Carmel Wine: Not Just for Kiddush Anymore
October 31st 2010
Remember when Carmel wine was only known for its grape juice and Kiddush wine? Well, not anymore. In the last 10 years, the Carmel Winery has become a powerhouse in the global wine market, with four facilities processing wine from over 3,000 acres of vineyards spanning the length of Israel, bottling over 15 million bottles a year. Adam Montefiore, Carmel’s Wine Development director was interviewed by Israel21C after Carmel won an international award for its excellent wine.
In the 2010 Decanter World Wines Awards (The “Oscars” of the wine awards, as Adam tells it), Carmel Winery’s Single Vineyard Shiraz, 2008 won one of only 27 trophies for nearly 11,000 entries, winning for red Rhone varietals in the upper price category. The Decanter Judges Panel described the wine as “intense and voluptuous on the palate, plenty of oak with great persistence and texture.” Wow!
Montefiore told Israel21C that he considers Carmel’s current resurgence to be more of a comeback than a novelty, as his winery returns to its former international status – established in 1882 as a Rothschild-backed cooperative, winning awards in the international arena in the early 20th century.
Carmel has great wine workshops and winery tours at their Zichron Yaakov facility, which makes a great addition to any tour itinerary in the Haifa Region. Having an expert explain the complex tastes of an award winning wine is always an enjoyable, memorable experience. So have fun!
