High altitude and rich soil turn the northern part of Israel into an excellent setting for grape vines. The cycling is challenging, yet the small back roads through the numerous vineyards and remote wineries are a huge payback for the effort.
Day One
Northern and Central Golan
Approx 40 Km.
We will begin our journey at the north end of the Golan Heights and take two days to gradually descend toward the Jordan Valley. In the midst of an ancient oak forest lays Odem, an agricultural community neighboring the Druze communities of the Hermon Region. Here you will find The Odem Mountain Winery (www.odem-mountain-winery.com ), pressing grapes grown in magmatic soil into fine wine.
After visiting the Odem Mountain, the Alfasi’s family dream, take road #98 to Ein Zivan. Head towards the Pelter Winery (www.pelterwinery.com) established in 2005 by Tal Pelter, who holds an M.A. in Wine Science. Using only handpicked grapes and employing only family members, the Pelters offer a wide selection of red and bubbly wines.
From Ein Zivan take road #91 east and head to Kidmat Tsvi. This community is home to three families who have focused their lives and careers on producing quality wine. Assaf Kedem, an advisor to several wineries throughout Israel, makes his own wine in the heart of this peaceful village (www.assafwinery.com). Not far from there is Bazeltet HaGolan Winery (www.bazelet-hagolan.co.il), one of the first boutique wineries in Israel which produces strictly Cabernet Sauvignon, next to a natural spring. The meaning of the name is Golan Basalt Stone, and the grapes of this vineyard all grow in the magmatic soil around Kidmat Tsvi.
The last stop for the day is the Bell-Ofri Courtyard with a restaurant, gallery and winery all in a small slice of paradise. You can also visit the several living exhibitions of olive oil production and wine pressing from Talmudic times.
Next, head towards Katsrin, the capital of the Golan, to spend the night.
Day Two
Katsrin and the Southern Golan Heights
Approx 40 Km.
Begin the day in the light industry zone of the town where you will find the Golan Winery (www.golanwines.co.il) , one the largest and most famous wineries in Israel. Collecting 6,000 tons of grapes a year and producing wine in a state of the art wine producing center. Golan Winery also holds a visitors center, wine store and gourmet dining.
Head south on Road #808 and #98 towards Avnei Eitan and the Bashan Organic Winery (bashanwinery@013.net). The owners, Emanuel and Ori, insist on performing all stages of the process themselves, and you can taste it in the product. After Bashan, head back to road #98 a few kilometers down to Ali Ad. Just outside the moshav, above the waterfalls of the El Al stream stands the Chateau Golan Winery. In a new and modern building, the owners combine wine, modern art and architecture.
From there, head back across the high plains of the Golan to Katsrin to spend the night.
Day Three
Down to Rosh Pina and Up to the Galilee
Approx 45 Km (hilly).
The day will begin with a long downhill, following road #91 toward Rosh Pina. In this picturesque village, amongst the old stone buildings you will find the Rosh Pina Winery(bloom_rp@walla.com). The first winery here was founded in 1886, and the Bloom family, fourth generation in Rosh Pina, are trying to revive the art. The streets of Rosh Pina will lead you north, two kilometers of dirt road will lead you to Hazor HaGlilit, and north of there you will find the Meister Winery. Here another family, fourth generation in Rosh Pina, are reviving the tradition started by Sr. Rothschild in 1886. The Meister Winery (www.ruth-miester.co.il), set in the Ben Yossef Cave, offer wine and olive oil, all locally made.
Head back to Rosh Pina were a long uphill awaits you heading to the city Of Safed (Tsfat). The Ancient city of Safed, holy to Judaism, sits above most of the Galilee, overlooking Mt Meron. Just on the outskirts of Safed on road #89 in Moshav Biria, Moshe Porat, an Orthopedic doctor by trade, makes wine sold in a small number of boutique restaurants and wine stores (052-5405223 drporat@zahav.net.il).
