Israel, a tiny country about the size of New Jersey, has an amazingly vibrant wine industry.
Over 300 wineries, big and small, are recognized internationally,  many award-winning.
How is it possible?   One reason is that Israel has six major regions ranging from mountainous, coastal plains and desert, each
with their own unique terroir and microclimate. Let’s take a closer look.

The Galilee
Located in the far north-western corner of Israel, near the Lebanese border, the Galilee is filled with lush
forested hills and green valleys. Although only developed as a wine region since the mid-1990’s, it
comprises 25% of Israel’s viticulture. High elevations and a cool climate are ideal for growing grapes.
The upper-Galilee, which is mountainous, rocky and forested, has heavy well-drained volcanic gravel and
terra rossa soils. Altitudes ranging from 1,200 feet to 3,500 feet make for wide seasonal shifts.
The lower-Galilee, which includes Mount Tabor, has mixtures of volcanic and limestone soils ideal for
wine grapes. Its altitude ranges from 600 feet to 1,300 feet, giving it a temperate Mediterranean
climate. Its humidity and winds make it special for growing grapes.

The Golan Heights (aka The Golan)
Located in the north-east of Israel, the Golan Heights is a volcanic plateau, rising to 4,000 feet,
comprised of the upper, middle and lower regions, each with their own microclimate. First planted in
1976, the wineries of the Golan Heights drew international attention and quickly produced award-
winning wines. Today 18% of Israel’s viticulture comes from the Golan Heights, also simply referred to as
the Golan.
The soils are ancient, with volcanic tuffs and basaltic soil. Rainfall is between 32 and 42 inches annually.
High elevations, cool breezes coming from the snow-covered Mount Hermon and soils combine to
produce award-winning grapes.

The Central Mountains
Encompassing the spine of the country, starting from Haifa, running south through Israel, the Central
Mountains have four subregions:
Mt. Carmel
The Menashe Hills
The Shomron Hills
The Judean Hills
High elevations with winter snow, Mediterranean breezes, warm summers and soils make it a first-class
region for vineyards.

The Mt. Carmel Region, first planted by Baron Rothchild in the late 19 th century, has a Mediterranean
climate, annual rainfall between 16 and 24 inches, soil comprised of mixtures of clay terra rosa and
limestone. Elevations range from sea level to 500 feet.
The Shomron Hills have been planted with vineyards since the 2000’s. Elevations range from 2,300 feet
to 2,800 feet, make it cooler than the Mt. Carmel region. Its shallow soils on a limestone base are great
for growing grapes. The Menashe Hills are next to the Shomron Hills and have similar characteristics.
The Judean Hills, reaching towards Jerusalem, were planted in the early 1990’s. It has terra rossa soil on
a base of limestone. Elevations ranging from 1,650 to 3,300 feet, and its cool Mediterranean breeze
with its warm days and cool nights, are a plus for these vineyards.

Coastal Plains
Vineyards in the Coastal Plain were first planted by Baron Edmund de Rothchild in the 1880’s, due to its
proximity agricultural areas. Its soil is alluvial and mixed with sandy clay loams. Low in elevation, with a
hot and humid climate, it is more suited for citrus and strawberries.

The Judean Foothills
This region produces 32% of all Israel’s grapes, which is not surprising considering is has basically one-
third of the country’s wineries, many of them small. The Judean Foothills has a history of wine dating
back 3,000 years. These wineries are located in the rolling hills between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with
elevations reaching up to 1,700 feet.
The soil is deep and chalky with clay loams on a bed of limestone, excellent for growing wine grapes. It
has a mild Mediterranean climate, cool air coming down from Jerusalem in the morning, which forms
fog lasting late in the morning.

The Negev Highlands (aka The Negev)
Located in the Negev Desert, which encompasses half of Israel, the Negev’s first vineyards were
cultivated in the 1990’s, has elevations that reach up to 3,000 feet, and soils of sandy loam and loess. It
has extreme daily temperature changes, typical of a desert, very hot days and cold nights. An extremely
arid region, with minimum rainfall totaling between 2 to 4 inches annually, it is a testament to Israel’s
agricultural ingenuity.