NETTO WINE

Did you know what "netto wine" is?

“Netto wine” is a wine in which minimal, controlled, conscious and transparent use is made of as small a number of materials, additives and processes as possible during the wine production (NOTE: such additives and materials are permitted according to the Israeli Wine Standard 1318).

This convention, which began at the initiative of Rami Naaman (winemaker of Naaman Winery in Ramot Naftali, Upper Galilee), now unites 12 wineries (and aspires to harness more and more wineries and winegrowers), while the whole idea is on a voluntary basis with one goal - to encourage clean wine from all additives and intervention.

List of wineries, all boutiques, currently participating under the "Netto Wine" project (alphabetic ordered):

1. Argov Winery - Aviel settlement*, Alona Valley, Ha’Sharon (3,000 bottles, founded 2002)

2. Ben Zimra Winery - Kerem Ben Zimra settlement, Upper Galilee, near Zefat (25,000 b, founded 2003, Kosher)

3. Dukhta Winery - Gan Yavne settlement, Judean Coastal Plain, near Ashdod (6,000 b, founded 2014)

4. Gros Winery - Nehalim, Heffer Valley (Ha’Sharon) (5,000 b, founded 1995, Kosher)

5. Hans Sternbach Vineyard - Givat Yeshayahu settlement, Ha’Ella Valley (Judean Hills) (15,000b, founded 1996)

6. Lotem Winery - Lotem settlement, Lower Galilee, near Karmiel (40,000 b, founded 2000)

7. Miles Winery - Kerem Ben Zimra settlement, Upper Galilee, near Zefat (4,000 b, founded 2001)

8. Naaman Winery - Ramot Naftalie settlement, Upper Galilee (10,000 b, founded 2004)

9. Sea Horse Winery - Bar Gyora settlement, Jerusalem and Judean mountains, near Bet-Shemesh (25,000 b, founded 2000)

10. Smadar Winery - Zikhron Ya'akov, Carmel Mountains (6,000 b)

11. Stern Winery - Tuval kibbutz, Upper Galilee (30,000 b, founded 2004, Kosher)

12. Yiftahwel Winery - Alon Ha’Galil, Emek Yizrael (10,000 b, founded 1999)

* Settlement - "moshav" (Hebrew: מוֹשָׁב‎) is a type of Israeli town, lit or village (yet not a kibbutz), in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second wave of aliyah.

So here you get another idea for a unique wine route that I would split into three routes span over three geographical areas - Upper and Lower Galilee, the Carmel and Ha’Sharon area, the Jerusalem and Judea area. Start to discover and share your experience, and don’t forget to ask for the NETTO Wine badge.

Email Ron Monsonego at israelwineries@gmail.com or join the "Wines and Wineries in Israel" LinkedIn group.