A Guide to the Best Jerusalem Area Wineries.

My criteria for a good winery visit are not just the wine served.  I consider the overall experience, the winery’s setting, 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..

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 appreciate good wine and love visiting wineries. I have been fortunate to visit several wineries in different regions around Israel, but most have been on day trips close to Jerusalem.

Many Israeli wineries have visitor centers where visitors can learn more about how and where the wine is made and taste a selection of wines. Some wineries allow visitors to come anytime during opening hours, whereas others only allow visitors by 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. Similar to Tuscany, the terrain produces 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:

• Srigim Winery (Not Supervised), Srigim-Li-on

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

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 their wines, but my favorites are Srigim and Barrique.

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  Tzora Vineyards (Kosher), Kibbutz Tzora

Hidden inside Kibbutz Tzora opposite the cowsheds, Tzora Vineyards is a boutique winery with a few well-made wines. A wine tasting can conveniently be booked online in English (book here) for 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 visitor center’s design to ensure that everything about the visit compliments the quality of the wine. I found the wine tasting 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 vast selection of wine, but what it does is all very good. I particularly enjoyed the Shoresh 2019 blend.

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  Flam Winery (Kosher), Moshav Eshtaol

Flam‘s setting 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, buying a bottle of wine and a cheese platter and sitting in the beautiful courtyard outside the winery is more cost-effective.

• 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 with 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 several tables are inside to accommodate large groups.

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

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  Ella Valley Winery (Kosher), Kibbutz Netiv Halamed Heh

Surrounded by orchards, the picturesque winery has a spacious tasting room and a lovely outside space 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 the Ella Valley and Vineyard’s Choice series offer some excellent wines.

If you visit the winery in the early spring, you will see the fields of Almond trees surrounding it in full bloom, which is a beautiful sight.

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  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 winery’s garden, 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.

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  Peer Winery (Kosher), Moshav Tal Shahar

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

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  Barkan Winery (Kosher), Kibbutz Hulda

A state-of-the-art facility with a visitor’s center and tour is designed to educate visitors on the entire winemaking process. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by my visit. 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 to sit in the wine shop and order a flight of wines to taste.

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  Gush Etzion Winery (Kosher), Gush Etzion

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

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  Psagot Winery (Kosher), Mizrach Binyamin

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

Other Wineries in the Jerusalem Area

• Domaine du Castel (Kosher), Mevaseret Zion – I love both Castel and Raziel wines but have only visited Castel for a large event so it was not a typical winery visit. The views of the countryside are beautiful.
• Hans Sternbach Vineyard (Not Supervised): We were hosted inside a very simple warehouse and didn’t enjoy any wine. The winery has a café, 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 incredible views of the surrounding countryside.
• Navot Winery (Kosher food, not supervised wine), Moshav Tslafon. The small boutique winery opens as a restaurant on a Friday with Pepo Brewery. The menu includes various brunch options, and although most people 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 taste, although a few were very good.
• Tzuba Winery (Kosher): I like some of the wine, but found the winemaker unfriendly. It was as if he was doing us a favor by hosting us, which ruined my experience. 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 the Top 10 Winery Visits in Northern Israel. Follow Debbest on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to this newsletter for regular updates on the Foodie Israel scene.