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Travel Guide to Judean Hills Wine Region

Around 1,700 BC, the biblical patriarch Jacob blessed his son Judas for the production of high-quality wine. The blessing came true, and the Judean Hills wine region turned into the Bordeaux of Ancient Israel. In the XIX century, Sir Moses Montefiore wrote about the Judean Hills: "Everything is planted with vines and olives... It is impossible to imagine a richer and more beautiful land". The Judean Hills wine region is a region with a rich history, the Judean Hills wine region is not as powerful a wine region as Galilee today, but it is developing rapidly, and its potential is not in doubt among experts. The Judean Hills wine region has cool summer nights and limestone-rich soil contribute to the development of winemaking in the Judean Hills wine region.

Find out about Wine Tasting & Tours in Judean Hills Wine Region to enjoy if you visit the region. 

Read out travel guide to Judean Hills Wine Region to travel in time and discover more about:

Wines of Judean Hills Wine Region

Wineries to discover in Judean Hills Wine Region

Cultural Places to visit in Judean Hills Wine Region

Nature to explore in Judean Hills Wine Region

Food to try in Judean Hills Wine Region

Where is the Judean Hills Wine Region?

The Judean Hills wine region is an extended ridge of hills surrounding Jerusalem from the north, west and south. These hills are also called the Judean Mountains, the hills of Judea. The terrain from the Judean Hills wine region stretches from the Jewish foothills (called Ha-Shfela in Hebrew) to the ridge of the Jordan Valley (Bik'at Ha-Yarden) and captures such famous cities as Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron and Ramallah. 

Judean Hills Wine Region Map

You can also check out our interactive map of the Judean Hills Wine Region to discover wineries with open cellar doors.

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Judean Hills Wine Region Map

What makes the Judean Hills wine region special?

Pleasant Climate and Own Microclimate in the Vineyards of Judean Hills Wine Region

To the east and south of Jerusalem, the mountains slowly lose their green cover, descending steep slopes into the Judean desert of the Judean Hills wine region. Due to the high altitude above sea level, there is a cooler climate and a large difference in day and night temperatures, which is very important for the full ripening of grapes. 

The Judean Hills wine region is home to 27% of the country's vineyards, which make up the majority of Israel. The vineyards are often tiny in size, spanning the Judean Hills wine region in a fragmented way rather than a patchwork. Each vineyard has its own microclimate and habitat, which may explain the large number of petite cuvées. Some vineyards are located in valleys, while others are built on terraces that follow the curves of the twisting slopes.

Mineral Rich Soil and Discovery of Irrigation System 

In the Judean Hills wine region, the soils are rich in minerals thanks to their high stone content, which gives them excellent drainage. The topsoil in the Judean Hills wine region is terra rossa clay on limestone bedrock, and the soils are often shallow. 

A question may emerge at this point what is terra rossa? Terra rossa is a type of soil found in Mediterranean karst environments, which are limestone-rich places that receive a lot of water. The soil is hard, and dense, with a small amount of humus, but it readily absorbs and retains water, allowing vines to thrive over the Mediterranean summer's dry, hot, and long days.

Israel's efforts to cultivate grapes in the desert are being watched by other hot wine-producing countries. Drip irrigation, for example, is required due to the utter lack of rain during the growing season. It was devised by Israelis in the early 1960s and is now used in agriculture all over the world. Organic or self-sustaining vineyards are becoming more common, giving the region's winemaking a long-term perspective.

Kosher Wines

The fundamental distinction between kosher and non-kosher wine is the kosher production method. When there are no particular personal requirements for winemakers for regular wine, kosher wine can only be made by Jews who keep the Sabbath. Other unique characteristics of kosher wine include regulations for the vine (only three-year-old grapes are being used), and complete rejection of animal products at the winery, and the rest of the land (every seventh year). 

Kosher vineyards have a unique certificate, and a mashgiach oversees compliance with all kosher wine production standards.

What to expect from Judean Hills’ wines?

Judean Hills wine region may surprise you with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with mint or eucalyptus notes on the palette in addition to dark fruit flavours. Here mostly international varietals make up the majority of wine grapes, although some old, indigenous local wine grapes still remain. Marawi and Bituni, for example, are two well-known old types. Marawi wines are typically citrusy, with excellent acidity and minerality. They are an unadulterated, ancient, and honest reflection of Israeli terroir. Bituni wines are light-bodied, with an aroma of red cherry and Mediterranean spices, and floral and aromatic minerality.

Grape varieties:

Red grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Merlot, Shiraz, Argaman, Petite Sirah, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc

White grape varieties: Chardonnay, Colombard, Emerald Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat of Alexandria

Wine Appellations of Judean Hills Wine Region

The Judean Hills wine region holds the status of the Appellation of Origin (AO). The AOs registered are "Judea", "Judean Hills" and "Judean Foothills".  Wines can only be labelled if at least 85% of the grapes grow in the area.

Wineries to Visit in Judean Hills Wine Region

Gush Etzion Winery

Gush Etzion Winery - Gush Etzion Winery3

Gush Etzion is located south of Jerusalem in a mountainous area in the Judean Hills wine region, one of the highest in the Land of Israel, which got the special blessing to cultivate wine from the Patriarch Jacob thousands of years ago.

Tzora Vineyards

tzora vineyards- vineyards

Located high in the Judean Hills in the Judean Hills wine region, the vineyards of Tzora winery create perfect landscapes to enjoy your glass of wine.

Read more about Wineries in Judean Hills wine region to visit.


Places to Visit in Judean Hills Wine Region

Jerusalem: The City of The World

Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel and a holy city for all Christians, Muslims and Jews of all kinds. It is a pilgrimage site for many believers from all over the world. It's worth noting that this is the world's only city with more than seventy names, and it's over 3500 years old. In addition, you can find here an unimaginable mixture of historical monuments and peoples, cultures and various traditions, where churches, mosques and synagogues simultaneously prevail. 

