Medium yellow-gold color; lemon, melon, yellow apple, citrus, peach, pear, pineapple, brioche, vanilla, oak on the nose and palate.
Dry; subtle tannins from oak aging, excellent acidity (3.19 pH). Medium-plus body. Made with hand-harvested fruit from vineyards up to 3,900 feet in elevation in the northern Golan Heights, a cool area that promotes superb acidity. The Galilee (or Galil) is the northernmost appellation in Israel and generally considered the best. Barrel fermented with partial malolactic conversion. The wine spent seven months aging in French oak, 40% new, adding textural elements of glycerol and light tannins, influencing creaminess and depth.
Volcanic soils, rich in basalt and mineral deposits, contribute a distinct minerality. The porous soil forces the vine roots to work hard to penetrate deep into the substrata for water, always a plus for wine vines. Kosher for Passover, but not mevushal. 14% ABV
The Golan Heights Winery was founded in 1983, two years after Israel extended Israeli law and administration in the territory. Golan Heights Winery includes four brands: Yarden, Golan Heights, Gilgal, and Mount Hermon. Yarden is the premier label and flagship brand of the Golan Heights Winery. Yarden refers to the Jordan River (Yarden in Hebrew).
The Golan Heights Winery is Israel’s leading premier winemaker. Wine Enthusiast named it “New World Winery of the Year” in 2012. The “New World” designation is amusing—it is hard to imagine Israel and the Middle East qualifying as “new world”—but in the wine business, New World covers all the wineries not in Europe and adjacent, long-time wine-producing countries. The Golan Heights winery and tasting room get very high marks on TripAdvisor. Visitors can have a Jeep ride through the vineyards before enjoying apparently (according to several reviewers) great food.
Golan Heights Winery’s 1,500 acres of vineyards stretch from the Sea of Galilee to the snow-capped peaks of Mount Hermon—a region where wine has been made for more than 6,000 years, but only in the past three decades have modern, quality wine efforts been in place. The Golan Heights Winery’s acres are divided into 28 vineyards (96% in Golan Heights) and 430 blocks. Each block is monitored individually, then harvested individually and the fruit kept separate through the winemaking process until final blending. There are 16 vinegrowers who grow 20 grape varieties, 13 red and seven white.
Golan Heights Winemaker Victor Schoenfeld is one of Israel’s most influential winemakers. Born in California, he graduated from UC Davis in 1988 with a degree in enology. He worked at Robert Mondavi and Preston Vineyards in Sonoma, then Jacquesson & Fils Champagne house before joining Golan Heights. Schoenfeld is strong advocate for new wine-making technology and precise climatic and viticultural analysis. Not surprisingly, the winery embraces sustainable agriculture and environmental responsibility, including solar and wind power, wastewater management, and composting instead of chemical fertilizers.
Golan Heights Winery Yarden Chardonnay, Galilee 2021 delivers delicious fruit purity in a rounded, creamy package abetted vibrant acidity. Good length and balance with thread of minerality throughout. Delicious finish. This is the premier label of the winery; the winery is the premier winery in Israel. Kosher and vegan friendly. Pairing—pan-seared salmon, grilled or poached halibut, seabass; shellfish, scallops, shrimp. Roasted and grilled chicken seasoned with rosemary, thyme, hazelnut crusts; grilled chicken breast over wild-mushroom risotto; herb-roasted turkey. Grilled veal chops with mustard-cream sauce. Creamy pastas and risotto; fettuccine with wild mushroom sauce. Butternut squash, caramelized root vegetables. Cheese—brie, camembert; triple-cream cheeses—brillat-savarin, Saint André; fresh goat cheeses—humboldt fog, valençay frais; gouda, maasdam; gruyère, comté. $24-27
