A Guide to the Best Jerusalem Area Wineries.

My criteria for a good winery visit are not just about the wine served.  I consider the overall experience, the setting of the winery, the knowledge and friendliness of staff/hosts, and the food served. This post will discuss my experience during some Jerusalem Hills winery visits,  which can be easily reached from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Last update April 2023.

Here is a separate post on the Top 10 Winery Visits in Northern Israel.

Israel has been producing wine since Biblical times, but only recently has Israeli wine been put on the map in its own right, and not just with kosher consumers. Some people believe that kosher wine is inferior in quality, however, I believe that a well-made kosher wine is good, and a poorly-made kosher wine is bad. It is not good or bad because it is kosher.

I am not a wine specialist, but I do appreciate good wine and I love visiting wineries. I have been fortunate to visit several wineries, in different regions around Israel, but the majority have been on day trips close to Jerusalem.

Many of the Israeli wineries have visitor centers that allow visitors to learn more about how and where the wine is made, as well as a chance to taste a selection of wines. Some wineries will allow you to come anytime during opening hours, whereas others will only allow visitors based on appointment, so it is always recommended to call in advance.

Visiting wineries is also a wonderful way to explore the gorgeous countryside around Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Mateh Yehuda / Jerusalem Hills Wineries

Known as the Tuscany of Israel, the Mateh Yehuda or Judean Hills region houses a treasure trove of hidden gems, and similar to Tuscany, the terrain produces some wonderful wine. The region stretches from the outskirts of Jerusalem to the Maale Adumim,  Bet Shemesh, and Modiin and includes the Ella Valley,  Ayalon Valley, and Sorek Valley.

Here is a selection of recommended wineries to visit:

1. Srigim Winery (Not Supervised), Srigim-Li-on

Probably my favorite winery to visit for many reasons. The boutique winery is in the garden of the owners, which overlooks the forests of the Judean Mountains and backs onto the Israel National Trail.

The winemaker Uriel Harari hosts visitors as if they are his friends and it is not unusual for some passing hikers to stop by and join in. The view at sunset is spectacular as the sun melts behind the surrounding mountains. He also has a taboon oven in his garden for making fresh focaccia and pizza.

Srigim produces about 3000 bottles of red wine each year including two blends and a Cabernet Sauvignon, which has won a Terravino prize for several years. I like all the wines they produce but the Barrique and Cabernet Sauvignon are my favorites.

2. Tzora Vineyards (Kosher), Kibbutz Tzora

Hidden inside Kibbutz Tzora opposite the cowsheds, Tzora Vineyards is a boutique winery with a limited number of well-made wines. A wine tasting can conveniently be booked online in English (book here) for anywhere between 2 and 20 guests. The tasting costs NIS 90 per person, lasts 45 minutes and includes four wines, a cheese platter, bread, and olive oil. A lot of thought has been put into the design of the visitor center and making sure that everything about the visit compliments the quality of the wine. I found the wine tasting to be very well organized and the person who hosted us was incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about wine.

We were there during the harvest season, so freshly picked Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were served with the cheese platter, which made it even more delicious. The winery does not produce a huge selection of wine but what they do produce is all very good. I particularly enjoyed the Shoresh 2019 blend.

3. Flam Winery (Kosher), Moshav Eshtaol

The setting of Flam reminds me of the French countryside and it is probably one of the most beautiful wineries to visit. They offer two tasting options, NIS 70 for three tastings and  NIS 130 for a tasting with a cheese plate and fresh bread. If you are already familiar with the wines and don’t need a full wine tasting, there is also the option to buy a bottle of wine and a cheese platter and sit in the beautiful courtyard outside the winery, which is more cost-effective.

4. Kadma Winery (Not Supervised), Moshav Kfar Uriya

Like many wineries in this area, the entrance is hidden down a small dirt path and housed in a converted warehouse. At the weekend, Kadma offers a limited menu that includes a cheese platter and a selection of salads. The winery produces four red wine blends, a Chenin Blanc, and a red dessert wine. The gardens around the winery overlook the surrounding countryside and there are also several tables inside that cater to large groups.

The winemakers use the Italian method of huge clay pots as part of the wine production process and all the pots can be seen as part of the tour.

