Yarden

August 1, 2018
Circulation: 658,040

Golan Heights Winery : Yarden | Scores

Gillian Sciaretta

Chardonnay Galilee Yarden Odem Vineyard 2015

Score: 89
Release Price $25
Country Israel
Region Israel

Supple and aromatic in profile, with lemon oil, peach cream and floral notes cast together with baking
spice and buttery undertones. The finish is spicy. Kosher. Drink now through 2019. 3,728 cases made.

Yarden Rom Galilee 2013

Score: 88
Release Price $199
Country Israel
Region Israel

Spicy and rich, with a smoky edge surrounding the currant and cherry compote flavors. Details of cedar,

Kalamata olive and licorice mark the floral-tinged finish. Offers full, supple tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon,
Syrah and Merlot. Kosher. Drink now. 1,270 cases made.

Sauvignon Blanc Galilee Yarden 2017

Score: 87
Release Price $20
Country Israel
Region Israel

Lemon curd, verbena and melon notes mingle together in this supple, medium-bodied white, with hints
of tangerine, spice and mineral wafting into the finish. Kosher. Drink now. 4,900 cases made.

Merlot Galilee Yarden 2014

Score: 85
Release Price $31
Country Israel
Region Israel

Cherry compote, mocha and sweet spice notes fill this supple, medium-bodied red, with hints of licorice,
brown bread and date on the moderate finish. Kosher. Drink now. 9,941 cases made.

Pinot Noir Galilee Gilgal 2016

Score: 85
Release Price $17
Country Israel
Region Israel

Smoky mineral notes linger under the currant and dried strawberry flavors of this spicy, light-bodied red.
Light tannins hug the tangy finish. Kosher. Drink now. 2,549 cases made.

Chardonnay Galilee Gilgal 2016
Score: 87
Release Price $17
Country Israel
Region Israel

Refreshing and citrusy, with crisp acidity binding together the green apple, beeswax and herb flavors.
Offers a spicy, floral-tinged finish. Kosher. Drink now. 10,930 cases made.

June 7, 2018
Circulation: 5,000

Golan Heights Duo

Christy Canterbury

87
Yarden 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Northern Golan Heights 13.5% $20

The Northern Golan Heights is considered a cool climate thanks to its high altitude. It’s a volcanic plateau
in the northern reaches of Israel. Yet this wine is far from a bashful Sauvignon Blanc, and it behaves more
like a warmer climate wine in almost every aspect. It starts with a superbly pale straw color while showing
an exotic combination of grass and tropical tones. Star fruit, jackfruit and yellow tomato dazzle the nose
while lashings of pomelo and Key Lime add sizzle to the palate. There’s plenty of fruit concentration and
intensity with saturating flavors and a sleek, glossy texture. The discreet acidity gives the wine good
composure and helps liven up the moderate finish. This is a fuller-bodied Sauvignon Blanc that works well
with richer dishes as well as creamy, summer milk cow cheeses.

89
Yarden 2014 Merlot Odem Vineyard Northern Golan Heights 15% $25

Only 39 barrels of this wine were produced from vines planted in 1990 just below 4,000 feet above sea
level. Since 1998, the vineyard has been organically managed. This wine has a supple and ample palate
bursting with ripe fruits. Its lushness feels joyfully moreish. Blackberries and boysenberries abound here.
Though two-thirds of the French oak barrels used for aging are new, this wine integrates its outside
influence well thanks to its profound fruit density. Typical of Merlot, this wine shows mid-palate softness
and reserved acidity. The tannins offer the structure here, especially showing their grip on the medium
finish. Though four years since the vintage, this bold bottling has yet to show signs of evolution. It should
develop well in time.



