Cooling Off with Some Hot Summer Wines from Israel

Summer menus, grilling and outdoor entertaining all lead people to look for great summer wines.  While a lot of people prefer lighter, crisper wines in warmer weather, there is no problem for red wine lovers to find great wines appropriate for the warmer weather.

There are some really nice moderately prices whites available this time of year.  I recently found Tishbi’s Emerald Riesling and Chenin Blanc in stock in local wine shops after an extended absence.  These light, off-dry wines are ideal for sipping on the deck, with fruit and cheese plates or lightly grilled fish.  For a dryer, slightly crisper finish, look for some of the outstanding whites from Dalton in the Upper Galilee.  Their wild yeast Viognier, Unoaked Chardonnay and newer (2010) Alma series Viognier/Chardonnay blend (60/40) are all enjoyable and mostly available for $20 (more or less).

Another very pleasant white blend is available from the largest wine producer in Israel, the Ridge White from the Carmel Appellation series.  It pairs well with grilled poultry and fish.  Sauvignon Blanc is another dry white summer favorite, and there are several nice labels to choose from, including the very affordable Barkan Classic Sauvignon Blanc and Dalton’s Fume Blanc.

There are also some very pleasant Israeli blush wines available during the summer.  Galil Mountain makes a Rose from 100% Sangiovese grapes.  It’s a very refreshing wine and goes well with cold meats or more strongly favored cheeses.  The Agur Rosa, produced by winemaker Shuki Yashuv in our sister community of Mateh Yehuda, is made from Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in the nearby Judean Hills just northeast of the winery.  The Agur Rosa pairs well with a variety of dishes and is best served chilled.

Some grilled dishes cry out for being paired with a full bodied, flavorful red.  There are some lighter bodied reds, Gamla’s Sangiovese (from the Golan Heights Winery) comes to mind for pasta dishes, but for grilled ribs or steak you might want a Shiraz from Galil Mountain Winery or Gush Etzion, a varietal Cabernet Franc (the Tanya Winery in Ophra and again the Carmel Appellation Series offer great choices) or a red blend, ranging on the high end from the Psagot Edom, to more moderately priced Nahal Pirim from Gush Etzion or Kesem from Agur (all three Bordeaux-style blends of  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc).  For the more budget-conscious the Yogev label from the Binyamina Winery offers some really nice red blends of Cabernet Sauvignon-Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz.  Either one goes great with burgers or steaks.

Summer is a quiet time for wineries in Israel, as the growing season extends into August, so it’s a great time to visit wineries and spend time with the winemakers to find out more about what they’re growing and aging.  Enjoy some wonderful wines this summer.  The only rule you really need to be concerned about is to drink the wines you like and avoid the ones you don’t like.  B’tayavon!