Why Israeli Wine is World Class (My Philosophy on What is Good Wine)

Posted on August 18, 2008

Golan Heights Winery's Katzrin premium Israeli wine
Israeli wine is world class. Yes, we’ve heard this recently from the likes of Robert Parker, Mark Squires, Gary Vaynerchuk, Wine Spectator, Decanter, and other wine critics and trade publications. But I think they’ve all got it a bit wrong.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not necessarily disagreeing with their scores and I’ll take the 93 that the Wine Advocate (Robert Parker and Mark Squires) gave the Yatir Forest. Rather, my wine philosophy is that Israeli wine is not world class because of the absolutely excellent Yatir Forest red wine or the Israeli wine that comes from Domaine du Castel but might be mistaken for the finest French chateau. Rather, Israeli wine is world class because of the Carmel Private Collection and its continued rise. Wine from Israel is world class because Gary Vaynerchuk referred to the Segal Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Merom Galil) as better than most California Cabernet Sauvignon’s, yet this wine costs less than $15. Wine from Israel is world class not because the Yarden El Rom Cabernet can be cellared for the next decade or because the latest vintage of the Yarden Katzrin can be a gift for your child’s 21st birthday. It’s not world class because Daniel Rogov gave the 2004 Yarden Ortal Syrah a score of 91. Rather, wine from the emerging eastern Mediterranean region is world class because the Golan Cabernet Sauvignon – the lowest level wine from the Golan Heights Winery – is wonderful, pleasant, and easy to drink vino.

Israeli wine is world class not because the Galil Mountain Winery makes an excellent Yiron and Yiron Syrah, but because the regular series wines – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Barbera, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier – are all winners and all provide excellent value for money. Several of these wines are even available in supermarkets throughout Israel! Israeli wine isn’t world class because of the Recanati Special Reserve but rather because Recanati’s “regular” line of varietal red and white wines all provide high quality at an everyday price. Israeli wine is world class because Ze’ev Dunie doesn’t overcharge on the awesome and unique Sea Horse label.

I firmly believe that a country is not producing world class wine because their top-of-the-line wine is excellent. That’s not my philosophy when it comes to wine, that’s not accessible for most people, and that doesn’t let people who have a normal budget and a regular salary enjoy the fruit of the vine. Israel isn’t world class because our top wines are world class. We’re world class because we are producing excellent supermarket wines. We’re world class because great wines are produced in Israel that are affordable for a picnic, for a middle class person, for every day and not just a wedding, anniversary, or other special occasion.

I don’t always drink the most expensive wines. But in Israel, I don’t have to. I can drink world class wines at affordable prices. Quality wine comes in all price ranges. That’s why Israel makes world class wines.

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Comments

4 Responses to “Why Israeli Wine is World Class (My Philosophy on What is Good Wine)”

  1. Richard Shaffer on August 18th, 2008 6:23 pm

    Interesting post!

    Good wine nations have to be able to produce a RANGE of accesible wines…so that everyone should be able to try and enjoy…

    Food for thought, bro.

    Richard

  2. Rogov on August 19th, 2008 11:34 am

    Good points and well made.

    Best
    Rogov

  3. Wine Tasting Guy on August 20th, 2008 9:21 am

    Interesting thoughts Avi. But I’m not sure I completely agree. While I strongly advocate drinking wines you enjoy as opposed to those that receive high scores, we must consider which wines really put Israel wine on the world stage.

    I COMPLETELY AGREE that Golan wines, Galil Mt. wines, etc. are all very fine wines and EXCELLENT QPR wines. But they are not the wines that will find themselves on menus of “world class” eateries next to Bordeaux, Burgundy, Borolo, etc…

    That is not to say that these more affordable and well made wines are NOT important. They are VERY important to a struggling artist like myself. And they will enable access of Israeli wines to the masses - something that is VERY IMPORTANT. But…

    All that said, I do enjoy your perspective. Keep up the great work!

  4. Ezra Butler on August 21st, 2008 5:46 pm

    Great Post. Reminds me to buy a couple of bottles of Sea Horse.

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