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Gush Etzion Winery: Winemaking Traditions Renewed
- Aug 4, 2020
By Gregory Aubrey
In 1995, Winemaker Shraga Rozenberg had a dream to make wine in the biblical land of Judea. Fast-forward a decade and his dream became a reality, when Gush Etzion Winery was formally introduced and established in 2005 near Efrat. Since then, Shraga and his son Assaf have teamed up to craft some of the finest and Mediterranean-focused wines from the Judean Mountains.
What started as just a small hobby, quickly turned into a dream. While Shraga began experimenting with blackberry wine, he developed a love for wine made from grapes and decided to forgo his previous profession to dedicate his time, passion, and energy into growing wine full time. Shraga’s dream quickly became reality when in 1995, the winery produced close to 5,000 bottles and things started getting more serious.
“He will launder his garments in wine, and his robe in the blood of grapes. His eyes shall sparkle with wine, and his teeth white with milk.” This was the blessing that Yaacov Avinu blessed his son Yehudah with, a prophecy which Shraga dreamt of bringing to life, in the land of Judea/Yehudah, reviving the land’s ancient history of growing wine.
An Unstoppable Dream
After a decade of learning and fine-tuning the craft of winemaking, Gush Etzion Winery was formally established and introduced in 2005. Today the same dream is lived each and every day, led by Shraga and his son Assaf who look after the vineyards with love, attention, and vision.
It’s in the heart of the Judean Mountains that the beautiful Gush Etzion Winery resides. With the area’s high elevation, the vineyards benefit from ideal growing conditions, allowing the grapes which grow in an area of over 200 acres to properly flourish, ultimately producing wine that is of the utmost quality.
Today Gush Etzion Winery thrives as being a true gem amongst Israel’s wineries. From their quality white wines like the Lone Oak Gewurztraminer to the elegant and fruit-forward GSM blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, these wines have their own unique quality and characteristics that make them superb wines to enjoy now or age for a few years.
The Gush Etzion Wine Portfolio
1. The Lone Oak Series
The Lone Oak line comprises premium wines, symbolized by a single oak tree in the middle of the Etzion Bloc that early settlers would gaze at as they dreamed of a permanent return to the region.
Lone Oak Cabernet Franc Reserve 2017
This wine was matured for 21 months in French oak barrels, giving it its elegant and refined complexity. Bright red in color, this bold wine exhibits a powerful nose with scents of red berries and delicate earthy, peppery flavors. Full-bodied, great acidity, and a finish that has just the right amount of fruit and spice.
Lone Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017
This Cabernet Sauvignon captures the essence of grapes grown at the lofty altitude of 900 meters in the unique, cool climate of the Gush Etzion region. The wine was matured for 19 months in oak barrels, allowing for its flavor to develop complex and elegant fragrances of black fruits, oak, and dark chocolate.
Delightful and intense flavors of tropical fruit and earthy, mineral aromas take the charge on this wonderfully balanced dry white wine. This crisp wine displays strong acidity, followed by a refreshing grapefruit-focused and mineral finish.
This semi-dry white wine might be a crowd-favorite amongst many readers (including myself)! Year after year, Shraga and Assaf keep producing some of Israel's best Gewurztraminer wine. The wine's strong and intense aromas of fresh roses and tropical fruit like lychee and grapefruit make this wine a true pleasure to enjoy. Not too sweet, not too dry, with very little acidity yet with a long finish. It's a must to try, especially during the warmer months of the year.
2. The Spring River Series
The Spring River series features the Gush Etzion's creative blends. It is named after the area of Nachal Hapirim (“Stream of shafts”). The vines used to produce the red wine in this series grow on the slopes that descend to this stream.
This beautiful and elegant blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot is one of the winery's most well-known blends. The nose is full of dark, rich, and complex fruit; with hints of tobacco, chocolate, and smokey oak. Matured in new French oak barrels for 21 months, the wine features well-rounded tannins and mouthwatering, fruit-forward flavors. Can be enjoyed now or will continue to age nicely in proper conditions for up to 10 years from production.
A Mediterranean blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, the grapes for this wine were hand-picked from the Judean Hills. The wine was aged for 12 months in French Oak barrels, giving the wine an oaky and tobacco character. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and flavors of mature fruit, spice, and balanced acidity.
On the nose, this rosé wine presents a lovely bouquet of freshly picked wild strawberries, raspberries as well as pink grapefruit with hints of fresh basil. Light to medium-bodied and very crisp, the Spring River Rosé is bursting with flavors of tart raspberries, cherries, and strawberries on the palate. Its long and refreshing grapefruit, lime, and earthy mineral finish along with its vibrant acidity and very subtle bitterness make this wine a great choice to pair with foods. One of the best and most interesting rosé wines out of Israel.
3. The Blessed Valley Series
The Winery’s flagship series is named after the valley that lies in the center of Gush Etzion. According to Jewish heritage and biblical sources, this is the place where all the people of Israel gathered in the days of Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, and blessed G-d as the Rock of Israel. These wines best capture the complex and unique terroir of Gush Etzion. This series contains both white and red wines.
Blessed Valley Chardonnay 2018
This Chardonnay blend of Viognier, Roussane, and Chardonnay is bursting with refreshing aromas of citrus blossom, jasmine, and ginger. On the palate, notes of honeysuckle and starfruit followed by subtle hints of vanilla, with an oak and buttery texture from the aging in French oak barrels. While this is a more rich, medium-bodied wine, it boasts a crisp and acidic finish that is highly enjoyable.
An elegant blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, this full-bodied wine is bold and complex with a unique character. The wine was matured for 20 months in oak barrels, displaying strong aromas of ripe fruit and a well-developed bouquet of tobacco, spice and chocolate, followed by a long and complex finish. This well-rounded wine is truly wonderful and can be drunk now, or can age for a few more years.
3. Single Vineyard Late Harvest Gewürztraminer
Last but not least, Gush Etzion's Late Harvest Gewürztraminer is the go-to wine for those who like sweeter wines. The wine was crafted from a single vineyard towards the end of the harvest, allowing the grapes to fully ripen and display the sweeter fruit aromas found in the wine.
Single Vineyard Late Harvest Gewürztraminer 2018
The Gush Etzion Single Vineyard Late Harvest Gewurztraminer is the perfect apéritif or dessert wine. The grapes were harvested at 28 Brix (a measurement of a grape's sugar content), letting the grapes fully ripen and giving the wine its sweet character (for reference, most table wines measure between 21 and 25 Brix). The late harvest allows for a rich textured wine with layered notes of tropical fruit, spice, honey, marmalade, and rose. This wine will develop as it ages. Only 840 bottles of this wine were produced and this bottle is exclusive to KosherWine!
Explore & Taste Gush Etzion's Wonderful Wines
Here at KosherWine.com, we pride ourselves on offering quality wines that are unique in flavor and character, and the wines from Gush Etzion Winery represent our values to the core. This family-owned and operated winery has something to offer for every wine drinker, and we encourage you to taste the wines to discover something that is truly amazing. Not sure where to start? Try the Gush Etzion Mixed Case to get a glimpse of the winery's best wines at a special reduced price.
Next time you're able to travel to Israel, make sure to visit Shraga and Assaf at Gush Etzion Winery. You'll not only get to enjoy fantastic wines, but you'll also be able to experience the amazing and appetizing food offered at the winery's restaurant!
