Where to go in Israel? | Winemaking and Winery Tours

Ancient Winemaking in Israel

Israel has a long history of wine production, dating back to biblical times and continuing to modern day. Hundreds of winepresses are found in the fields, villages and cities of the Holy Land. The ancient winepress was a giant, hallowed out rock where the grapes were brought and crushed by the feet of the workers, extracting the juice to make the wine. Many vineyards and winepresses are found in most of the biblical places and ancient sites, in Galilee in the north, Golan, Shomron, Judean Hills and the Negev Desert, in the south.

The Bible has References to Wine, Winepress and Winemaking

It’s no secret that wine flows freely in biblical stories. Grapes are one of the seven species connected to the land of Israel along with wheat, barley, figs, pomegranates, olives and date honey. Vineyards and winemaking were common in agrarian Israel. Wine was an essential part in the worship of the people of God in both Old and New Testaments. Wine was used in celebrating the Passover. Wine is associated with life and God’s blessing. Wine was used in the Scriptures as symbols of many important truths: Jesus turned water into wine at the Cana wedding and the Passover cup at the Last Supper was filled with wine.

Rediscovering the Promise of the Land

Ancient Israel must have been one of the earliest wine-producing countries. Wine production came to a halt with the Muslim conquest in the 7th century AD and did not start up again until the arrival of Baron Edmond de Rothschild in the late 19th century. Israel has gone through ups and downs within the wine industry but today the Holy Land is returning to a world class wine status.

Israel is renowned for its agriculture. Its Mediterranean weather and fertile soil give the wine an ideal foundation of producing the perfect grapes. Israel’s viticulturists are forward-looking. Most of Israel’s wineries are technologically innovative and they engage internationally trained winemakers, with experience in major wine producing countries. Israel is honing the art of winemaking to vie with some of the best in the world. Today, hundreds of wineries, ranging in size from small boutique enterprises to large companies, are producing Israeli wines.

Winery Visit in Israel

Consider a half day or full day trip to discover some of Israel’s wineries – you can enjoy an array of experiences such as wine education, cheese and chocolate tastings, chef restaurants, vineyard tours and beautiful scenery. The winery tour includes wine tasting and takes you to see the winemaking process first-hand. You get to learn about how good quality wine is produced by traditional winemaking techniques combined with new technology and how variations in the soil and climates are reflected in the wines. You get to tour around the vineyard on a jeep, a memorable experience full of scents and tastes in the fresh air of the hills. Call us for your private Israel wine tour on your next visit to Israel. We are happy to provide an itinerary and pricing on just about any tour you would be interested in. Click here if you are interested in organizing a private tour.

Petra: A UNESCO World Heritage site & one of the New Seven Wonders of the World

Hidden behind soaring cliffs is none other than Jordan’s most prized tourist attraction, the prehistoric Jordanian city of Petra. Commonly known as the Rose-Red City, for its impressive monuments carved into the sandstone-coloured mountain, or the Lost City of Stone, for it was an uninhabited ruin for centuries, this ancient city was declared UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, and in 2007, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

This city’s architecture is the legacy of the Nabateans, who beyond their remarkable stone-carving abilities, proved great innovation in trade and irrigation systems in the middle of the desert. Thanks to the Nabateans, people today get to witness the magnificently carved Treasury, with a façade so impressive from its sheer scale, down to its intricate detail. This city was ultimately conquered by the Roman Empire in 106 AD and its significance in international trade declined due to the necessity of sea trade routes. Today, the city’s tombs (many of which have been looted by thieves), demonstrate a combination of Nabatean and Greco-Roman architectural styles.

Watch and admire the Nabateans remarkable stone-carving abilities:

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