While a gulf may separate the American perception of Israeli wine from its high quality level, progress in recent decades has earned the wines of Israeli a place at the international table. On a recent trip to Israel, Master of Wine Sandy Block assessed hundreds of wines and found them to be world-class and well-tuned to the palates of knowledgeable American consumers. Block also found that while Israel is still at work defining and communicating an image of high quality, the country itself has all of the terroir building blocks essential for world class wine production: diverse and sought-after soil types like terra rossa and chalky limestone, dramatic temperature shifts, high elevations, a dry climate that can mitigate many vineyard troubles, and a skilled and technologically-equipped wine industry. Red wines may be the key to Israel’s future reputation. A richer, riper, and more extracted New World style has shown promise connecting with American consumers, while Old World styles, and even experimental blends of Bordeaux and Rhône grapes have also acquitted themselves well. Major varietals to watch include Carignan, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, which is currently the country’s most widely planted grape.
SommConfidential. August 9 th , 2019: https://sommconusa.com/blog/israeli-wine-drinking-the-mediterranean/
