Medium salmon-deep copper color; raspberry, strawberry, cherry on the nose; raspberry, plum, blueberry, strawberry, pomegranate, redcurrant on the palate.
Dry; all light fruit, no tannins, mild acidity. Blend of 78% syrah, 13% tempranillo, 6% tinta cao, 3% pinot noir. Sharper taste experience than you expect from a rosé. Volcanic terroir from Golan Heights’s sustainably grown high-elevation vineyards in the Golan. Light-medium body. 12.5% 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.
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 since 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. 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 Mount Hermon Rosé, Galilee 2021 has an edge to it typically not found in a rosé. Certainly different from an ethereal Provence pour. Tempranillo—Spain’s signature grape leads the blend as is most prominent flavor. Kosher. Pair with simple foods; hamburger; smoked trout; thin-crust pizza; paella; sautéed chicken breast; roasted vegetables. Cheese—fresh, young cheeses; feta, cheddar, ricotta, baby swiss. $10-15
