When we went to Michel’s in Israel, the sommelier recommended a Judean Hills wine that was simply superb. So, when we found out that we were passing right by the Tzora Winery, makers of Judean Hills, we decided to make a quick stop and do a wine tasting.
I never thought that wine from Israel would be any good. Kosher wine has a negative connotation because a lot of people think that Kosher wine is sweet wine just for Passover. But, they are wrong and I was wrong too.
The Tasting
We tasted five wines. Paired with the wines was an assortment of cheeses.
Bottle #1: Judean Hills 2021 – This white wine really made a statement. It consisted of a blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. I’m not a big white wine drinker but I found this to have a pleasant taste and would be perfect on a hot summer night around the fire pit.
Bottle #2: Judean Hills 2020 – The red wine consisted of a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. WOW, I was impressed. We had this wine with dinner at Michel’s and I loved it. I have a thing for blends. I find them to be balanced right and still have that bold flavor.
Bottle #3: Shoresh 2020 – This was outstanding. It was a red blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. Although similar to the Judean Hills it had a much bolder flavor. I really loved it.
Bottle #4: Or 2020 – This was their dessert wine. It consisted of 100 percent Gewurztraminer. It was sweet and delightful after sampling three other wines from the vineyard.
The Lecture
I found the lecture interesting but we were only shown a photograph of the vineyards. I would have loved to have seen them like when we visited Napa.
When the lecture and tasting were finished, we went to the front to order wine. We were going to buy a case, it was that good. Unfortunately, the shipping was more expensive than the wines so we decided not to buy them. We were told that when they come to the states, they sell out faster than when they come in.
My thoughts
If you ever get an opportunity to experience the Judean Hills wine, go for it. It’s just as good as any Italian, French, or even California wine, but it’s from Israel.
