 Deborah and Tal are no strangers to visiting Israel but this was their first time doing the "touristy" thing and visiting a brewery, dairy and 2 wineries. We started the day at Alexander Brewery with a private tour and tasting with Ori, the owner. We tasted the Blond and Ambre, which were enjoyed very much.
 We then visited Jacob's Dairy which to all of our surprise was having a festival for Shavuot and President Shimon Peres was speeking at the festival. We tasted honey, cheese, fresh bread and delicious olive oil.
We then visited Tishbi Estate Winery for a tour and tasting during lunch. We tasted the French Reisling 2010, Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Shiraz 2007 and Port-style wine. Tal learned a bit more on how to taste wine and some tips on how to buy wine at a shop.
 We ended the day with a tour at Carmel Winery exploring the barrel room that Rothschild built in 1893. Afterwards Deborah and Tal enjoyed a tasting of the Gewerstriminer 2010, Carignan 2009 and Muscat dessert wine.
Deborah, Tal and Ayalet had a great day learning about the Israeli wine industry and all the delicious wines we have to offer!
 Ava and her mother live in the Philippines and love Israeli wine. Ava trained as a winemaker in France recently and is thinking about moving to Israel and working in the wine industry here, but first she needed to know what is going on with the Israeli wine industry because on the Philippines, they only receive Barkan Wines. We started the day at Amphorae Winery where Ava tasted the Rosa, Chardonnay, Rhyton, and Unica Cabernet Sauvignon. She really enjoyed Amphorae winery!
We enjoyed lunch at Tishbi Estate Winery with a pairing of wines. We tasted the French Riesling 2010, Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2006 and Shiraz 2007. After a delicious meal of gourmet pizza and ravioli Ava’s mom spoke to Jonathan Tishbi about importing Tishbi Wines into the Philippines, so they would have a bit more of a selection.
 The next stop was Carmel Winery where Valerie explained to Ava the influence of Edmond Baron de Rothschild and we tasted the Appellation Series Carignan, Viognier and late harvest Gewürztraminer dessert wine. Ava enjoyed the Carmel wines very much and hopes to also have them in the Philippines one day soon.
 Our last winery visit was an intimate visit with Barak Dahan, the winemaker at Somek Winery. Ava loved the wines from Somek Winery! We tasted the Adom 2008, Carignan 2005 and Birkat HaNadiv 2005. The day was a success and Ava learned more than she could have wished for about the Israeli wine industry and maybe where her expertise will assist one day.
 On Friday, May 27th the Levy family and friend David enjoyed a beer and wine tour in the Carmel Region. The Levy family has traveled to Israel before but has never been to a winery so they were very excited for this different travel experience in Israel. We started the day off at Alexander Brewery in Emek Hefer. They received a tour by the owner, Ori, who explained the beer making process and what makes Alexander Beer quality and tasty. The boys and even Susan, who usually is not a beer drinker, loved the Ambre Beer.
 The second place we visited was Amphorae Winery where we received an explanation for the assistance winemaker, Alon. He explained the winemaking process and the art behind winemaking. Amphorae’s facility is elegant and beautiful set in the middle of the Makura Forest. We tasted the Rosa 2010, Rhyton 2006, Syrah 2006 and Unica 2008. All the wines were superb and enjoyed.
We then enjoyed a delicious lunch at Tishbi Estate Winery with a tasting of 2010 Gewürztraminer, 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, and 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Israeli salad and gourmet pizza.
 We ended the day at Somek Winery where we sat with Barak Dahan, the winemaker and owner and he talked about his passion to stay a small boutique winery only producing 10,000 bottles a year. Everyone loved the atmosphere and wines at Somek Winery. The day was enjoyed by all and everyone learned a lot more about the modern day Israeli wine industry and the historical aspect of wine in Israel.
 On Sunday May 8th, a group of study abroad friends enjoyed a wine and beer tour in the Carmel Region. We started the day at Alexander Brewery where Ortal explained the making of beer and the different tastes that can be created in beer from the ingrediants. At 10:30am the girls were drinking breakfast of champions - Beer!
 Our next stop after a lovely walk around Ramat HaNadiv was Tishbi Estate Winery. We spend a couple of hours at Tishbi enjoying a pairing of food with wine. We ate lots of brick oven pizza and salads. We tasted the 2010 French Reisling, 2008 Special Reserve Chardonnay, 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2007 Shiraz. Afterwards we enjoyed some chocolate at the newly opened Chocolate and Wine Tasting room.
 Our last winery was Somek Winery where we tasted the Adom 2008, Carignan 2005 and Birkat HaNadiv 2005. The girls really enjoyed the intimacy of Barak's boutique winery and of course his dogs!
