THE WINE REVOLUTION IN ISRAEL Victor Schoenfeld Head Winemaker November 5, 2014
Israel is Famous for We Also Want
Who Would Have Guessed? 2008 Top 100 Wines of the Year, Wine Spectator (USA) 2011 Best Winery in the World, Vinitaly (Verona, Italy) 2012 New World Winery of the Year, Wine Enthusiast (USA) 2014 Top 100 Best Value Wines, Wine Enthusiast (USA) 2014 Top 100 Wines of the Year, Wine Enthusiast (USA) Since 2010, Top Medals for: Yarden Gewurzatraminer (France) Yarden Chardonnay (Germany) Yarden Chardonnay Odem Organic Vineyard (France, Italy) Yarden 2T (France) Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon (Germany, Italy) Yarden HeightsWine (France, Italy, UK)
Historical Perspective Oldest Wine Remains Found Until Now: 7,000 years in Iran. Oldest wine press in Israel: 6,500 years. Canaanite wine jars found in Egypt, reflecting large exports: 5,200 years old. Thousands of ancient wine presses found in Israel. Islamic Period: 638 1918 results in 1,300 year cessation of wine Beit Shean, 6th Century production (loss of varieties & ~5,000 years experience, knowledge). 1880 s: Baron Edmond de Rothschild (Lafite) helps advance industry. 1983: Golan Heights Winery begins (and continues now) Quality Revolution. Current: Hundreds of Wineries.
Where Are We?
Where Are We?
Where Are We?
Where Are We?
Where Are We?
Where Are We?
Where Are We?
Where Are We?
Where Are We?
From Looking at a Map: 33 o Bit Surprising for Fine Wine So What is Going On?! N33 o
First, Our Golan Soils. Much Wine is Grown in Volcanic Soils Austria Hungary Germany (Mosel) France (Alsace, Languedoc) Italy (Tuscany, Sicily, Compania) Australia (Yarra Valley, Victoria) Washington Oregon California ( Sonoma Volcanics, Sonoma Mountain, Napa, Howell Mountain)
Next, Our Climate: Mediterranean Distribution of Mediterranean Climates See high correlation of Mediterranean Climate to wine production.
Israel at a Glance 33 o 67 Km 40 Mi 20 Km 12 Mi Vineyards in Israel are moving from the Coastal Plain to Higher Elevations 32 o 400 Km 240 Mi Israel is about half the size of Switzerland or Slightly larger than Województwo Dolnośląskie or 8% the size of New Zealand 100 Km 60 Mi
Higher Altitude Simulates Increasing Latitude Rough Rule of Thumb: Every increase of 1 m in elevation simulates an increase of 1 km in latitude. Or: Every increase of 5 feet in elevation simulates in increase of 1 mile in latitude.
The Range of Our Vineyard Elevations in the Golan Heights Simulates a Change in Latitude of 500 miles Significant? About the length of France. Toulouse to Lille: ~500 mi
Using Rule of Thumb, Range of Similar Latitudes in Europe N45 o Where the Vast Majority of European Wine is Produced N37 o N33 o
Using Elevation Rule of Thumb: Location of Our Vineyards on USA West Coast Odem El Rom Ein Zivan Ortal Tel Phares 800 km Allone Habashan, Yonaton Napa 38 o Geshur, Ramat Magshimim 400 km
Studying Our Climate With Our 13 Weather Stations Expert: Meteo-tech Meteorologic Services Temperature Relative Humidity Rain Wind Speed Wind Gust Speed Wind Direction Radiation Soil Temperature Leaf Wetness (measured every second)
2014: Deviation from Multi-year Average Monthly Average Temperatures
2013 2012 2011 2010
2014: Monthly Rainfall vs Multiyear Average
Expert: Dr. Yoshua Mager Soil Classification of the Golan Heights
Northern Golan Heights Vineyards and Their Soils
Avital Slope Odem Kela Ortal El Rom Name Topography Parent Material Hermonit Dalaweh Northern Golan Heights Vineyards and Their Soils Medium-steep slopes at elevations of 2600-4000 ft Varied topography at elevations of 1600-2300 ft in central Golan and 2600-3100 ft in northern Golan Bacha Plains and gentle slopes Basalt and tuff Kuneitra Valleys (flat or concave) Alluvial and colluvial basalt and tuff Depth Texture Drainage Tuff 20-50 in Medium heavy Hermonit with Soils: low amount tuff based brown of to stones reddishbrown; found at 40% stones in elevations of upper 800 1200 layer and meters (2600-4000 50-70% stones feet); in lower depths 50-130cm depth (20-35-50 in Medium heavy 50in); 40-50% with clay; moderate low stones; Basalt 20-45 in Medium with 20- surface stones and low to moderate in profile 40-70 in Fairly heavy and not stony. Good Good Good Good Meitzar Southern Golan plateaus Basalt 20-35 Heavy; not stony Good
Golan Heights Vineyards and Their Soils Bottom Line All (vineyard) soils have good water holding capacity but are well-drained, ensuring aerated soils and possible deep rooting.
Precision Viticulture Expert: Shai Meital ECS NDVI
Advanced Vineyard Planning Part of Bar on Vineyard with Bacha Soils 4.8 Hectares Divided into 8 Sub Blocks ECS & PITS Field Capacity Soil Type Blocks Plan Expert: Dr. Phil Freese
number of berries The Zelma Project Two Samples of 300 Berries from Ein Zivan Pinot Noir Berry Distribution Successful Sorting Out of Underripe Fruit! Berry Sample from the Vineyard brix Berry Sample after Sorting ENZPN96EEZ-2006-Asor ENZPN96EEZ-2006-Bsor
Hand Sorting
Optical Grape Sorting
Optical Grape Sorting
Optical Grape Sorting
Optical Grape Sorting
Optical Grape Sorting
Optical Grape Sorting
Vine Propagation Expert: Itzik Russo
The Bank at Golan Heights Winery
The Mother Block of Golan Heights Winery
Building the Nursery
First Entav Branded Vines Made in Israel 2011
Experimental Winery
The Most Exciting Thing The Future