Modern Jerusalem is divided into two parts: New and Old City. The new city, which was born in 1860 as the first Jewish suburb in the west, has long surpassed the Old one both in size and population. However, the very heart of Jerusalem is still the Old City, which is historically divided into 4 quarters, namely, "Jewish", "Christian", "Armenian" and "Muslim".

Soreq. Stalagmite and Stalactite Cave 

Israel's historical and cultural riches are hidden not only on the surface but also beneath it. This country boasts several thousand caves, and not all of them are well-studied. Upon seeing a stalactite or stalagmite cave Soreq gallery at least once in your life, it is impossible not to fall in love with the amazing natural beauty. 

Once, during the extraction of crushed stone and the explosion of rocks, a small hole opened on Mount Har Tuv, at an altitude of 385 meters, which later became the entrance to the stalactite cave Soreq. In 1968, an underground gallery was found, and in 1975 it received the status of a state-protected area. 

The Latrun Trappist Monastery - Where God made moon and sun standstill

Latrun exudes a peculiar aura that draws people to him. It is located in the middle of the country, midway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the Judean Hills wine region. A traveller off the highway is enthralled by the grand edifice, which was completed in 1927. Many believe this building, which is surrounded by gorgeous vineyards, to be Israel's most beautiful. 

Latrun is especially beautiful at sunset. Overhead, the endless sky turns blue, and the monastery's walls are painted in soft pinkish tones. The Order of St. Benedict, which began in Rome in the sixth century of the new era, has its headquarters here. Originally, this historic site was a Crusader fortification, whose fame has risen since the Middle Ages.


Find the best Wine tour guides in the Judean Hills Wine Region and embark on Guided tours to explore the exquisite wines of this region.

Discover the natural places of Judean Hills Wine Region

Beit Guvrin National Park - The Touch of History and Culture

Beit Guvrin National Park is a part of the ancient city of Moresh in the Judean Hills wine region with well-preserved excavations; a huge number of artificial and natural caves and underground complexes, including the Sidon caves and huge caves in the form of bells (they are also called "bell caves"), as well as Beit Guvrin itself, aka Beit Jubrin in Arabic, with the remains of a Roman amphitheatre and various complexes and churches from the time of the Crusaders.

Once in this place, you will be able to touch the culture and history of the Hellenes, Romans, Greeks, Crusaders, Arabs in different historical eras. The history of the city begins with the 10th century BC, since that time the city has been captured many times, re-captured and destroyed. In different eras, a variety of people lived here. From what has been preserved to date, the most ancient historical evidence is usually attributed to the 2-3 centuries BC.

Masada National Park - where the symbol of Jewish people is

Masada National Park tells the unusual story of Masada, an ancient fortress in the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea in the Judean Hills wine region. Here, in 25 BC, King Herod the Great equipped a shelter for himself and his family, significantly strengthening and completing the existing one on this site.

Masada Fortress is surrounded on 4 sides by the steep cliffs of the great Judean desert. It is possible for travellers to climb to the fortress only along a narrow snake path laid along an artificial embankment built by the Romans. The fortress now has the palace of King Herod, a synagogue, fragments of mosaics, water tanks cut into the rocks, cold and hot baths, and much more

Israel's Largest Man-Made Desert Forest - Yatir Forest 

Landscape tourism and ecotourism enthusiasts will relish the opportunity to experience for themselves one of the world's most stunning green spots — Israel's man-made Yatir forest. This country is known for its mountain cliffs and deserts, as well as its arid and harsh climate, but it was here that a true landscape marvel was born, with no parallels anywhere else on the planet. The forest is located in the north of the Negev Desert in the Hebron Highlands and the area exceeds 4 thousand hectares. It's interesting to note that the forest is being planted not only by Israel but also by a number of other countries. In this sense, Yatir has a number of zones with names like "Scandinavian Forest," "Canadian Forest," and so on.


3 Excellent Foods to Discover in Judean Hills Wine Region

Falafel

Falafel fritters are most typically served in pita or lafa flatbread sandwiches in Israel and other Middle Eastern nations, topped with fresh or pickled veggies and dipped in hummus paste, tahini dip, or a spicy, garlic-flavoured yoghurt sauce. Fava beans can be substituted for chickpeas in the Israeli version, and the mixture is often seasoned with parsley, coriander, cumin, and onions.

Cholent

Cholent is a classic Jewish stew that takes a long time to cook in the Judean Hills wine region. Typical components in Eastern European cholent include barley, beans, and meat, along with a variety of seasonings. Cholent is usually prepared on Fridays, the day before the Jewish Sabbat, when all work is prohibited.

Due to the long cooking period on Sabbat, the flavors will have infused, the beans will have softened, and the tougher portions of meat will have become moist and tender. The dish originated in Israel and the Middle East, then moved throughout North Africa. It has already been discovered in Spain by the 9th century.

Sfenj

Sfenj is prepared with a simple unsweetened dough that's let to rise before being formed into rings or discs, deep-fried, and sugared. Sfenj must be eaten immediately after cooking or they would lose their distinctive texture, therefore eating them on the street is always the best option.


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Discover Judean Hills Wine Region With Local Wine Guides

Check out our local wine tour guides with their wine tour offers to have everything organized when visiting the Judean Hills Wine Region wine region.

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Eli

Eli

Therefore, I decided to establish JEWISH ISRAEL TOURS, a Jewish tour company focusing...

€200.00
Kobi B

Kobi B

GoKEDEM is a unique travel service bootstrapped by a seasoned entrepreneur who loves blending...

€440.00

Map of Wineries in Judean Hills Wine Region

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