In the last few years there has been an explosion of wine culture in Israel. There are many new wine stores all over Israel and numerous different types of wine, grape varieties & wine growing regions. Israelis are hungry for information, and wine appreciation courses are over subscribed. Many wine lovers have become winemakers, making their own wines, at home or in the garage. There are now well over 100 wineries in Israel -- from those producing millions of bottles, to the garagiste producing a few thousand. The quality is at worst international standard and at best, even world class.
Only in 1996 the wine consumption in Israel was 3.5 liters a head; by 2004 it had doubled to 7 liters a head. The local market is worth US $ 170 million a year. Exports of Israeli wines increased by 40 % in 2004. It is a small, vibrant, & successful industry with a variety and quality that will surprise those who have not visited Israel recently.
During my own visits to Israel's wineries, I have discovered an amazing new world, in which hundreds of people with the same passion have dedicated themselves to studying, enjoying & producing wine. It is almost as if their veins flow with wine not blood ! They talk about wines with the shining eyes of a fanatic and but also with a love that is greater than passion.
My personal discovery is that behind every simple bottle of wine there is a fascinating story; every bottle contains a soul which is alive as it changes & develops. Believe me, producing wine is not an easy thing to do.
I got the bug of this seductive business and have grown to love & appreciate both the stories of the people who make wine & the places where it is made. I have realized that only after fully understanding the background, is it possible to really appreciate the wine in the glass.
For the benefit of all the winemakers and the wine lovers - and also for me personally, I have decided to build this internet site: www.israelwines.co.il . It was initially launched in Hebrew only, but I have now introduced an English section.
Many hours have been dedicated to build this site; there is still a long way before us.
It seems as if the wine stories and inventions in the Israeli wine industry will never end -- new wineries seem to open daily.
I am an engineer by profession, working in the electronic field during the week and at the weekends I switch hats, change my way of thinking and enter the spirit & atmosphere of the world of wine.
Everything I am able to find about Israel wine, its vineyards, its viticulturists & winemakers, you will be able to find in this site which is dedicated to the wonderful product which I am so proud of: Israeli wine!
Please do not hesitate to contact me by email to give your opinion or to ask for information. I receive emails from all over the world and I would be happy to hear from you too. This site is a one man project, with the help of a few friends, set up & maintained by someone with a passion. My objective is to faithfully record what is happening on the wine scene in Israel. I personally visit the wineries, wine events, tastings, take photographs, conduct interviews, write articles and manage to keep everything updated. Most news about Israeli wine appears in israelwines.co.il first!
Cheers -- or as we say here, Le Chaim -- To Life !!
