Page 25 - Discover Israel Magazine - Philippines Edition 2019
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the stylish contemporary visitors’ center of Odem Winery
the Galil Mountain Winery, which offers
tours, tastings and a breathtaking view Moving south from the Galilee, on the coastal Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Personally
of the verdant Galilee hills all around you. plain along the shores of the Mediterranean guided tours by one of the winery’s master
(Phone: 972-4-686-8748; Sea, you will find Amphorae Winery, winemakers culminate in a tasting session
www.galilmountain.co.il) surrounded by dense greenery in a secluded around a massive wooden table. (Visits must
A true culinary surprise awaits you at the valley on the slopes of Mt. Carmel near be arranged in advance. Phone: 972-2-992-
Rimon Winery, owned and operated by Moshav Kerem Maharal. The wild natural 9923; www.flamwinery.com)
the Nachmias family in Moshav Kerem Ben beauty along the road leading to the winery
Zimra in the Upper Galilee. Nestled in the is just the prelude to tasting the wonderful Commanding a breathtaking hilltop view of
heart of the family’s pomegranate orchard, Chardonnays, Merlots, Cabernets and other the vineyards and the coastal plain, the Dir
the winery produces the world’s first fine wine varietals produced by Amphorae. The well- Rafat monastery on the way to Beit Shemesh
made of 100 percent pomegranates, with no designed visitors’ center is a lovely place to is home to Mony Winery. Among the
added sugar (rimon is the Hebrew word for enjoy the wines while taking in the stunning grape varieties in its vineyards are Cabernet
pomegranate). Vitamin-rich pomegranates scenery. (Phone: 972-4-984-0702; Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Argaman,
are renowned as powerful antioxidants with www.amphoraewines.com/english/home/) Petite Sirah, Chardonnay and Emerald
anti-inflammatory properties that have been Riesling. Visits include a tour of the wine
shown to prevent heart disease and other Some very well-regarded boutique wineries cellar, which has been situated for centuries in
conditions. The stunning stone winery sells are also located between the coastal plain a limestone cave with ideal temperature and
Rimon wines plus an array of pomegranate- and the Jerusalem hills to the east. The area’s humidity conditions that was originally used
based foods and cosmetics. (Phone: 972-4- unique topography features hills that rise for this purpose by the monks who built the
682-2325; www.rimonwinery.com) steeply from the plain, plus suitable climatic place. (Phone: 972-2-991-6629; www.mony-
conditions and mineral-rich soil, which have vineyard.co.il)
Rimon Winery. Photo: Dvir Almog made this a top grape-growing region since
ancient times. One of the oldest and best- Further south, in the heart of the Negev
Galil Mountain Winery known wineries here is Tzora Vineyards, Desert, a unique project called the Wine Route
named after the kibbutz where it is located. is reviving the winemaking industry along
The visitors’ center has a lovely shop offering the ancient Perfume Route, which played a
– in addition to a selection of fine wines – jams major role in the spice and scent trade for
in many flavors, olive oil and other goodies thousands of years. A fine example of the
that could be part of a wonderful picnic in the project’s success can be seen at the Carmey
forests all around. (Phone: 972-2-990-8261; Avdat Farm, whose owners planted their
www.tzorawines.com) vineyard on the site of a Nabatean agricultural
settlement dating back some 1,500 years. In
Not far from Tzora, in a beautiful building set addition to producing Cabernet Sauvignon
in a large pine forest, you will find the Flam and Merlot wines, the environmentally friendly
Winery, whose carefully-run vineyards in farm offers rustic bed-and-breakfast lodging
various regions of Israel provide the grapes and operates a shop close to nearby Kibbutz
for several renowned wines, including Sde Boker. (Phone: 972-8-653-5177; www.
Flam Classico, a blend of equal parts carmeyavdat.com)
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