Where to Buy Wine from Israel
Posted on August 26, 2008
One of the challenges about writing about Israeli wine is that the story is still not out. Particularly outside of the observant kosher wine-drinking population (who then ignore great wines like Clos de Gat, Flam, Pelter, Saslove, etc.), many people still have never drank Israeli wine. Reading comments on Gary Vaynerchuk’s Wine Library TV pages and even on forums like Rogov’s forum, more and more people are interested in tasting the fine wines from Israel, but still don’t know where to get it.
As a useful resource, I am compiling a handful of places one can purchase Israeli wine (primarily online) as well as a few importers. If you can’t order wine online, bring the list of importers to your favorite wine shop or restaurant and ask them to carry wine from Israel. There are also two wine clubs that offer wine delivery to your door. For some Israeli wines, you can also look and see if there is a kosher grocery store in your area and see what their wine selection is — although be warned that quality can vary. As with any purchase, make sure you pay attention to the vintage - some stores may sell wine that is past its peak, particularly at bargain prices.
If you know of other or have recommendations of retailers, please leave them in the comments.
ONLINE RETAILERS (IN THE UNITED STATES)
Israeli Wine Direct - http://www.israeliwinedirect.com
Israeli Wine Direct is bringing in unique wines, both kosher and non-kosher wines. They have an exclusive collection of some of Israel’s best non-kosher wines. IWD sells both direct-to-consumer in 15 states and also direct-to-trade. Ask your favorite restaurant and wine shop to carry some of IWD’s selection.
Queen Anne’s Wines - http://wine-club.stores.yahoo.net/index.html
This retailer in Teaneck, NJ also has an e-commerce site that sells a large selection of Israeli wine.
Gotham Wines and Liquors - http://www.gothamwines.com/
This New York retailer carries both kosher Israeli wines and is one of the few sources for non-kosher Israeli wines, including a large selection of wines from Clos de Gat,
KosherWine.com — http://www.kosherwine.com/
KosherWine.com is the online division of Hungarian Kosher Foods in Skokie, IL. They have a large selection of kosher wines from around the world and one of the largest selection of kosher Israeli wines. Their well-developed website allows easy searching and filtering.
Online Kosher Wine https://wwws.onlinekosherwine.com/
Online Kosher Wine, based on the east coast, is similar to KosherWine.com but they have a slightly different selection of wines. I’ve found that they have more wines from great new wineries like Teperberg 1870.
ONLINE RETAILERS (IN ISRAEL)
Olive Wines - http://www.olivewines.com/
Olive Wines has kosher wines and ships them from Jerusalem. This site is in English. Prices are in shkalim.
Wine Depot - http://www.winedepot.co.il/
This Hebrew site has a large selection of Israeli wines, both kosher wines and non-kosher wine.
WINE CLUBS
Israel Wine Company - http://israelwinecompany.com
From California, Israel Wine Company offers a wide selection of wines from Israel, from the smallest boutique to the best of the medium producers. They have great wine gift packs and the ability to create custom wine gift selections. Their selection includes both kosher and non-kosher. Run by Ari Erle, he also produces wine in Israel and will have his own wine available.
Israeli Wine Direct - http://www.israeliwinedirect.com
Israeli Wine Direct, the exclusive importer of some of Israel’s finest wine and particularly some of Israel’s best non-kosher boutique wineries, also has a wine club which provides a sampler of some of their selection.
IMPORTERS
Israeli Wine Direct - http://www.israeliwinedirect.com
Israeli Wine Direct sells both direct-to-trade and direct-to-consumer and is the exclusive importer for some of Israel’s best boutique wineries.
Yarden, Inc. - http://www.yardenwines.com/
Yarden, Inc. is the exclusive supplier of wines from the Golan Heights Winery and the Galil Mountain Winery. If you can’t find their wines in your favorite wine shop, have them be in touch.
Palm Bay International — http://www.palmbayimports.com
Palm Bay Imports is the importer of Recanati Winery.
Sol Stars - 212-605-0430, HHassin@aol.com
Sol Stars is the importer for Clos de Gat, a top non-kosher boutique producer.
Dionysus Imports- dionysos91@hotmail.com
This Virginia importer is the DC/MD/VA source for wine from Agur and Ben Hanna Wines.
Allied Importers - http://www.alliedimporters.com/
Allied Importers carries wines from Dalton Winery as well as a few other producers.
Abarbanel Wine Company — http://www.kosher-wine.com
This kosher wine distributor carries Katlav and Kadesh Barnea Wine.
Royal Wine Corp. - http://www.royalwines.com/
The ‘granddaddy of kosher wine’, this importer imports the most Israeli wine into the United States. Don’t let their kosher marketing fool you - they have great wines from Israel that happen to be kosher. They have an extremely wide selection of wine, including Domaine du Castel, Carmel, and Yatir as well as mass-market producers. Since the 2007 vintage, they also carry wine from the previously nonkosher Agur. They probably have the largest selection of Israeli wines.
» Filed Under Israeli wine industry Tags: Tags:importers, israeli wine clubs, israeli wine stores, online wine retailers, wine clubs
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5 Responses to “Where to Buy Wine from Israel”
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Nice post. Ella Valley is imported by Victor in Miami (http://www.victor-kosherwines.com/). Allied might import Ella Valley Select which is a private label made by another winery (maybe Efrat). I’m sure you can check with Rogov.
Great list but …
As Toke-Dawg points out “Victor Kosher” imports Ella Valley as well as others (I think such as Kadesh Barnea who is no longer with Abarbanel - although I may be confusing them with hebron Heights).
Agur has become kosher and has moved over to Royal’s massive (almost monopolistic) portfolio.
Allied carries Tabor.
A new company, Happy Hearts Imports is now importing wine from 6 Israeli wineries.
Tishbi is brought in and distributed by Admiral
I’m sure I’m forgetting something…
Oh yeah, you can’t forget about Skyview wine when talking about wines from Israel…
http://www.skyviewwine.com/
VERY nice gathering of the people and teams making wine from the Birthplace of Wine available to the US market - the world’s largest wine market!
Richard
You can order wine related products within Israel from http://www.winebar.co.il
- E.Y.