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Yarden Wines Discovery with Wine Pairing Weekend
Thanks to Yarden Wines, our Wine Pairing Weekend blogging group is discovering wines from Israel in an extra-credit session for May (we usually meet on the 2nd Saturday). Each of our bloggers received two bottles of wine from one of Yarden Wines labels, and we all took the opportunity to pair them with food. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a dozen other impressions of the wines and recipe ideas!

Israel wine map courtesy of winesofisrael.com

Wines of Israel
Records and remnants of ancient winemaking equipment show that wine was being made in the region that is Israel today 8,000-10,000 years ago. The wines were exported and well known in Rome. However, the grapevines were destroyed and wine was no longer made while the region was under Islamic rule starting around 700 AD. In the 1880’s Jews living in the region re-started grape growing and wine making with the help of Baron von Rothschild. They primarily produced kosher wines for customers in Jewish communities. The modern era of winemaking began in the 1960’s as interest increased and wineries found they could make excellent wines for a broader market.

Because Israel’s latitude is at the far southern limit for grape growing, the vineyards are all located at high altitude, where cooler temperatures and larger day-night temperature differences provide excellent conditions.

Yarden Wines
Yarden Wines is the US import business subsidiary of the Golan Heights and Galil Mountain wineries. As part of the modern Israeli wine industry, Golan Heights Winery was established in 1983, and today thery are among the leaders in the Israeli wine industry.

Some information on the Golan Heights vineyards from the Yarden Wines:

“The Galilee or Galil is the most northern and generally considered the best appellation in Israel. The highest quality area within the appellation is the Golan Heights or simply the Golan the coldest region in Israel. The vineyards on this volcanic plateau rise from 400 meters (1300 feet) above sea level to 1200 meters (3900 feet) and receive snowfall in the winter. Golan Heights Winery is located in the town of Katzrin in the central Golan.”

Of interest for some, all these wines are labeled Kosher!

For more information:

• Promotion website for Wines of Israel 
• Excellent GuildSomm article on the Wines of Israel.

Disclosure: the wines in this post were provided as media samples. All opinions expressed are mine.

Yarden Wines Golan Heights Winery Merlot

Yarden Golan Heights Winery Merlot Galilee (sample, $31 SRP or online here) 14.5% abv
From the winery: “The grapes for this wine are grown in certified sustainable vineyards in the Golan Heights. The wine is aged in French oak barrels, 40% new, for 18 months.”

Eye: Clear, medium ruby color.
Nose: Clean, pronounced intensity aromas of deep blue/black fruits: fresh ripe blueberries, blackberries, plums. Toasty vanilla and caramel are on par with the fruit. There is a touch of green pepper far in the background, intriguing and nice to see.
Mouth: Dry, pronounced intensity, medium acidity, medium plus fine grained ripe tannins, full body with plush texture, high alcohol, and a long finish.
Conclusion: Very well done in an international style. Closer in style to California than to Bordeaux although they didn’t shy away from that touch of green pepper that Merlot should exhibit but seems to be erased in the new world.

Yarden Wines Golan Heights Winery Sauvignon Blanc

Yarden Golan Heights Winery Sauvignon Blanc Galilee (sample, $20 SRP or online here) 13.5% abv
From the winery: “The 2019 Yarden Sauvignon Blanc is made solely from Sauvignon Blanc fruit grown in vineyards on the cool northern Golan Heights. A small portion of the wine was fermented in French oak barrels adding a bit of body and complexity.”

Eye: Clear, pale lemon
Nose: Clean, medium intensity aromas of bright fresh lemon and grapefruit, bright garden herbs tarragon, jalapeno pepper, stony, crushed limestone.
Mouth: Dry, medium intensity flavors, medium plus acidity, medium plus body, medium alcohol, plush texture to balance the acidity, and a medium plus finish.
Conclusion: A very enjoyable Sauvignon Blanc, familiar yet unique. Shows its Sauvignon Blanc character with the citrus fruits and green/herbal notes. Not so over the top grassy as something from New Zealand, from a bit cooler climate than California, perhaps warmer than the Loire valley. Very nicely done.

Start the chicken over direct heat, sear both sides

Clear the grill, install the diverter plates to convert to indirect heat, pull the chicken at 160° F

Tabouleh + Sauvignon Blanc, roast chicken + Merlot

You’ll need two glasses!

A Meal for Merlot AND Sauvignon Blanc
I wanted to serve both wines with a single meal, but they have such different personalities. Sauvignon Blanc loves herbal, green items with plenty of mouthwatering acidity. Merlot is a plush, generous red that is very flexible with a wide variety of meats. I ended up with my “two fisted” pairing idea. The Sauvignon Blanc and the tabbouleh are a wonderful match; each better for the other. The Merlot loved the grilled, mustard chicken and onions. Each wine was ok with the cross-pairing, but not exceptional. So, serve two glasses at each plate and you’re all set!

Great Wine Pairing Ideas with Yarden Wines

Take a look below, our wine pairing weekend buddies have some great ideas to try with Yarden Wines. Why not join our conversation on Saturday, May 23 10:00-11:00am CDT? Just look us up at #WinePW on Twitter and jump in the chat!

• Terri at Our Good Life shares “Grilled Mahi Mahi and Gilgal Sauvignon Blanc”
• Gwendolyn at Wine Predator shares “The Eternal Light Shines in Galilee: Yarden’s Merlot, Pinot Gris with Acorn Squash Couscous, Tangerine Feta Spring Salad“
• Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm shares “Lamb Stuffed Eggplant and a perfect Wine from Galilee”
• Deanna at Asian Test Kitchen shares “Yarden Wines Paired with Japanese Surf ‘n Turf”
• Rupal at Syrah Queen shares “Off The Beaten Path – Two Wines From Isreal’s Galilee Appellation”
• Linda at My Full Wine Glass shares “Of Israeli wines, long-ago memories, and Harvey’s takeout”
• David at Cooking Chat shares “Pairings for Gilgal Sauvignon Blanc from Israel”
• Payal at Keep the Peas shares “Israeli Wine with the Diverse Cuisine of the Diaspora”
• Nicole at Somms Table shares “Memories of Yarden Wines with a side of Meatball Shakshuka”
• Jennifer at Vino Travels shares “Pairings with Wines from Israel”
• Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla shares “Peppered Brisket, Honeyed Onions, and the 2106 Galil Mountain ‘Ela’”
• Pinny at Chinese Food and Wine Pairings shares “Enjoying Gilgal Cab Sauvignon – Merlot and Yarden Pinot Gris with Grilled Wagyu Steak, Alaska Sockeye Salmon and Poke Ahi Tuna Bowl”
• Susannah from Avvinare shares “Visiting Israel for Memorial Day Through Yarden Wines”
• Jeff at Food Wine Click!shares “Two Fisted Wine Pairing with Yarden Wines”