Last week, I had the immense pleasure of traveling to Tel Aviv (I admit, a rare occurrence!) to attend the book launch of Daniel Rogov’s 2008 Guide to Israeli Wines, the premier rating book of Israel’s top (and not-so-top) wineries. Only in the past 20-or-so years, with the beginning of Golan Heights Winery, has Israel begun producing world-class wines, and only in the past few years with older wineries that used to just make sweet, sickly “Kiddush” wines undergoing tremendous changes and renovations and hundreds of smaller wineries now on the scene and making wines equal to the very best. Daniel Rogov, Israel’s most important wine critic (and, as I discovered, a nice guy!), has only produced his guide since 2005.

While open only to winery officials and wine journalists, a few members of the Rogov wine forum were also invited to this event. While I won’t bore you with the details (the head of the Golan Heights Winery spoke, Rogov announced that there were over 600 new reviews and 15 new wineries) Of course, much wine was drunk (Yarden Brut at the entrance, and Yarden Odem Organic Chardonnay and Syrah at the event itself) and excellent hor’dourves were had. Best of all, the event, at Tel Aviv’s Derech HaYayin’s fantastic cellar, allowed for a chance to pick up a special bottle of Recanati (a top Italian-style wine produced right here in Israel!) that was made specially for the wine store. It’s always good to experience culture in Israel.

If you haven’t opened up a bottle of good Israeli wine, now’s the time. L’chaim!

(crossposted on Israelity)