June 21,2018
Circulation 11,760,000

5 Places not to Miss in the Golan

Naomi Grant

Banias Waterfall

Sustained by runoff of snow melting off Mount Hermon, the Banias waterfall is a beautiful spot popular both
tourists and locals. It's also a Christian pilgrimage site, at which Jesus is thought to have sat with his
disciples. The Banias has two entrances—the Falls, which allows visitors to more easily visit the waterfall
and the Springs, which leads to Roman and Greek ruins. The name "Banyas" is a corruption of "Panias" or
"Paneus," referring to the Greek god Pan, god of the forest. Entry is ₪27 for adults and ₪14 for children.

Nimrod Fortress

The Nimrod Fortress is the largest Crusade-era castle in Israel and dates back to 1229. This fortress once
controlled the main road of the region that began in modern-day Lebanon and ran along the coastline. The
Southwest Tower boasts an indoor reservoir and the best view of the fortress is from the top of the Keep.
Special visitors’ tickets allow access to the Banias. Rugged paths and the abundance of stairwells may
make this attraction somewhat difficult for small children and the elderly.

Mount Hermon

Mount Hermon is the one place in Israel visitors are virtually guaranteed to see snow in the winter—there
are even some snowy parts in the middle of the summer. Israel's highest peak offers snowboarding and
skiing on its 28 miles of ski runs, plus two Olympic-standard runs. Mount Hermon is also home to Har
Habtarim which is where, according to tradition, God promised Abraham that his descendants would receive
the land and is marked by an ancient tomb. Additionally, the mountain has a military zone and a lovely view
of the Kineret.

Golan Heights Winery

The Golan Winery has won two international best winery and 15 international best wine trophies. With 20
varieties of grapes, this winery has quite a variety. The first vineyards were planted in the Golan Heights
in 1976 and to this day, 96% of the vineyards remain there. The winery is completely kosher lamehadrin—
strictly kosher—as well as kosher for Passover.

Fruit picking

The Galilee and Golan Heights have cherry orchards throughout, though not all of them are open to the
public. Most orchard owners charge 25 to 30 shekels per person and some have other activities for kids
like pony rides. Kibbutz Elrom and Moshav Odem, near Gonan, both often allow in the public. Kesem Hapri
also offers apricto, peach and nectarine picking. All three locations are in the Golan.





May 01, 2018
Circulation: 41,000





May 21, 2018
Circulation: 2,060,000

Why Israel Needs a New Map – For Wine

Sadie R. Flatman

A new map of Israel is in the works — one that doesn’t include a green line. Indeed it is not a political or
even a conventionally geographical bit of cartography. It is a map that divides Israel into small winemaking
regions, taking into account topography, soil, and climate.

This map should help consumers and wine professionals understand where their wine comes from and add
context behind its flavor characteristics. After all, labels on bottles of Israeli wine can raise as many
questions for the American consumer as they answer. What are the properties of this wine? Is it full bodied
or light? Fruity or dry? Mellow or tannic? Then there are questions of geography and politics: What does
“Made in Israel” mean? Was the wine produced in the territories beyond the green line drawn as part of the
1949 Armistice Agreement?

Israel’s current wine map — the one that’s being revised — designates five regions: Galilee, Samaria,
Samson, Judean Hills, and Negev. These regional names, printed on the labels of Israeli wine imported to
the United States, indicate geographic area — but they hardly describe regionality as it pertains to the
characteristics of the wines being grown there. Drawn in the 1970s, the map reflects the traditional regions
of Israel. Today, many of the country’s top wines come from single vineyards, and terroir — the properties
in the soil that contribute to the wine’s unique character — Matters.

According to Victor Schoenfeld, Chief Winemaker of Golan Heights Winery, “I think the sophistication of the
Israeli Wine Industry has outstripped any existing wine map of Israel. There is a movement afoot for the
winemakers themselves to develop a new map, at least as a tool for explaining about the different regions
in Israel. Legal status of any map will come later. At the moment, there is no mechanism in Israel for even
establishing new regions or sub-regions. That is an additional challenge we will have to face in the coming
years.”

