Did you know that the Galilee, also known as the Galil, produces twenty-five percent of Israel’s wines? 
Not only does it produce a larger percentage of Israel’s wine than any other region, many of the wines continue to gain international recognition and awards at various prestigious wine competitions.  
We went out in search of the reasons why wines of the Galilee as a region perform so well.  Let’s explore the special characteristics of the Galilee region, located in Northern Israel, that contribute to it being a wonderful place to grow wine grapes.

Varieties of Grapes

The influence of French wine tradition is highly noticeable in the Galilee. 
Traditional red varieties of Cardigan, Mourvedre, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, are most commonly grown.
The white wine varieties are also similarly of the French varieties Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Muscat of Alexandria, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonay.

Galilee Terroir

Terroir refers to the unique combination of natural factors that are located in any given wine region.
Such factors might be soil and what is underlying the soil, slope, altitude, terrain and micro-climate.

Galilee Terrain

First is the terrain.    The Galilee is filled with lush forested hills and green valleys, a mountainous area with stony peaks and plunging ridges.

Galilee Climate

The latitude of a region greatly affects the climate which in turn affects the suitability to produce quality grapes.
Israel’s latitudinal location of 33° N.  When compared to most regions in the northern hemisphere, which are located between 30°N to 51°N, Israel’s latitude is quite south, making it one of the warmer regions, typically Mediterranean.

However, the Galilee’s high altitudes greatly compensates Israel’s southern location. 
The altitude of the upper Galilee’s ranges from 1,500 feet to 4,000 feet, brings cooler temperatures.
Temperatures in the winter can range between 32 °F to 60 °F.  In the summer they can range between 54 °F to 86 °F.

Besides cooler temperatures, the Galilee also receives an average higher rainfall than the rest of Israel, ranging between 31” to 40 “, both factors allowing for a longer growing season and hang time.
Ample rain is an important factor in growing wine grapes.     
Longer hangtime means that the grapes can reach full physiological ripeness allowing the grape to completely develop their tannins and phenolic compounds.

Soil types in the Galilee

The soil types found in the Lower Galilee are terra rossa on a bed of limestone, while the Upper Galilee has free draining gravel, basaltic volcanic and limestone soils.

Gravel has excellent drainage, not being rich in nutrients, it encourages the vines to grow deep roots in the search for those nutrients. Gravel will also absorb heat later, reflecting the heat back to the vine keeping it warm at night when the temperatures cool down.

Basaltic volcanic soil is rich in minerals, lime and soda, producing wines that have acidic, savory and mineral characteristics.

Limestone drains well while managing to retain moisture, a great advantage that gives the vines the necessary water to absorb nutrients through their roots, at the same time it doesn’t become water logged.
The calcium carbonate found in the limestone also contributes to the acidity of the grape.

Terra rossa, Italian for red soil, is a clay like sedimentary soil typical of the Mediterranean region. 
It also has good drainage, making it popular for wine production.