From Biria, follow the windy road #886 to Dalton. Two wineries thrive here in Dalton; Adir and Dalton. The Adir Complex is where you can find fruit, cheese, and wine that all bear the same name, and hear the fascinating story of the three generations of the founding family. The winery (adirmail6@walla.com), specializes in red wine from vines grown in the area 870 meters above sea level. Nearby, the Dalton Winery (www.dalton-winery.com), set in the heart of its own vineyards, offers a modern winery and a beautiful visitors center. The winery, that started in the backyard of one of it's founders, is today one of the leading names in Israeli wine. We will end the day in Kerem BenZimra (Kerem meaning Vineyard), home to three wineries; Ben Zimra, Miles, and Rimon. The area of this Moshav is known throughout the country as fine grounds for vines. Most of the residents here harvest grapes to be sold to wineries near and far. The Miles Winery (mils13@013.net.il) which started as a hobby several years ago, offers great wine and a spectacular view of the Galilee mountains. In an old stone building at the village center, the Ben Zimra Winery (www.benzimra.ybay1.co.il) specializes in Cabernet. You will find a small visitors center and wine store at this spot. The last winery for the day is the Rimon Winery (www.rimonwinery.com). Rimon, meaning pomegranate, is located in a pomegranate grove, and offers tours and wine tasting of several fruity wines in a magical setting .
Overnight in Kerem BenZimra.
Day Four
The Upper Galilee and the Beit Hakerem Valley
Approx 50 Km.
Our first stop for the day in Ramot Naftali, a few Kilometers north on road #886. The hundreds of acres of vines in the area are a great setting for the three wineries that exist here. The Ramot Naftali Winery (yitzhak3@012.net.il) offers a small selection of wine and a tour of the winery and the vineyards that surround it. Nearby the Na’aman Winery (www.naamanwine.co.il) holds wine and a selection of accessories. The founder, a former film producer, will be happy to show you the winery and vineyards which are his dream come true. Amram Azulai is the proud owner of Amram’s Winery(amramswine@hotmail.co.il), a small venture he operates with the help of his children and grandchildren on his property in Ramot Naftali.
Follow road #899 west along the border with Lebanon. The road goes up and down and will eventually bring you to Kibbutz Yaron. In the entrance to the Kibbutz awaits the Galil-Mountain Winery (www.galilmountain.co.il). This is one of larger wineries in the north, and is one of the several brands which are exported from Israel. The winery offers tours and wine tasting.
Leave Yaron and continue west on road #889. Turn south on road #89 towards Gish and Meron. Turn on road #866 to Kfar Shamai, our last stop for the day. Looking east you will see the Old City of Safed, and west you will see Mt Meron. Beyond the gates of Kfar Shamai, you will find the Nahal Amud Winery (www.wineil.co.il). The owner moved to this area in order to plant vines in the Terra Rosa soil of the region. This small winery will be happy to host you for a private tour and tasting.
Overnight in Kfar Shamai or Amirim where there is a wide selection of vegetarian dining.
Day Five
The Lower Galilee and the Tabor Region
Approx 60-80 Km.
Head down the hill outside of Beit Shamai, towards the Beit HaKerem Valley on road #85. Turn west for 4 kilometers, past the hundreds of olive trees, to Rami Junction and road #804. Take this hilly road south until you reach Ma’ale Tsvia. The Essence Winery (www.zvia.org.il/essencewines) is a unique communal project. The whole village takes part in all the stages of wine making, a joint effort that generates fine red wines.
After the Essence Winery, head south on road #804, cross the arab town of A’rabe and continue on the backroad, crossing road # 77, through Mashed and up to the City of Nazareth. The city itself, although it holds no wineries, is well worth a visit due to its historical and religious significance. Lodging is available here for those who wish to spend more time exploring the churches and stone paved streets of the biblical home of Jesus.
Follow the city streets down toward the valley separating Nazareth to Mt Tabor. Take the agricultural road leading to Daburia. Cycle around the base of mount Tabor to road #65, and travel 2 kilometers north to Kfar Tavor. In addition to several fine restaurants, galleries, and a cyclists hotel, Kfar Tavor has two wineries. The Tabor Winery (www.taborwinery.co.il) recently opened and offers a fascinating tour and visitors center. Nearby, the Mount Tabor Wine Celler (ssiecodo@zahav.net) is a dream come true of a retired military man. Tours can be arranged in both of these friendly establishments. Take some time to tour the streets of this 1880 agricultural community before ending the day.
Overnight in Kfar Tavor.