The Mediterranean climate of Israel may be one of the world’s warmest regions for growing wine, but there
are no signs that the temperature is a hindrance to production. In fact, the number of wineries and the area
of land “under vine” (in layman’s terms, made up of vineyards) increases with each harvest, as does the
amount of wine being exported.

There is a climate of growth and optimism in this young wine industry, which indicates that challenges are
being met with innovation and determination. The land — 263 miles north to south, spanning east-west
from the Mediterranean Sea to the arid Jordan Rift Valley — encompasses a multitude of diverse
microclimates.

A prominent feature of the newly framed terroir of Israel is the Central Mountain Range and the lands that
lie in relation to it. On the current wine map, most of the range falls under the name Samaria (called
Shomron in Hebrew). Palestinians and parts of the international community do not recognize Samaria as
Israel. Samaria is part of the ancient, biblical kingdom of Israel, but its current status remains Israeli
occupied territory. Yet the region is a hotbed for winemaking, as it is home to a number of indigenous grape
varieties. Both Palestinian Hebron University and Israeli Ariel University are pursuing studies on indigenous
grapes there.

This is the region likely to see the most change on the new map. First, it will be split from parcel west of Mt.
Carmel, which exists at a lower altitude and is a warmer region on the coastal plain. It shares nothing in
common with the higher-altitude central mountains.

Being labeled as Samaria does not serve this stretch of the coast well. Samaria mostly refers to the West
Bank, of which the area between Zichron Ya’akov and Netanya are not a part: The green line weaves its
way around the Central Mountain Range, traversing it near Jerusalem.

The Central Mountain Range is a vertical range of hills and mountains that extends from Jenin in the north,
passing Nablus, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Hebron, with a faceted chain of high-altitude areas and foothills.
To the west of the central range lies the western slope and higher hills at 600–1,000 meters above sea
level and the foothills at 200-300 meters. The eastern slope of the range sinks 1,200 meters to the Jordan
Valley, which at its lowest point is minus-430 meters below sea level at the Dead Sea.

Altitude is important for growing grapes, especially in a warm climate where higher altitude providing a wide
diurnal range, the variability of temperature between night and day, with warm days and cool nights which
lead to a longer growing season and better fruit development. By comparison, Israel’s coastal plain, which
lies alongside the Mediterranean, is warmer and sees a shorter growing season.

The proposed viticultural area of the Central Mountains resides in three distinct areas: One in the north
surrounds Har Brach, an area with moderate rainfall and terra Rossa soils, currently a good growing area
for merlot. The second is Gush Etzion, bordering the Judean desert, which has altitudes up to 950 meters
and is more arid. The third region is Southern Hebron Mountain. A region with more desert like
temperatures, high day temperatures and dry conditions.

New viticultural areas may help clarify terminology, which can be a bit muffled around this area, where wine
is currently labeled as many things, from simply “Jerusalem” and “Jerusalem Mountains” (Psagot) to
“Judean Hills” (Shiloh Winery). The Christian winery Cremisan, in Beit Jala, labels its wine as being from
“Bethlehem,” and there are other Christian wineries not yet reaching the U.S., such as Taybeh, whose
regional label says “Palestine.”

On the current wine map, the Golan Heights sits within the Galilee. At the time the map was drawn, the
Golan Heights were not officially annexed by Israel, which happened in 1981.

The current Judean Hills region encompasses land that is both inside and outside the West Bank. For
example, Psagot Winery is located in the West Bank, east of Jerusalem. This a very different region, though,
from those inhabited by Domaine du Castel, Tzora, Flam, and Sphera — wineries that make up a
partnership called the Judean Hills Quartet, which defines its viticultural area as being from West of
Jerusalem to the Mediterranean Sea. Regardless of the West Bank question, it makes sense to split these
areas on a new wine map because they have different altitudes and are different climatically.

