As a country with a great Middle Eastern climate, ideal for wine-making, Israel is one of the best places on earth to grow Grapevines. The great conditions, in addition to the huge popularity of wine in Israel, have created a booming wine industry here, with countless vineyards in Israel, which are grown throughout the country, and make for great visits for wine enthusiasts. So if you are looking for a unique, delicious, and alcoholic experience during your trip to Israel, here are the best wineries you can find throughout the country.
Best time to visit vineyards in Israel
The best time to experience the vineyards and wineries of Israel is the fall and especially the months of October and November. At this time of the year, the harvest is at its peak, and the red grapes make the vineyards even more charming and colorful than usual. However, we should note that some wineries and vineyards get extremely busy during the holiday season, especially in Sukkot.
Great Vineyards in Northern Israel
Lotem Winery
Lotem Winery is an organic boutique winery that produces wine from a selection of grape varieties grown in Upper Galilee and Mount Meron. The place makes a unique combination of spiritual beliefs and energetic processes with advanced science in its wine-making methods. For example, during the production stages, the winemakers here play music for the grapes and wine, believing that this affects the quality of the wine.
The organic winery uses biological pest control and maintains a unique ecosystem that supports the vines with minimal human intervention in the growing process. During your visit here, you can take a wine-tasting tour that will explain this unique process and belief, while you enjoy Lotem Winery’s great wines against the backdrop of a gorgeous view from the balcony of the winery, which makes the visit here particularly romantic.
The winery has a small menu that includes a cheese palette and small dishes such as bruschetta with marinated fish, beet and goat cheese cannelloni, a quince and blue cheese pastry, and carpaccio, as well as large dishes such as chorizos with beets or sirloin steak and asparagus.
Hours of operation: Sunday-Wednesday: 11:00-18:00, Thursday-Friday: 12:00-22:00, Saturday: 11:00-18:00. Reservations for tours must be made in advance.
Platter Winery
Palter Winery is a family winery located in Kibbutz Ein Zivan in the Golan Heights. In recent years, the small and intimate business has turned from a small winery that produces 4,000 bottles a year, to a large winery that produces about 150,000 bottles and also owns an additional kosher winery, a distillery, and more.
The winery’s visitor center, located right in the wine production area, holds tours throughout the week, on a first-come, first-served basis. If you visit here during the harvest season, you will get to see the huge amount of grapes being brought into the winery and the fermentation tanks in action. At the distillery, you can get a chance to learn about the production of several popular alcoholic drinks, such as arak, gin, and brandy, and of course, taste as you wish.
Along with the wine tasting, while your’s here, you can order a platter of cheeses, bread, olives, and spreads, but above all, we would recommend you to try their homemade goat cheese, which is produced right here in the winery. As we mentioned, it is not possible to reserve seats in advance, and the best way to visit here is to simply come in when it’s open.
The wine tasting and the tour are free, and the payment is made by ordering a cheese platter and delicacies that you will purchase at the winery’s deli.
Hours of operation: Sunday-Saturday: 10:00-17:00. On weekends (Friday-Saturday) there are no tours in the winery but the visitor center is operating as usual.
Vineyards in Central Israel
Mettler Winery
Mettler Winery is a small boutique winery, operated by Haynes and Lea Mettler, who fulfilled their lifelong dream and established this small winery, which produces about 7,000 bottles a year, from grape varieties such as Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Right when you come in here, you will feel the place’s charming vibe, as the first thing you will notice here is the open spaces and the special atmosphere of creation and nature.
In addition to the winery, you can also find here a small home distillery of liqueurs, made from fruits grown in the orchard, which are also the source of the delicious homemade spreads and jams served here. While you’re here, you can attend tours and workshops accompanied by explanations of the various processes in wine production and simply enjoy the place’s hospitality, as it’s located right in the courtyard of the couple’s home.
The on-site menu includes a hard cheese platter, burrata cheese, dips, and bread, as well as wonderful salads. Pro tip: try the winery’s breakfast, for a platter loaded with colorful dips, egg dishes, shakes, and more. In addition, you can find wonderful homemade desserts here, including Malabi.
Hours of operation: Tuesday-Friday 9:00-15:00.
Vitkin Winery
In the west of the Hefer Valley region, among the fields, vineyards, and orchards and near the Turtle Bridge on River Alexander, lies the Vitkin Winery – a family boutique winery that is considered a pioneer in the Israeli wine industry thanks to its specialization in producing original wine from old varieties, alongside new and unique varieties and a multitude of creative blends. Vitkin Winery is well-known for its innovation, and even today it continues to develop new wine varieties such as Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, or Marcellin.
Hours of operation: Sunday-Wednesday: 11:00-16:00, Thursdays: 11:00-23:00, Fridays: 10:30-15:30.
The best vineyards in Southern Israel
Nana Winery
A unique winery that was established by, Eran Raz known as “Nana”, who left his old life and moved to Mitzpe Ramon with his family, in order to follow his dream, plant vineyards, and establish Nana Winery. Nana’s vineyards are located in the upper part of Nahal Tzin, about 800 meters/2,624 feet above sea level – a rare desert area where you can grow grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc.
The charming vineyards between the mountainous hills are a spectacular sight to see here, and alongside the vision and the intentions of the special winery, make it a great visit for wine enthusiasts.
Hours of operation: Sunday-Friday: 9:00-15:00, Tuesdays and Saturdays: closed. The winery is Closed on Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot.
Rota Winery
A boutique winery that is part of an ecologically isolated farm located in Holot Halutza, one of the most remote and isolated parts of the country. The farm was established by Erez Rota, an artist, farmer, and winemaker who dreamed of combining his love for the desert and wine in one place. The vineyards were planted at an altitude of about 300 meters/1,000 feet in optimal desert climate conditions.
The winery’s visitor center is located in a sukkah in the heart of the desert and the accommodation is modest but pleasant and knowledgeable, with an inspiring pioneering atmosphere. During your visit here, you can take a one-hour tour of the vineyards, the barrels, and the winery, for a great experience of connection between nature and humanity.
Hours of operation: Sunday-Thursday: 9:00-16:00, Friday and holiday evenings: 9:00-14:00, closed on holidays.
