Yardin Wines from Israel’s Golan Heights

Have you ever wondered why the State of Israel puts so much interest into the possession of the Golan Heights? First and most important it is the back door to Syria and of immense political and military value. Another and, to us, a much better reason is that is the site of some of the oldest vineyards in the world. It is from here that the famed wines of the Roman era came from and is definitely the place where the wine used at the Last Supper came from. It is, to put it simply, the wine basket of Israel.
While there are many growers on the Golan Heights the one that is best known in the United States is Yarden. Yarden produces a complete line of the most popular varieties, all made in the classical style. The French influence is definitely felt in their wines because of the influence of Baron Edmond De Rothschild and his assistance in reestablishing the vineyards and wineries of Israel during that countries emergence.
The wine of Yarden are kosher, meaning that they have been made under the strict, no, make that very strict Kosher laws and overseen by dedicated rabbis. While the wines of Yarden are kosher, they are by no means the sweet kosher wines popular in this country which are made mostly from the Concord grape. The Yarden wines follow the French Bordeaux tradition and are, for the most part, dry. The only exception to that is the Yarden Moscato which is sweet because of the direction that the grape variety tends to go in.
Yarden 2010 Odem Vineyard Chardonnay ($19.99). Chardonnays come and chardonnays go and to tell the truth, most of them are boring. There is however, nothing boring about the Yarden 2010 Odem Vineyard Chardonnay. Here is a wine that displays all of the character and elegance of the fabled chardonnay wines of the Burgundies of old. Apples and soft oak mark the aroma with just the faintest hint of citrus. There is oak to be found in this wine, but in delicate and very pleasing amounts. The flavor is rich and features a buttery smooth sensation on the palate. This is a good chardonnay; a very good chardonnay and it will restore your faith in the variety.
Yarden 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($32). This cab is truly a treat. The wine takes on all of the nuances of the classical French château Bordeaux style while maintaining all of the charm of a modern, full fruit flavor wine. The 2010 growing season was kind to the deep red varietals in the Golan Heights, the Cabernet Sauvignon in particular and the resultant wine has a deep rich red-purple color and a sparkling clarity. The aromas are equally as impressive; explosive berry along with oak and wild herbs. Much of these aromas carry over to the flavor along with an earthy component rarely found in most other cabs. The tannins are there, as would be expected, but they are not fierce or over accentuated. The wine is drinkable now or can develop more complexity with a little extra bottle aging. This is a very impressive wine and also a great buy.
Yarden 2010 Moscato ($15). Yarden 2010 Moscato is a unique wine where the beautiful aromas of the Moscato grapes are enhanced by a crisp acidity, a light fizziness and the sweetness from the natural residual sugar. The bouquet is refreshing and delicate accenting aromas of grapefruit, guava, melon, peach, pear and the characteristic orange blossom fragrance of the Moscato grape, There is a fine creamy sparkle on the palate laced with summer fruit followed by a long, ripe peach finish with hints of the low alcohol content makes it a very easy and pleasant wine to enjoy. This is one of the finest wines for sipping on a cool crisp evening, weather permitting of course.

Have you ever wondered why the State of Israel puts so much interest into the possession of the Golan Heights? First and most important it is the back door to Syria and of immense political and military value. Another and, to us, a much better reason is that is the site of some of the oldest vineyards in the world. It is from here that the famed wines of the Roman era came from and is definitely the place where the wine used at the Last Supper came from. It is, to put it simply, the wine basket of Israel.
While there are many growers on the Golan Heights the one that is best known in the United States is Yarden. Yarden produces a complete line of the most popular varieties, all made in the classical style. The French influence is definitely felt in their wines because of the influence of Baron Edmond De Rothschild and his assistance in reestablishing the vineyards and wineries of Israel during that countries emergence.
The wine of Yarden are kosher, meaning that they have been made under the strict, no, make that very strict Kosher laws and overseen by dedicated rabbis. While the wines of Yarden are kosher, they are by no means the sweet kosher wines popular in this country which are made mostly from the Concord grape. The Yarden wines follow the French Bordeaux tradition and are, for the most part, dry. The only exception to that is the Yarden Moscato which is sweet because of the direction that the grape variety tends to go in.
Yarden 2010 Odem Vineyard Chardonnay ($19.99). Chardonnays come and chardonnays go and to tell the truth, most of them are boring. There is however, nothing boring about the Yarden 2010 Odem Vineyard Chardonnay. Here is a wine that displays all of the character and elegance of the fabled chardonnay wines of the Burgundies of old. Apples and soft oak mark the aroma with just the faintest hint of citrus. There is oak to be found in this wine, but in delicate and very pleasing amounts. The flavor is rich and features a buttery smooth sensation on the palate. This is a good chardonnay; a very good chardonnay and it will restore your faith in the variety.
Yarden 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($32). This cab is truly a treat. The wine takes on all of the nuances of the classical French château Bordeaux style while maintaining all of the charm of a modern, full fruit flavor wine. The 2010 growing season was kind to the deep red varietals in the Golan Heights, the Cabernet Sauvignon in particular and the resultant wine has a deep rich red-purple color and a sparkling clarity. The aromas are equally as impressive; explosive berry along with oak and wild herbs. Much of these aromas carry over to the flavor along with an earthy component rarely found in most other cabs. The tannins are there, as would be expected, but they are not fierce or over accentuated. The wine is drinkable now or can develop more complexity with a little extra bottle aging. This is a very impressive wine and also a great buy.
Yarden 2010 Moscato ($15). Yarden 2010 Moscato is a unique wine where the beautiful aromas of the Moscato grapes are enhanced by a crisp acidity, a light fizziness and the sweetness from the natural residual sugar. The bouquet is refreshing and delicate accenting aromas of grapefruit, guava, melon, peach, pear and the characteristic orange blossom fragrance of the Moscato grape, There is a fine creamy sparkle on the palate laced with summer fruit followed by a long, ripe peach finish with hints of the low alcohol content makes it a very easy and pleasant wine to enjoy. This is one of the finest wines for sipping on a cool crisp evening, weather permitting of course.