# Golan Heights Winery Is A Name You Should Be Familiar With Beyond Just Jewish Holy Days *By James Hills — Updated December 2023* Every Passover and Hanukkah it seems like different Kosher or Isralie wineries appear on our editorial schedule and each year I become more and more impressed with not just the realm of "Kosher Wines" but in the taste and quality of wines from Israel. Plus, if you are a wine conessour like myself where every sip is a way to travel virtually to a new land, a journey to try something new beyond just a tasty beverage - there are few places on Earth with as rich of a vinocultural heritage as the Golan Heights. Golan Heights Winery was founded in 1983 with the first vines planted in 1976. However, while that puts them at their 40th year of operation in 2023, the regional appelation of Galilee evokes images of Bible stories and readings from the Torah that take us back thousands of years as to the times of our ancient ancestors who were cultivating grapes so that they could enjoy wine for meals, festivals, and holy use as well. In fact the reading from John 2:1-12 where Jesus turned water into wine during a wedding party in Cana Galilee comes from not far from where these grapes used by Golan Heights Winery are harvested today. ## The Renowned Galilee Region In Israel, the Galilee wine region, often referred to as the Galil, holds the distinction of being the northernmost appellation and is widely regarded as the finest in the country. Within this esteemed wine growing region, the Golan Heights, or simply the Golan, stands out as the premier area and is the coolest region in Israel. ### 11 Father-Son Trip Ideas: Male Bonding Through Inter-Generational Travel Looking for cool father-son trip ideas? Explore unique destinations and activities, from adventurous mountain getaways and scenic bike trails to cultural explorations and relaxing cruises, perfect for ManTripping [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/N-BI_KaivzBU02gARSNs_Q.373) ### A Pride of America Cruise Will Change Your View of Hawaii Pride of America Hawaii cruise review, the only US flagged, large cruise ship to sail in Hawaii. ManTripping [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/N-BI_KaivzBU02gARSNs_Q.1039) ### 7 Days Private Guided Tour in Sri Lanka A 7 day private guided tour of Sri Lanka weaving history, culture and adventure with hidden gems, ideal for curious travelers. 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At the heart of the central Golan lies the town of Katzrin, home to the esteemed Golan Heights Winery. The winery is jointly owned by eight Israeli settlements that supply the grapes and today Golan Heights Winery is one of the top names in the region for quality wine production using modern technology and processes combined with traditional harvest and vinification techniques that put it on par with wines produced in other areas of the world.  ## Man Gear Pick of the Month September's Pick Amazon (affiliate) ### Kenyon City Grill Portable Stainless Steel Electric Grill Why we picked it: a grill you can actually carry to the campsite, the tailgate or the cabin without borrowing a truck. Stainless, no propane tank to wrestle, and hot enough to cook for four guys rather than reheat for one. 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Even when I go to google it refers to Golan Heights as being "Internationally recognized as Syrian territoriy occupied by Israel". While I'm not going to get too deeply into the continuing tradgedy about who's land it is - once again, for me it only makes the story of this wine that much more interesting. [Golan Heights Winery](https://www.golanwines.co.il/) produces their wines under three different brands. We were introduced to Yarden  as our first exploration of the brand. These wines are premium, single vineyard wines, and have a price point ranging from $25.99 for the Chardonnay to $95.99 for the Syrah and Merlot. ### 2019 Yarden "Allone Habashan" Syrah (SRP: $95.99):  great for special occasions, this Syrah was produced in a limited edition of 21 barrels. It pairs beautifully with slow-cooked smoked lamb spareribs, rich beef stew, or hearty eggplant parmesan. ### 2019 Yarden "Allone Habashan" Merlot (SRP: $95.99):  This deep garnet wine has a nose of black currant, rosemary and toast. Plush tannins support flavors of cherry, cassis, vanilla bean, bittersweet chocolate and violet that melt into a candied orange peel finish. ### 2021 Yarden Chardonnay (SRP: $25.99):  Exhibiting appealing pear, lemon, green apple, and tropical fruit notes, intermingled with mineral and floral characters, all with a background of French oak, Winemaker Victor Schoenfeld recommends pairing it with pan-seared halibut with lemon butter, crispy-skinned roast chicken, or butternut squash ravioli. All three were exceptional, especially compared to other Israli wines and specifically Kosher wines that we've tried. Quality was as good as anything that you can get from other growing regions that you might be more familiar with, though at $95.99 that price point puts it into a special category since it would be very difficult for me to spend that money vs products from Napa or Bordeaux. But again, as I mentioned above, that's not really the point. When I brought out the bottle of Yarden "Allone Habashan" Merlot to go along with our steak and latkes last night, it evoked a special moment and created conversation in a positive way ... about family, exploration, culture, history, and tradition vs if I had brought out a $250 bottle of Oakville Cab from one of my favorite producers the conversation would have simply been about money. Whether you are Jew or Gentile (like myself - though one that loves to embrace and celebrate Jewish cultural traditions), you should take the opportunity to try [these wines Golan Heights Winery](https://www.golanwines.co.il/) if you see them in your local wine shop.  Top Picks Flow Voyages ### Book your next cruise with Heather at Flow Voyages Flow Voyages is a travel advisor specializing in cruises and resorts. [Contact Flow Voyages](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/4SfGtIKs_vfPw2tDdMx0ZQ.617) Promoted by FlowAds Details Written by: James Hills Published: 11 December 2023 Last Updated: 12 December 2023 ### 🚢Ready To Book A Vacation? Let us help you plan a cruise, all-inclusive resort, or tour for your next guys trip, family vacation, or romantic getaway. Click here to [**Book Your Next Vacation**](https://www.mantripping.com/vacation-planning.html). #### Which Style Of Amazon Cruise Should You Pick To Explore World's Largest River? 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