Since the 2016 vintage, Recanati Winery, located in the coastal plain of the Heffer Valley, is making wine
from indigenous grapes Marawi and Bittuni in its Ancient Varieties series. The grapes are sourced from
Arab growers nearly 75 miles away in Bethlehem. The wine is labeled “Judean Hills, Bethlehem.”
Gvaot Winery makes wine from a blend of Hamdani and Jandali grapes that come from an unirrigated
vineyard farmed by Arab growers, also near Bethlehem, the region in which these varieties were preserved
as table grapes circa 650 CE.

Partnership between Israeli wineries and Arab farmers of ancient grapes is an example of peaceful
coexistence in the West Bank. Also of note: Arab women make up a large part of the labor force for grape
harvest in Israel. While there is pressure to be partisan — or to stay out of the matter — the parties that
exist here understand that interest in these grapes will increase the demand. It is a sticky subject that many
wish to avoid. For example, wines from the West Bank are avoided completely in “The New Israeli Wine
Guide,” a book by Yair Gath and Gal Zohar, now in its 5th edition.

Looking forward, the new Israel Wine Standard, which defines quality controls in wine including what
percentage of grapes must come from the designated region (it’s 85% in Israel and 75% in California), is
paving the way for the new wine map in Israel. The existing Standard, written in 1988 and now outdated, is
being rewritten by the Standards Institution of Israel. Updates are also underway for the wine map of Israel,

which was created by the Wine and Grapes Board and is being revised in partnership with a group of
prominent Israeli winemakers including Schoenfeld of Golan Heights Winery.

There seem to be merits to growing wine in the West Bank: high altitudes, volcanic soils, indigenous grapes.
Most of it is made in Jewish settlements with the minority made by Arab Christians—but don’t call this wine
“Israeli” to a Palestinian. For wine lovers seeking the worlds’ lost and ancient grape varieties, there is not
necessarily a question of borders. As the wine industry expands and the wines get better, the new map will
help consumers understand what’s out there in a growing industry that might, ideally, highlight the
partnerships that can exist if you look beyond them.

May 23, 2018
Circulation: 5,000

Hit & Miss: Golan Heights Winery Gilgal 2016 Rosé Upper Galilee

Christy Canterbury

Wine: Golan Heights Winery Gilgal 2016 Rosé Upper Galilee $15
Origin: Upper Galilee, Israel

Taste: More red wine than rosé, this wine is weighty on the palate. It’s not one to toss back poolside. There
are lots of fleshy, almost syrupy fruits in the red plums, bruised cherries and warm watermelon flavors.
Then, t solid finish blasts full-on Syrah characters with dry-aged steak, game and black olive. This is a beast
of a rosé!

Expectation: This is a bold, even swashbuckling, rosé (as Syrahs tend to be when made into varietal rosés
– perhaps one reason they are rare to come across) that, if served in a black wine glass, would smell, taste
and feel like a red wine to most sippers. Foods that would work with a light to mid-weight red with no to little
new oak – say, cooler climate but New World Pinot Noirs, juicy Gamays or easy-going Grenaches – should
be a hit here! Indian food tends to pair well with these wines, especially if the hot spice level is kept in check.

(Amazing) Hit: Aloo Gobi
The heartiness of the potatoes matched the breadth of this rosé on the palate. The earthy tones of the wine
mingled merrily with the cauliflower and garlic, and the array of spices nicely matched the cracked white,
red and black peppercorn chimes of the Syrah. And finally, the tomato cooking liquid marries nicely with
the cherry flavors in the rosé. Definitely jazzy!





May 30, 2018
Circulation: 184,940

Bon Appetech! Israeli Food & Wine

Ken Stephens

The Jewish State’s renowned “Start-up: Nation” mentality isn’t just confined to creating cyber-security, med-
tech or software solutions. During the past 70 years, Israel’s burgeoning food and wine industries have
quietly revolutionized product development, which has enabled both Israeli and global consumers to enjoy
the very best that the Land of Milk & Honey has to offer.

