Segal Argaman 2007 from Dovev Vineyard in the Upper Galilee, has won the equivalent of a Gold Medal at ‘Les Citadelles du Vins’ Competition held in Bordeaux, France. Argaman is a cross between Carignan and Souzao, a Portuguese variety.

Avi Feldstein, winemaker of Segal Wines, produced a single vineyard wine from Argaman grapes grown in a vineyard in the Upper Galilee, which created new interest in the Argaman grape. Now the wine has won this prestigious award. Segal Wines is owned by Barkan, Israel’s second largest winery, which is in turn owned by Tempo, Israel’s largest brewery.

Cabernet Franc, Carignan and Petite Sirah are some of the more unfashionable grape varieties, becoming more associated with Israel. In the rush of quality international competition results announced in May 2010, the Ella Valley Cabernet Franc 2007, Carmel Carignan 2006 and Carmel Petite Sirah 2006 were all awarded Silver Medals in the Decanter and IWSC respectively. This is encouraging for those looking for wines with an Israel identity.

However, even though Carignan, for example, has been in Israel since 1882, Argaman is the only truly Israeli variety.

Argaman was developed by Professor Roy Spiegel in the early 1990′s. A varietal Argaman wine produced by Carmel Mizrahi won a Silver Medal at the BTI in Chicago in the mid 1990′s, but apart from that initial success, the variety tended to be lost in inexpensive blends. It was planted mainly in the Samson, Shefela or Judean Plain region. However Avi Feldstein has always believed in the variety. He insisted in planting Argaman in the premium Upper Galilee and producing the first single vineyard wine from it. His pioneering effort has born fruit in Bordeaux.

(This story first appeared on Wines Israel and is reprinted with permission)