For a relatively small country, Israel is home to an impressive number of grape varietals. How is that
possible? The answer is simple. Israel has six distinct regions and microclimates.
Israel’s six wine growing regions are: The Galilee, Golan Heights, Central Mountains, Coastal Plains,
Judean Hills and The Negev Highlands.
Thanks to this diversity, and hundreds of wineries big and small, Israel has developed a world class wine
industry in the past few decades.
Learning what you like
Becoming familiar with different wine varietals can enhance your wine drinking experience. You’ll come
to appreciate the subtleties in the wine you drink.
We compiled the following list to help explain the distinct characteristics of each of Israel’s grape
varietals.
Argaman
Exclusively produced in Israel, a cross of Souzao and Carrigan. Named for its rich color, Argaman means
Dark Purple in Hebrew. It produces a medium bodied, dry wine. Due to its low aromatic qualities, it is
mostly blended, adding spiciness and dark colors to its blend. It has tastes of ripe berries and plums with
a fruity aroma.
Cabernet Franc
A black grape variety, mostly blended with Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon for a Boudreaux style wine.
Lighter than Cabernet Sauvignon, medium bodied, relatively high in tannins and acidity. Its primary
flavors are strawberry, raspberry, bell pepper, crushed gravel and chili pepper.
Cabernet Sauvignon
One of the most popular grape varieties, grown primarily in the Galil and Golan Heights. An age
worthiness wine which is deeply colored and tannic, which come from its thick dark acidic skin. Its full-
bodied with a fruity taste.
Carignan
A medium bodied red wine that is known to be acidic with a lot of tannins and astringency, used mostly
to blend with other varietals. It has flavors of red fruit, licorice, spices and even cured meat. The
Carignan variety of grape used to represent forty percent of all wine grapes produced in Israel but is
currently down to about fifteen percent.
Chardonnay
A highly popular white wine known to be rich and complex. Like Sauvignon Blanc, it comes from a green
skinned grape varietal but is heavier and heartier. It has bold, rich and intense fruit flavors. Depending
on its ripeness, tastes can vary from citrus to green apple to peach. Regarded as one of the best white
wines of Israel, primarily grown in The Golan Heights but is also found in the Judean Hills.
Chenin Blanc
A varietal that has undergone a renaissance in Israel the last decade. Dry with a medium body, low in
tannins and highly acidic, it produces a dry, crisp, zesty white wine. Its primary flavors are quince, yellow
apple, pear, chamomile and honey.
Colombard
Was once the most planted white wine variety in Israel before being overtaken by Chardonnay. Very
popular for blending into sparkling wine and distilling into brandy, but uncommonly made into its own
varietal. Low in tannins but highly acidic, it produces a light body and dry white wine. Fruity with tastes
of peach, honeydew, green apple, and lemon grass.
Emerald Riesling
A cross between Riesling and Muscadelle grapes, developed by the University of California, Davis and
was imported to Israel in the 1970’s where it grew in popularity. Most of Israel’s Emerald Riesling
vineyards are planted in the southern Mount Carmel region or in the Central Coastal Plain. A light fruity
white wine with floral aromas.
Gewurztraminer
As you can guess originates from Germany, it needs the cool air of the Golan Heights to grow well. It
produces a white wine that has aromas of lychee and is low in acidity. A fruity tasting wine, with the
taste of lychee, grapefruit, pineapple and peach. It should be sipped due to high alcohol levels, aromas
and low acidity.
Grenache
A lighter red wine. Low in tannins, acidity and color, known as a wine that doesn’t age well. A medium
bodied taste due to its high levels of alcohol it is fruity with tastes of black cherry, strawberry, raspberry
and spice. It’s very often used to blend with other varieties.
Marawi
Also known as Hamdani, is an indigenous varietal to Israel. Generally, it’s a table grape without the
aromatics necessary to produce a quality wine. However, The Recanti winery has produced wine using
the Marawi varietal in the last few years.