The growth of Israel’s Food Tech industry has spurred both the private and government sectors to invest
in Food Tech start-up hubs and research institutes. Recently, the Israeli government earmarked $27 million
dollars to the city of Kiryat Shmona in Northern Israel to establish a Food Tech start-up accelerator and
national research facility. The popular Israeli business newspaper Calcalist along with Tnuva and the world
renowned Technion are launching a Food Tech competition in the coming weeks for start-ups who wish to
“influence the future of the food industry.”

Two of Israel’s most advanced food and wine companies, who have already established themselves in the
international food marketplace, Tnuva and the Golan Heights Winery, are continually upgrading their
technological capabilities and facilities.

Tnuva, the largest kosher dairy in Israel and the largest kosher food manufacturer in the world debuted its
new Tel Yosef dairy manufacturing facility at a cost of over $80 million dollars. Because of its cutting-edge
automation and robotics, the facility has been lionized as one of the most advanced in the world.

The Golan Heights Winery, has changed the way consumers have viewed Israeli made wines by winning
a large number of medals in international competitions. According to Golan Heights’ legendary Chief
Winemaker, Victor Schoenfeld, there are several keys to their success, which start in the vineyards.

“There has been a huge revolution in agricultural technology that we have been implementing in our
vineyards over the years. With the increase in power of computing, with global positioning satellites, with
the increase of plant, soil and weather sensors, we have been able to greatly increase our understanding
of our natural conditions and the vineyards’ reaction to those conditions,” revealed Schoenfeld. “The

increase of computing power, along with the ability to know precise global positioning, has led to the rise of
mapping as a basic tool. We can map soil characteristics, various vine performance characteristics, leading
to a much greater spatial understanding of our vineyards. The bottom line is that these tools, has allowed
us to continue to increase grape and wine quality at an impressive pace. In terms of technology in the
winery, the biggest revolution has been the introduction of optical sorting of grapes, which replaced the
much slower and less consistent hand sorting we did until five years ago. This allows us to sort out the
grapes that could bring down wine quality, especially on our highest end wines. And while the percent of
rejected berries may be low, usually under 10%, these berries can have an exaggerated detrimental effect
on wine quality. So to be able to do this important task efficiently and consistently is a huge advantage.”

Tnuva’s Tel Yosef dairy is the product of, “230 years of engineering experience.” A Tnuva executive added,
“This facility, which has been built with some of the world’s most advanced technologies allows us to
produce a wide array of dairy cheese products to meet all of our consumers demands.”

The Tel Yosef facility currently produces 1 billion slices of yellow cheese a year=50,000 slices per hour!
The cheeses are sent to 100 different suppliers and distributors in 10 different countries, including North
America and the UK.

Tnuva has also used its food technologies and culinary experts to increase the number of products that are
Kosher for Passover, as well as gradually reducing the salt content in a growing number of dairy cheese
products based on changing consumer health and lifestyle patterns in Israel and around the globe.

“As the world’s largest manufacturer of high-quality kosher products, Tnuva’s culinary and technological
experts are always paying close attention to both consumer food and lifestyle trends,” Yoram Behiri,
President of TnuvaUSA. “Because of our elite standards of kashrus, we also invest time and effort to secure
the finest new ingredients that we can incorporate into the many different lines of products, from the latest
new flavors for dairy products to our expanding line of easy-to-use frozen pastries.”

Ironically, it isn’t unusual these days to see Golan Heights winery and Tnuva products served up together
at family occasions, business events and ritzy wine and cheese soirees in America, Europe, Asia, Africa,
Australia and of course…Israel. Golan Heights Winery’s, Yarden ,Gamla and Hermon brands are sold in
over 30 countries around the globe, while big portion of its exports are also found in some of the most high-
end restaurants and leading wine stores around the globe. Pretty amazing for an Israeli winery.

Yael Gai, the winery’s International Sales & Marketing Manager boasted, “No winery has had or continues
to have a larger impact on the Israeli wine industry than the Golan Heights Winery.”

