Israeli winery reveals results of US collaboration

Israeli winery Golan Heights has released the fourth vintage of its Yarden Rom range, the 2012, produced as part of a collaboration between American winemaker Zelma Long and its head winemaker Victor Schoenfeld.

Yarden Rom 2012 is the fourth vintage released from a project between winemaker Zelma Long and Golan Height’s head winemaker Victor Schoenfeld

Zelma Long, co-owner of Long Vineyards in St. Helena in California and the Vilafonte Wine Estate in South Africa, has been working with Schoenfeld since 2002 studying Golan Height’s vineyard blocks with the aim of increasing wine quality.

“From the outset, our goal was to learn from the impressive international experience of Zelma in the growing and production of wines of the highest quality”, said Schoenfeld.

“Through our collaboration, we strived to deepen our insights regarding the unique wine growing conditions of the Golan Heights. This joint initiative has proven itself above and beyond our expectations, and has been a fantastic success. For the two of us, the joint creation of Yarden Rom is the cherry on the top of this important project.”

Made from a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 23% Syrah, fruit for Yarden Rom is sourced from the estate’s best vineyards in the central and northern Golan Heights region in Galilee – the most northern appellation in Israel. Golan Heights is the coldest winemaking region in the country, rising from 400 meters above sea level to 1,200 meters. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels and bottled without filtration, just 32 barrique barrels of Yarden Rom 2012 have been produced.

Schoenfeld described the wine as having “a mix of ripe cherry, blackberry and plum fruit characters, backed by an intriguing fusion of earth, smoke, aniseed, tobacco, sage and black tea notes”, with a “lingering and attractive finish.”

It is the fourth vintage to be released as part of the Yarden Rom project, with previous wines released from the 2006, 2007 and 2008 vintages. The 2012 vintage was described as “typical”, with a relatively cold and wet winter resulting in late but strong budbreak by Schoenfeld. A warm April advanced the season, resulting in a normal start of harvest in the first week of August, with the 2012 producing “lower than average yields” but very good quality grapes.

Founded in 1983, Golan Heights Winery has built a reputation for producing Cabernet and Chardonnay wines and is now one of the largest of Israel’s 35 commercial wineries. The country is also home to more than 250 boutique wineries. A pioneer of the country’s growing winemaking industry, in the past decade Golan Heights has introduced Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer and Viognier varieties to Israel.

This year the winery launched the first vintage of its Yarden Pinot Gris 2015 and a Viognier Chardonnay blend from the 2015 under its Gamla label, which were both unveiled at ProWein in March.

Golan Height’s head winemaker Victor Schoenfeld