Marselan
A cross of Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon, developed by The French National Institute of Agriculture.
It produces a medium bodied red wine, described as smooth and soft with intense grassy, flowery and
fruity aromas. It has fruity flavors such as blackberry, raspberry, black cherry and plum.
Merlot
Like Cabernet Sauvignon, is full-bodied but tends to have less tannins and acidity making it smooth, silky
and elegant. It has tastes of black berries, strawberries, raspberry, plum while being nutty and floral.
This varietal is grown throughout Israel.
Mourvèdre
A full-bodied, robust red wine, high in tannins but medium in acidity. It can be fruity, spicy and even
described as meaty.
Muscat
Is not a specific varietal of grape per se, rather a family of grapes which includes over 200 grape
varieties. Colors range from white to yellow, pink to black, and are all known to have a distinct floral
aroma. An unusual characteristic of the Muscat family is that their flavors mirrors that of their grape.
Muscat of Alexandria
An ancient wine grape that grows well in hot climates and used mainly for dessert wines. Very sweet,
low in in tannins, medium in acidity, it produces a medium bodied wine. Its primary flavors are
mandarin orange, honey, lychee, peach skin and white flowers. It has been described as sweet and
lacking complexity and depth.
Muscat Canelli
Also known as Muscat Blanc, it is considered the finest of the Muscats. Low in tannins with medium
acidity, it produces a light bodied wine with a darker hue than other white wines. Its primary flavors are
orange blossom, lemon, mandarin orange, pear and honey suckle.
Petite Syrah
Only similar in name to Syrah, it is a completely different varietal. It’s a dark full-bodied red wine,
slightly acidic and has firm tannins. It has flavors of blueberry, chocolate, plum and black pepper. It is
often used to blend with other varietals. Petite Syrah came to Israel in the 1970’s and grows primarily in
the Judean Foothills.
Petit Verdot
Produces a full-bodied wine, dark on color almost black color. The small grapes make it highly tannic and
acidic. It can be spicy with aromas of violets and fruits.
Riesling
A white aromatic and acidic variety of grape. In Israel it can be found growing in the Judean Hills.
Unique among white wines, it ages well. It produces a dry sweet wine with aromas of nectarine, apple,
apricot and pear. The aroma can have a petrol note due to the natural occurring compound known as
TDN. Crisp with fruity flavors that can also be floral.
Roussanne
This variety derives its name due to the white reddish hue of the grapes which produce a full-bodied
white wine that is often blended into complex wines. Dry but not too dry, low in tannins and medium in
acidity, with flavors of lemon, beeswax, apricot, chamomile and brioche is powerful and refreshing.
Sangiovese
Produces a dry, medium bodied red wine not too high in tannins and acidity. It has flavors of cherries,
roasted tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and espresso. Grown in the Golan Heights, it is mostly used in less
expensive blends.
Sauvignon Blanc
Produces a white wine made from green skinned grape varieties. It is a crisp, dry, refreshing white wine,
having grassy and musky aromas. It can be citric tasting as well as peachy or even bell pepper in flavor.
Semillon
Once the world’s most popular grape, has a thick golden skin, grows well in all different types of soil. It
produces a dry medium bodied wine, low in tannins, medium in acidity. The primary fruit flavors in
Semillon wine are lemon, apple, pear and green papaya.
Shiraz
Also known as Syrah, see next entry.
Syrah (also known as Shiraz)
Also spelled Sirah, produces a dark red, full-bodied, strong flavor and aromatic wine. It is highly tannic
but mellower than Cabernet Sauvignon. It can have flavors such as blueberry, plum, chocolate, tobacco
and pepper. The Syrah grape has been cultivated in Israel for the last twenty-five years and seems to
grow well everywhere.
Viognier
A full-bodied white wine. It is rich and spicy with tastes of apricot and peach. It has a strong floral
aromatic quality.