Galil Mountain Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (OK Kosher) 2020
Winemaker Notes
The Upper Galilee mountain range is much more than an abode for Galil Mountain Winery; it’s the Winery’s heart and soul. Sitting in a breathtaking spot atop the Upper Galilee mountain range, the innovatively designed winery is committed to revitalizing the region’s rich history of winemaking. Over 2,000 years ago, the mountain range one of Israel’s highest at more than 1,000 meters above sea level was a choice location for the cultivation of quality grapevines. Today, the area’s topography, soil and climate make it an ideal home for the vibrant Galil Mountain Winery.
Established as a joint venture in 2000 by the world renowned Golan Heights Winery and Kibbutz Yiron, Galil Mountain Winery unites the best of tradition and technology. Leveraging six area vineyards, a state of the art production plant and proven expertise, Galil Mountain Winery offers an inspired selection of award
winning wines that remains true to its roots.
Uniting the best of tradition and technology, the winery’s
vineyards have been the first to be certified sustainable internationally under the rigorous and renowned LODI
RULES program.
With a rich history of wine production dating back to biblical times, Israel is a part of the cradle of wine civilization. Here, wine was commonly used for religious ceremonies as well as for general consumption. During Roman times, it was a popular export, but during Islamic rule around 1300, production was virtually extinguished. The modern era of Israeli winemaking began in the late 19th century with help from Bordeaux’s Rothschild family. Accordingly, most grapes grown in Israel today are made from native French varieties. Indigenous varieties are all but extinct, though oenologists have made recent attempts to rediscover ancient varieties such as Marawi for commercial wine production.
In Israel’s Mediterranean climate, humidity and drought can be problematic, concentrating much of the country’s grape growing in the north near Galilee, Samaria near the coast and at higher elevations in the east. The most successful red varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, while the best whites are made from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Many, though by no means all, Israeli wines are certified Kosher.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.