Israeli wine

Viticulture in Israel can be traced back to the biblical times. The history of wine in what is now Israel in Palestine reaches back to antiquity; also came under Muslim rule, wine production is not completely stopped. During the Byzantine rule before it came some very coveted wines from Palestine. Since the end of the 19th century is again increasingly being produced wine. The modern Israeli viticulture was greatly affected by Baron Edmond James de Rothschild, former co-owner of the famous Bordeaux winery Château Lafite- Rothschild. In the modern state of Israel wine is grown on a vineyard area of 5,000 hectares ( as of 2000); important growing areas are Beit Shemesh, Zichron Yaakov and the Golan Heights. Meanwhile produce several hundred wineries wines that are exported on a modest level. The export generates about $ 22 million foreign exchange earnings annually. The largest wine producers in the country are the Carmel wineries.

Israel is now the main supplier of kosher wine world. Flag for kosher wine are for example: The grapes are harvested only from the fourth year, the harvest equipment are cleaned under the supervision of a rabbi and a small portion of the wine has to be given away.