Day Six
The Lower Galilee and the Carmel
Head back to Mount Tabor and the village of Daburia. Take the dirt track towards the village of Icsal, bellow Nazareth. From Icsal, head to road #60, and take it south to road #73 uphill to Migdal HaEmeq. This small town, overlooking the Jezreel Valley, is home to the Keshet Winery (davidbarilan@gmail.com). The owners and employees of this small winery are all great enthusiasts of the trade and are focused on producing small amounts of high quality wine.
From there, go back to road #73 which will lead you to road #75. Beware of traffic on this 4 kilometer section going west and turn south to Ramat Ishai. A few minutes south of Ramat Ishai you will reach Kfar Yehoshua, home to the Lilach family and their winery (nirlil@zahav.net.il). Nir Lilach has taught himself to make wine, and if you’re lucky you will get a chance to taste his wine all made from organic vines that he grows himself.
From Kfar Yehosua, take the back road leading parallel to road #70 towards Kiryat Tivon. Just below Tivon, you will reach Kfar Tikva. This community was built as a place to provide integrated living for people with or without, different disabilities. The Tulip Winery (www.tulip-winery.co.il) aims to be the largest wine-culture center in the north, working with the unique way of living in Kfar Tikva, (meaning Village of Hope).
Overnight in the Kiryat Tivon area.
If you still have time and energy, climb up to Kiryat Tivon, and head downhill to the two wineries north of there. The Alon Winery is set in an 150 year old stone building in Aloni Aba (alonwinery@walla.co.il) and north of there in Aloni HaGalil, the Yftachel Winery (habikta2@bezeqint.net), set in a wood house, offers red wine and homemade honey.
Day Seven
The Carmel and Zichron Ya’akov
Approx 60-80 Km.
Leave the Kiryat Tivon area and head to road #752 along the feet of Mt Carmel. A long climb awaits you through the town of Nesher where you will climb up the northern slope of Mt Carmel. At the top of the hill, on the border between Nesher and Haifa, the Levron Family (ylevron@gmail.com) produces wine in a small winery in the basement of their home.
From there head to road #672 along the ridge of the Carmel to the Druze town of Daliat El Carmel. After a visit to the town and its markets, follow the dirt road taking you down towards Kerem Maharal. Just outside of this community, in the Mekora farm, the Amphorae Winery awaits in a stunning stone building (www.amphorae-v.com). After working in wineries around the world, the owner of this establishment settled in this little peaceful corner of the world.
From Kerem Maharal, head towards road #4 and follow it south until you reach the turnoff to Zichron Ya’akov. If you don’t mind a 25 kilometer detour at Bat Shlomo on road # 7, there is quite a unique winery. A large cave, dug for unclear reasons during the Ottoman empire time has been converted in the past few years into a winery; The Cave (thecave@zahav.net.il), estimated to be 400 years old, is well worth the ride back and forth. At the top of the hill, Zichron Ya’akov awaits you.
The town, founded in 1882 together with The Carmel Winery, the largest in Israel, has been active ever since in the very same spot. Carmel Wineries (www.carmelwines.co.il) offer a fascinating tour of the location, including tastings and an exhibition of the history of wine-making in the Carmel. Two other boutique wineries are also to be found in the town. The Smader Winery (smadar.winery@gmail.co.il) offers fine wine and dining in a small wine bar at the Zichron pedestrian mall. Not far from there, the Somek Winery (barakdhn@netvision.net.il) offers a small selection of wine made by a family, fifth generation to the trade.
A few kilometers south of Zichron Ya’akov on road #652, stands the last “wine town” of this tour; Binyamina. Two large wineries, Tishbi and Binyamina, are an inseparable part of the landscape of the southern Carmel. The Tishbi family started to grow vines in the area in the 1880’s, and opened their own winery here a hundred years later. The winery (www.tishbi.com) offers wine tasting tours, and a fine dairy restaurant in their beautiful visitors center. Binyamina (www.binyaminawines.com) is one of the largest wine producers is Israel. In the heart of this old town, the winery offers wine tasting and tours in addition to seminars and classes about the culture of wine.
Transportation to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa are all available here, or spend the night in Binyamina over a fine bottle of wine.
