Fast Facts Israeli Wine 2016


TEN THINGS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT ISRAELI WINES

1. Israel is one of the oldest wine producing countries in the world.
2. The modern Israeli wine industry was founded by Baron Edmond de Rothschild, owner of Château Lafite in Bordeaux.
3. There are today more than 300 Israeli wineries.
4. Vineyards cover Israel from the mountains in the north, to the desert in the south.
5. Israel is famous for its advanced technology and its wineries are state of the art.
6. Israel’ is famous for its agriculture, which shows in its viticulture.
7. Most Israeli winemakers are young & internationally trained.
8. Israeli wines win high scores from Robert Parker, recognition from Hugh Johnson and trophies in the world’s leading wine tasting competitions.
9. Not all Israeli wines are kosher.
10 . Kosher wine is harvested, fermented, aged and bottled in the same way as a non kosher wine. The kosher designation is irrelevant to a wine's quality.
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ISRAEL: A NEW WORLD COUNTRY FROM ONE OF THE OLDEST WINE PRODUCING REGIONS ON EARTH

Fast Facts/ Israeli Wine (2016)

VINEYARDS

Israel is usually regarded as being part of the Middle East. It may be more accurately considered as being situated in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region also referred to as the Near East or ‘The Levant.’

CLIMATE: Mainly Mediterranean. Long, hot dry summers; short wet winters; snow on higher ground. Semi-arid & desert conditions, in the Negev.

SOILS: Volcanic in north; sandy red soils on coast & chalk & limestone on the hills.

HECTARES: 5,500 hectares (13,585 acres; 55,000 dunams).

HARVEST (METRIC TONS):
2014: 60,054 2013: 55,693 2012: 52,873 2011: 46,079 2010: 46,258

VINTAGE: August to end of October - (often begins late July & occasionally ends early November); Machine & hand harvested.

BEST VINTAGES:
2014; 2013; 2012; 2008; 2005; 2004; 2003; 2000; 1997; 1995; 1993; 1990;
1989; 1985; 1979; 1976

GRAPE VARIETIES
Israel’s traditional volume varieties, Carignan & Colombard, apart from some quality old vine Carignans, are usually only used in inexpensive blends. They are gradually being replaced by international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc. Shiraz is proving both popular & suitable for Israel’s climate. Bordeaux varieties have been most successful to date, yet Mediterranean varieties may be more suitable in the longer term.

VARIETIES – METRIC TONS %:
Cabernet Sauvignon 18%; Carignan 17%; Merlot 13%; Shiraz/ Syrah 7%; Petit Verdot 5%; Colombard 4%; Muscat of Alexandria 4%; Argaman 5%; Chardonnay 3%; Petite Sirah 2%; Sauvignon Blanc 2%; Emerald Riesling 2%; Cabernet Franc 2%; Malbec 2%; Tempranillo 1%; Mourvedre 1%
LESS THAN 1%: Pinotage; Muscat Canelli; White Riesling; Pinot Noir; Semillon: Sangiovese; Tempranillo; Gewurztraminer; Barbera; Muscat Hamburg; Chenin Blanc; Zinfandel; Grenache; Nebbiolo.

WINE REGIONS

HECTARES OF VINEYARDS BY REGION (%)
GALILEE 41% - mainly Upper Galilee & Golan Heights
SAMSON 27% - vineyards in central coastal plain, Judean Lowlands, Judean Foothills 
SHOMRON 17% - southern Mt. Carmel - mainly in valleys around Zichron Ya’acov 
JUDEAN HILLS 10% - Jerusalem mountains, Gush Etzion & Yatir Forest - southern Judean Hills
NEGEV 5% - mainly Ramat Arad, Sde Boker & Mitzpe Ramon

Israel wine map
OFFICIAL WINE REGIONS

Region in Hebrew / Name in English  
    Vineyard Areas
Galil / Galilee
    Upper Galilee
    Lower Galilee
    Golan Heights
Shomron / Samaria
    Mt. Carmel
    Sharon
    Shomron Hills
Shimshon / Samson
    Central Coastal 
    Judean Lowlands
    Judean Foothills
Harey Yehuda / Judean Hills
    Jerusalem
    Gush Etzion
    Yatir Forest
Hanegev / Negev
    NE Negev
    Central Negev

Wine regions in bold type are registered with the TTB (USA) and the European Community.

 

ISRAELI MARKET

WINE MARKET IN ISRAEL: US$ 315 million annually

IMPORTS: 20%, mainly from 1. Italy; 2. Chile; 3. Argentina; 4. France; 5. Spain

CONSUMPTION: 5 liters a head

MARKET SHARE: 63% red; 16% white; 8% sparkling; 2% rose;
11% sweet (moscato style, dessert & sacramental)

EXPORT
EXPORT OF ISRAELI WINES ($ m.)
2014: $ 40 (2001: $ 8.01 m.)

MAIN IMPORTERS OF ISRAELI WINES
1. U.S.A; 2. France; 3. U.K; 4. Canada; 5. Poland, 6. Germany; 7. Holland

EXPORT SALES
55+ % of exports to North America; 35+ % to Western Europe. Remainder to more than 30 countries in 5 continents.

WINE TOURISM

There is a great deal of domestic and international wine tourism. Larger wineries are more likely to have visitors’ centers. Smaller wineries are more likely to be open on Shabbat- Saturdays.
The main wine routes are the Upper Galilee & Golan (north), Mount Carmel (northern coast) and the Judean Hills & Foothills regions (center). These days there are also wine routes in the Negev (south) and the Central Mountains too.

 Autor: Israel Preker