The day was enjoyed by all and the girls learned a lot about the process of wine, beer and brandy. They can now leave their semester abroad program with the knowledge of the Israeli wine industry.
 Debbie and Alan are visiting their son in Israel and when they come to Israel they like to do interesting and different tours that are off the beaten track. Debbie and Alan have known me since I was a little girl running around in Temple and we enjoyed a day touring the Carmel Region breweries and wineries. We started the day at Alexander Brewery tasting their Blond, Ambre and Black beer. Alan and Debbie learned a lot about how beer is made and the unique Israeli beer taste that pairs well with falafel to a nice piece of meat and on a hot summer’s day or a cold rainy winter’s evening. We then walked around Ramat HaNadiv and enjoyed the view and flowers.
 At Tishbi Winery I explained to them the art and science of winemaking and the history of the Tishbi family from the first Aliyah to being the first family owned winery to be established in modern day Israel. We tasted the Gewürztraminer 2010, Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Shiraz 2007 and the Barbara Zinfandel 2006 Port style wine.
We ended the day at Somek Winery where we enjoyed an intimate tasting with Barak, the winemaker and owner, of the Adom 2008, Carignan 2005 and the Birkat HaNadiv 2005. Debbie and Alan bought their son, whose back in Boston, a nice bottle of wine from Barak to enjoy with his wife and friends.
Debbie and Alan learned a lot about Israeli wine and the modern day microbreweries that are opening in Israel.
 Chocolate and Wine tasting room Amy and I go way back from Camp Pembroke. Amy’s husband’s family is enjoying a sabbatical in Israel for the year, so it was a perfect time for Amy and her husband, Michael to come visit Israel during Winter break. Amy and Michael are well traveled and enjoy wine so a day in Zichron Yaakov was a perfect end to their Israel vacation.
I first took them to Tishbi Estate Winery where I gave them a private tasting in the new Wine and Chocolate tasting room (opening Feb), which is also the Brandy Distillery room. We tasted the 2010 Gewurztraminer, 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (4% Viognier), 2007 Shiraz and 2007 Sde Bokar Jonathan Tishbi Special Reserve. The Special Reserve is a strong, bold wine that in 6 to 8 years will peak and keep for 15 years in total. Ann and Avi, who usually do not enjoy Port, or so they thought, loved the Barbara Zinfindel Port-style wine.
 Brokie Girls!  Somek Winery Our second winery visit was Somek Winery, located in the heart of Zichron Yaakov. Somek Winery was founded by Barak Dahan in 2000 with his wife. Barak is 5th generation Israeli and his family has been in Israel since 1882 (the First Aliyah). Barak produces a Chardonnay (oaked for 12 months in French barrels), 100% Merlot, 100% Carignan, and his blend which is Bikat HaNadiv. His blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Syrah. Barak still sells his wine grapes to Carmel, and produces his own wine in his backyard, which is quite delicious!
We ended our day with lunch along the Midrachov at the Tishbi Café, which included Amy and Michael’s first Shakshuka and a karaf of Cabernet Peiti-Syrah table wine.
Rachel is studying on the Young Judaea Year Course program this year in Israel. Her aunt and grandmother came to Israel for their first time to visit Rachel, and since Aunt Lesley is a wine lover, she thought it would be a great idea to show them a different side of Israel by going on a wine experience. Our first winery visit was Tishbi Estate Winery. I showed them around the facility and explained the process of wine making from the fermentation phase to the aging phase in the oak barrels and then finally the bottling production. I taught everyone the art of tasting the wine with their 5 senses and then we enjoyed a wide range of wines including 2010 Gewürztraminer, 2009 Chardonnay, 2006 Pinot Noir, 2006 Cabernet Franc, Muscat Dessert wine and Port-style wine.
 We then enjoyed a stroll around Ramat HaNadiv as we discussed what life is like in Israel as an American. The second winery we visited was Smadar Winery, a boutique winery in the center of Zichron Yaakov. Moti, the owner and winemaker, is 4th generation Israel from the first Aliyah. His tasting room is the oldest building in Zichron Yaako (from 1882). We enjoyed an intimate tasting with him of his 2006 Carignan, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2006 Ain Tut, which is a Bordeaux style blend.
 After a lot of wine, we needed lunch, so we enjoyed a dairy lunch at Café Nili along the Midrachov in Zichron Yaakov. Our last winery visit was Amphorae Vineyards in Makarah Forest. We had a wonderful tour of their clean and majestic facility along with a nice tasting of their 2009 Viognier, 2006 Rhyton (signature wine), and their 2006 Syrah.
By the end of the day, they learned more than they expected about the Israeli wine industry, life in Israel and the art of wine making.