5. Ella Valley Winery (Kosher), Kibbutz Netiv Halamed Heh

Surrounded by orchards, the picturesque winery has a spacious tasting room and a lovely outside space that is often used for private events and regular gatherings at the Ella Wine Club. Ella Valley has changed winemakers a few times over the last few years, which has affected the consistency of the wine quality. The EverRed range is good-value table wine and Ella Valley series and Vineyard’s Choice series offer some great wines.

If you visit the winery in the early spring, you will have the benefit of seeing the fields of Almond trees, which surround the winery, in full bloom which is a beautiful sight.

6. Mettler Winery (Not Supervised), Moshav Agur

I would recommend Mettler for the overall experience, more than the wine itself. The Swiss owners host visitors in the garden of the winery, overlooking the surrounding vineyards and fields. The winery serves a brunch that includes shakshuka, salads and boutique cheeses. The winery also produces homemade olives, pickled vegetables, jam, beer and liquors, which are all available to buy in the winery shop.

7. Peer Winery (Kosher), Moshav Tal Shahar

The boutique family-run winery is in Meshek Einy, a traditional Moshav farm that has been converted into a winery. The visitor center is filled with vintage and antique memorabilia and there is also a tranquil balcony surrounded by olive trees. We ordered a snack platter which was very tasty, but we felt that it didn’t go well with wine. There were only a few wines to taste so if you are in a group, it might be better to order a bottle of wine and snacks separately.

8. Barkan Winery (Kosher), Kibbutz Hulda

A state-of-the-art facility with a visitors center and tour designed to educate visitors on the full process of winemaking. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by my visit and although I am not a fan of the Barkan table wines, the winery produces several interesting wines and I especially enjoyed trying the new Beta Series.  The visitors center offers various tour options and it is also possible just to sit in the wine shop and order a flight of wines to taste.

9. Gush Etzion Winery (Mehadrin), Gush Etzion

The spacious winery houses a dairy restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and there is an option to have a wine tasting as part of the meal. Wine tours can be arranged separately but the winery itself is fairly small so you can see most of it without a tour.

10. Psagot Winery (Kosher), Mizrach Binyamin

Possibly one of the most beautiful purpose-built wine-tasting centers, Psagot is also the home to a museum about the Binyamin region, which includes an interactive map and a video about the history of the region. Cheese platters and other food can be arranged with prior notice.

I love the wines from the following wineries but have not yet visited them, which is why they are not included in the list above:

• Katlav Winery, Nes Harim
• Domaine du Castel, Mevaseret Zion

Other Wineries in the Jerusalem Area

• Agur Winery (Kosher) – wine tasting is NIS 35 per person which is refundable if you make a purchase but we didn’t like any of the wine enough to buy it. The winery is kosher but the visitors center is open on Shabbat.
• Hans Sternbach Vineyard (Not Supervised) – we were hosted inside a very simple warehouse and we didn’t particularly enjoy any of the wine. There is a café at the winery but it was not open when we were there, as they were getting ready for a private event.
• Mony Winery (Kosher), Givat Shemesh. The winery is located on a hillside near Bet Shemesh. There is no charge to taste a selection of wines in the larger winery shop. Glasses of wine can be purchased and enjoyed on numerous picnic tables on the spacious shaded terrace with wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.
• Navot Winery (Kosher food, Not supervised wine), Moshav Tslafon. The small boutique winery opens its doors as a restaurant on a Friday, together with Pepo Brewery. The menu includes various brunch options and although most people seem to focus on drinking beer and cider, some come for the wine.  The inside of the restaurant is similar to an old country kitchen, while the outside area overlooks the vineyards. We loved the food and atmosphere but less so the wine itself.
• Seahorse Winery (Not Supervised), Moshav Bar Giora. Guests are hosted in the wine storeroom among the barrels, and even though some consider Seahorse to be very special, most of the wines were not to my personal taste, although a few were very good.
• Tzuba Winery (Kosher) – I like some of the wine but I found the winemaker to be incredibly unfriendly and it was as if he was doing us a favor hosting us which ruined the experience for me. There is an option to combine a wine tasting with brunch at the nearby hotel (click here for more about brunch at Hotel Tzuba).

Here is a similar post on Top 10 Winery Visits in Northern Israel, follow Debbest on Facebook, and Instagram and subscribe to this newsletter to receive regular updates on the Foodie Israel scene.