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It’s already fall – so what are we drinking?

Pabio November 8, 2024

Autumn in Israel is more often found in songs than in reality, where summer reigns most of the year. Late October and early November bring the fleeting presence of Israeli autumn. The grape harvest is over, the olive harvest is coming to an end and the days are getting shorter and are no longer so hot.

Here and there you can see squills, water lilies and autumn crocuses. The birds are migrating (where has the wagtail gone?) and the sky appears bluer. The scent of citrus fruits fills the air, and above all, the golden foliage accentuates the melancholy in our hearts.

During this time of seeking escape – or perhaps shelter – from this difficult and melancholic time, I remembered a few wines that, in recent days, have brought me some comfort.

Vine foliage in the Golan (credit: Gil Brenner)

Domaine Teperberg, Inspire Art, Grenache Syrah Marselan 2023

The Grenache, Syrah and Marselan grape varieties, grown in three vineyards in the Ayalon Valley, at the foot of Judea, harmonize wonderfully in this wine, aged together for around eight months in barrels.

Its bright red color is pleasing to the eye and its floral and fruity aroma is a delight to the nose. On the palate, it reveals a soft and pleasant texture with balanced acidity: a joyful wine.

Price: 65 NIS.

Domaine Teperberg, Inspire Art, Grenache Syrah Marselan 2023 (credit: OSNAT GUETTA)

Domaine Sea Horse, Wild Grenache

One of the most summery and autumnal reds, this wine is made with 100% Grenache grapes from the organic Nahalot vineyard in Bar Giora. The wine undergoes spontaneous fermentation with wild yeast, a method that, according to philosophical winemaker Ze’ev Dunie, directly influences the flavor of the wine, enriching its complexity and expressing the terroir of the Jerusalem Hills. A wine that captivated me.

In my opinion, this is one of the best wines from Sea Horse Winery. It offers a fascinating character, a wide range of flavors, a slight acidity and above all is really delicious.

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Price: 96 NIS.

Sea Horse Winery, Wild Grenache (credit: courtesy of Sea Horse Winery)

Galil Mountain Winery, Galil Misgav Am Vineyard 2021

The Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Misgav Am Winery, Israel’s northernmost winery, are known to many due to the often reported missile and rocket fire nearby.

This wine transitions from fall to winter with spicy aromas of red and purple berries, black pepper, earth and tobacco, offering a full, velvety texture and a long, pleasant finish.

Price: 195 NIS.

Galil Mountain Winery, Galil Misgav Am Vineyard 2021 (credit: PR)

Santalba Viña Hermosa Blanco 2023

This Spanish kosher white wine from the Rioja region is made from Viura grapes, the classic Rioja white grape variety. The grapes are grown sustainably, without irrigation, on the west bank of the Ebro River in Rioja Alta.

With aromas of white flowers and citrus fruits, this wine brings the scents of autumn, with balanced and pleasant acidity and a slightly sweet finish.

Price: 55 NIS.

Santalba Viña Hermosa Blanco 2023 (credit: PR)

Recanati Winery, Galilee Chardonnay Vintage 2023

Recanati, another Galilean winery, is a place we are currently unable to visit.

The Galilean Chardonnay grapes produced a wine with aromas of citrus and summer fruits, with a very pleasant acidity and subtle notes of oak coming from the barrels in which part of the wine fermented and aged.

Price: 65 NIS.

Recanati Winery, Galilée Chardonnay Vintage 2023 (credit: EYAL KEREN)