with herbs, smoke, and firm tannins (Wine Enthusiast, n.d.-b).

References

Cohen, P., Bacilieri, R., Ramos-Madrigal, J., Privman, E., Boaretto, E., Weber, A., Fuks, D., Weiss, E., Erickson-Gini, T., Bucking, S., Tepper, Y., Cvikel, D., Schmidt, J., Gilbert, M. T. P., Wales, N., Bar-Oz, G., & Meiri, M. (2023). Ancient DNA from a lost Negev Highlands desert grape reveals a Late Antiquity wine lineage. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(17), e2213563120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2213563120

Cremisan Winery. (n.d.-a). Cremisan Winery 1885. https://www.cremisanwine.com/

Cremisan Winery. (n.d.-b). Baladi. https://www.cremisanwine.com/?page_id=629

Deckers, K., Riehl, S., Meadows, J., Tumolo, V., Hinojosa-Baliño, I., & Lawrence, D. (2024). A history of olive and grape cultivation in Southwest Asia using charcoal and seed remains. PLOS ONE, 19(6), e0303578. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303578

Drori, E., Rahimi, O., Marrano, A., Henig, Y., Brauner, H., Salmon-Divon, M., Netzer, Y., Prazzoli, M. L., Stanevsky, M., Failla, O., Weiss, E., & Grando, M. S. (2017). Collection and characterization of grapevine genetic resources (Vitis vinifera) in the Holy Land, towards the renewal of ancient winemaking practices. Scientific Reports, 7, 44463. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep44463

Golan Heights Winery. (n.d.). Golan Heights Winery. https://www.golanwines.co.il/en/

Israel Wine. (n.d.). Wine regions. https://www.israel-wine.org/education/regions

Israeli Wines—Pride of Israel. (n.d.-a). Wine in modern Israel: Since 1948. https://winesisrael.com/en/159/wine-in-modern-israel-since-1948/

Israeli Wines—Pride of Israel. (n.d.-b). Israel wine map—regions. https://winesisrael.com/en/5218/israel-wine-map-regions/

Koh, A. J., Yasur-Landau, A., & Cline, E. H. (2014). Characterizing a Middle Bronze palatial wine cellar from Tel Kabri, Israel. PLOS ONE, 9(8), e106406. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0106406

Orthodox Union Kosher. (2007, December 24). Dear Rabbi, how do you make kosher wine? https://oukosher.org/blog/industrial-kosher/dear-rabbi-how-do-you-make-kosher-wine/

Orthodox Union Kosher. (2017, March 9). Uncorking the secrets of kosher wine. https://oukosher.org/blog/consumer-kosher/uncorking-secrets-kosher-wine/

UC Davis Foundation Plant Services. (n.d.). Emerald Riesling. https://fps.ucdavis.edu/FGRfamilies.cfm?varietyid=605

United Nations. (2025, September 25). Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan: Report of the Secretary-General (A/80/399). https://www.un.org/unispal/document/report-of-the-secretary-general-25sep25/

Wine Enthusiast. (n.d.-a). David’s Land 2017 Sauvignon Blanc (Galilee). https://www.wineenthusiast.com/buying-guide/davids-land-2017-sauvignon-blanc-galilee/

Wine Enthusiast. (n.d.-b). David’s Land 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Judean Hills). https://www.wineenthusiast.com/buying-guide/davids-land-2017-cabernet-sauvignon-judean-hills/