Month: January 2026

The Negev Wine Club was founded in 2020. Its purpose is to market the Negev as a fascinating wine region, promote tourism and to give wineries a framework for development. At the outset there were just over twenty wineries or vineyards that signed up for the idea, but nothing creates interest like success. Now there are nearer fifty, as small wineries and farmers, as if coming out of the woodwork, became eager to join in. They have support from the very impressive Merage Foundation and professional guidance from wine educator / wine tourism expert, Guy Haran.  The wineries exhibit together, host joint tastings, participate in symposiums and undertake study tours overseas. Everyone is primed to talk up the main brand, which is Negev Desert Wines. It is all about selling your wine through marketing the growing region. It is well organized and offers a successful blueprint for other wine regions to follow. 

In 1976 I made my first steps in the drinks industry joining British brewer Bass Charrington in London as a business management trainee. Fifty years ago! Forgive me for indulging myself, but a fifty year anniversary is pretty rare. Now, when I look back at wine development here in Israel and I see that 1976 was a pivotal year. It was the year that showed the first twinge in the wine revolution that followed.