Thanksgiving Day Kate and Michael, newcomers to Israel, enjoyed a wine tour in the Carmel Region with My Israel Wine Tours. From the one bad experience years ago with kosher wine, they thought Israel did not produce any good wines, but they realized after a day of visiting four great wineries in Israel, that Israel is producing some very tasty and delicious wines.
 Our first stop was Tishbi Estate Winery where I gave them a private tour of the facility and showed them the process of how a big winery produces wine. They were introduced to Golan Tishbi, the winemaker, and some more Tishbi family members. They enjoyed a tasting of Oshra Tishbi wine jams and the French Riesling 2009, Jonathan Tishbi Special Reserve Chardonnay 2008, Shiraz 2007, Jonathan Tishbi Special Reserve 2007 from Sde Bokar, a Muscat dessert wine and the Barbara Zinfandel Port style wine. And this was only at 10am!
 We then made our way up to the center of Zichron Yaakov where we went to Somek Winery, a boutique winery producing only 10,000 bottles annually. We met with Barak, the winemaker where he explained his passion for winemaker and the traditional methods he uses to make his complex and delicious wine. We tasted his 2008 Chardonnay, 2005 Carignan, 2005 Birkat HaNadiv and his Port-style wine.
After lunch at the Tishbi Café along the Promenade, we took a pit stop at the Carmel Winery, which Michael and Kate kept on hearing about from their colleagues, so they had a few tastings of the Carmel Appellation series and Private Collection series.  Our last winery was Amphorae Vineyards in the Makarha Forest. The winery is surrounded by a forest and is a very peaceful setting. Along with getting a tour and tasting, Michael and Kate were able to receive a barrel tasting from the assistant winemaker, Alon. Kate and Michael learned a lot about Israeli wines, and have the next 2 years in Israel to explore and taste the 300 wineries Israel has to offer.
 Tishbi Winery Randy and Loraine contacted My Israel Wine Tours through Richard Shaffer, the owner of Israel Wine Direct. They were coming to Israel for the first and on top of their organized tour around Israel they wanted to experience some wineries. Randy and Loraine travel the world through wine and fly fishing and were interested in the Israeli wine industry. Our first stop was Tishbi Estate Winery. At the Tishbi Estate Winery Randy and Loraine enjoyed a tour of the facilities and a tasting of the Oshra Fine Food products as well as the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Chardonnay Reserve, 2007 Shiraz, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Muscat dessert wine and 2006 Port-style wine.
 Somek Winery Our second winery was Somek Winery where Randy and Loraine sat with Barak, the owner and winemaker of Somek Winery. They tasted the newly released 2008 Chardonnay, 2005 Carignan, 2005 Birkat HaNadiv, and Port-style wine. It was lucky to know that Randy loves Port!
 Amphorae Winery We then enjoyed lunch at Tishbi Café on the Promenade in Zichron Yaakov. Our last winery was Amphorae Vineyards where we were lucky to witness the pressing of the grapes. Alon, the assistant wine maker gave us a tasting of the pressed wine and wine from the fermenting tank. Randy and Loraine tasted their range of wines and loved the Unica series Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Barbara blend.Randy and Loraine enjoyed learning about the modern Israeli wine industry and now have some Israeli wines to enjoy at home and throughout their trip in Israel.
 After a long week of group touring in Israel, Jay, Shelly, David and Joni enjoyed an intimate day with me touring the wineries in the Carmel Region.
During the drive north to Tishbi Winery, I explained to them the history of Israeli wine, the modern day Israeli wine industry and the differences of wine regions in Israel. At Tishbi Winery they saw the outdoor facility, oak barrel room and Brandy Distillery. They tasted the newly released Jonathan Tishbi Special Reserve from Sde Bokar, 2007.
 We then strolled around the Botanical Gardens of Ramat HaNadiv and they loved the beauty of the Sea view and landscape. The weather was beautiful so we took a walk down the Promenade and enjoyed fruit yogurt and shopping in boutique stores.
We then visited Somek Winery and Barak, the owner and winemaker, gave us a tour of his winery in his backyard. He just finished the harvest a couple of weeks ago, so we got to see the fermenting grapes in the tank. We tasted Somek's newly released Adom blend which is his youngest wine, only oaked for 12 months, not yet ready, but it will be very tasty. We also tasted his Chardonnay 2008, Cargnan 2005, Birkat HaNadiv 2005 and Port-style wine.
 Our last winery was Amphorae winery, where we saw the high-quality and crisp equipment and went into the very chilly wine cellar. We tasted their Merlot-Barbara Unica, which was a favorite among the group.
By the end of the day…David and Joni want to come back to Israel for more and Jay and Shelly found some new wines to buy in Brookline.
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