SCORES





August 1, 2018
Circulation: 680,000

Golan Heights Winery | Scores

Gillian Sciaretta

Pinot Gris Galilee Yarden 2017

Score: 88
Release Price $23
Country Israel
Region Israel
Issue Web Only - 2018

Undertones of spice and cream detail the pureed peach and lemon ice flavors of this light- to medium-
bodied white, with floral elements marking the clean finish. Kosher. Drink now. 1,297 cases made.

August 1, 2018
Circulation: 658,040

Golan Heights Winery : Yarden | Scores

Gillian Sciaretta

Chardonnay Galilee Yarden Odem Vineyard 2015

Score: 89
Release Price $25
Country Israel
Region Israel

Supple and aromatic in profile, with lemon oil, peach cream and floral notes cast together with baking
spice and buttery undertones. The finish is spicy. Kosher. Drink now through 2019. 3,728 cases made.

Yarden Rom Galilee 2013

Score: 88
Release Price $199
Country Israel
Region Israel

Spicy and rich, with a smoky edge surrounding the currant and cherry compote flavors. Details of cedar,

Kalamata olive and licorice mark the floral-tinged finish. Offers full, supple tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon,
Syrah and Merlot. Kosher. Drink now. 1,270 cases made.

Sauvignon Blanc Galilee Yarden 2017

Score: 87
Release Price $20
Country Israel
Region Israel

Lemon curd, verbena and melon notes mingle together in this supple, medium-bodied white, with hints
of tangerine, spice and mineral wafting into the finish. Kosher. Drink now. 4,900 cases made.

Merlot Galilee Yarden 2014

Score: 85
Release Price $31
Country Israel
Region Israel

Cherry compote, mocha and sweet spice notes fill this supple, medium-bodied red, with hints of licorice,
brown bread and date on the moderate finish. Kosher. Drink now. 9,941 cases made.

Pinot Noir Galilee Gilgal 2016

Score: 85
Release Price $17
Country Israel
Region Israel

Smoky mineral notes linger under the currant and dried strawberry flavors of this spicy, light-bodied red.
Light tannins hug the tangy finish. Kosher. Drink now. 2,549 cases made.

Chardonnay Galilee Gilgal 2016
Score: 87
Release Price $17
Country Israel
Region Israel

Refreshing and citrusy, with crisp acidity binding together the green apple, beeswax and herb flavors.
Offers a spicy, floral-tinged finish. Kosher. Drink now. 10,930 cases made.

June 7, 2018
Circulation: 5,000

Golan Heights Duo

Christy Canterbury

87
Yarden 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Northern Golan Heights 13.5% $20

The Northern Golan Heights is considered a cool climate thanks to its high altitude. It’s a volcanic plateau
in the northern reaches of Israel. Yet this wine is far from a bashful Sauvignon Blanc, and it behaves more
like a warmer climate wine in almost every aspect. It starts with a superbly pale straw color while showing
an exotic combination of grass and tropical tones. Star fruit, jackfruit and yellow tomato dazzle the nose
while lashings of pomelo and Key Lime add sizzle to the palate. There’s plenty of fruit concentration and
intensity with saturating flavors and a sleek, glossy texture. The discreet acidity gives the wine good
composure and helps liven up the moderate finish. This is a fuller-bodied Sauvignon Blanc that works well
with richer dishes as well as creamy, summer milk cow cheeses.

89
Yarden 2014 Merlot Odem Vineyard Northern Golan Heights 15% $25

Only 39 barrels of this wine were produced from vines planted in 1990 just below 4,000 feet above sea
level. Since 1998, the vineyard has been organically managed. This wine has a supple and ample palate
bursting with ripe fruits. Its lushness feels joyfully moreish. Blackberries and boysenberries abound here.
Though two-thirds of the French oak barrels used for aging are new, this wine integrates its outside
influence well thanks to its profound fruit density. Typical of Merlot, this wine shows mid-palate softness
and reserved acidity. The tannins offer the structure here, especially showing their grip on the medium
finish. Though four years since the vintage, this bold bottling has yet to show signs of evolution. It should
develop well in time.