Eshkol Ha’Zahav, Israel’s premier wine competition was held for the 22nd year. Eshkol Ha’Zahav means The Golden Cluster.This year, 266 wines were registered for the competition. The wines were tasted by a forum of judges comprising 24 winemakers, sommeliers and wine professionals. The competition’s chairpersons were Mr. Haim Spiegel and Adv. Nachman Cohen Tzedek. The competition is organized each year by Studio Ben Ami, owned by famous sommelier Avi Ben Ami. He also organizes the Best Value Competition and the annual Sommelier Trade Show.
This year the big winners were Carmel Winery and Barkan Winery. These are Israel’s two largest wineries. What was particularly noticeable however, was the success of the older, more historic wineries of Israel. 1848 Winery and Hayotzer, both owned by the Shor family which have been making wine since 1848, each won two Gold Medals. Teperberg Winery founded in 1870 won two Gold Medals. Carmel founded in 1882 was awarded four Golds. Binyamina Winery founded in 1952 won three; Jerusalem Vineyard Winery, founded in 1955 won one. So, no less than 14 of the first place Gold Medals were awarded to Israel’s heritage wineries.
A popular award was to Munitz Winery. They won a Gold Medal for their Shikma 2022. The two owning brothers immediately volunteered on October 7th, on the outbreak of war. There was no-one to run their small winery which was closed for the many months they served. It is a fitting and deserved reward that they have been honored in this way for the quality of their wines.
The winners were as follows:
Sauvignon Blanc
1. SHILOH, Sauvignon Blanc 2023
2. BAZAK, Sauvignon Blanc, Genesis 2023
3. TEPERBERG, Sauvignon Blanc, Inspire Art 2023
Chardonnay – up to 90 NIS
1. 1848 WINERY, Chardonnay, 2 Generation 2023
2. JERUSALEM, Chardonnay Reserve, The Windmill Project 2022
3. TEPERBERG, Chardonnay, Essence 2022
Chardonnay – Above 90 NIS
1. TANYA, Chardonnay 2020
2. KADMA, Chardonnay 2023
2. BINYAMINA, Chardonnay, Onyx 2021
3. BINYAMINA, Chardonnay, Sheba 2023
Chenin Blanc
1. BINYAMINA, Chenin Blanc, Sheba 2023
2. TABOR, Chenin Blanc, Mitzpe Ramon Vineyard 2023
3. THE NORTH LAKE, Chenin Blanc 2021
Aromatic Grape Varieties
1. CARMEL, Riesling, Single Vineyards – Har Avital 2022
2. TEPERBERG, Pinot Gris, Essence 2023
3. BARKAN, Riesling TDN, Beta 2019
White Grape Varieties
1. CARMEL, Verdelho, Xperiment 2022
2. MIDBAR, Viognier 2023
3. TEPERBERG, Dabouki, Inspire Art 2023
White Blends – up to 80 NIS
1. CARMEL, Mediterranean 2 Vats 2023
2. MONY, Nahal, Shesek White 2023
3. CARMEL, Vineyards, Volcanic White 2022
White Blends – Above 80 NIS
1. 1848 WINERY, Orient White, 5 Generation 2023
2. BAZAK, Fragrance Hill, Glory 2023
3. TABOR, ECO White 2021
3. BEN AMI, Roussanne – Chardonnay, Havar 2023
Rose – up to 80 NIS
1. TABOR, Rose, Barbera, Adama 2023
2. CARMEL, Appellation, Rose Modi’in 2023
3. BARKAN, Blush 2023
Rose – Above 80 NIS
1. MIDBAR, Rose Pinot Noir 2023
2. BAZAK, Rosevik, Genesis 2023
2. SHILOH, Rose 2023
3. BEN AMI, Sangiovese Rose, Hazur Valley 2023
Red Wines
Blends – up to 80 NIS
1. BARKAN, Rihan, Assemblage 2022
2. BARKAN, Eitan, Assemblage 2022
3. CARMEL, Shani, Vineyards 2021
3. TEPERBERG, Cabernet – Merlot – p.Verdot – c.Franc, Inspire 2021
Blends – NIS 80-110
1. BINYAMINA, Sapphire 2021
2. CHATEAU REMO, Hosen Blend 2019
3. BINYAMINA, Diamond 2021
Blends – NIS 110-150
1. MUNITZ, Shikma 2022
2. MONY, Samson 2019
3. Munitz, Arava 2020
Blends – Above NIS 150
1. NETOFA, Matzpen Toursyr 2021
2. TURA, Mountain Peak 2020
2. CARMEL, Limited Edition 2021
3. CARMEL, Mediterranean 2021
Winners up to 90 NIS
Cabernet Sauvignon – Up to 100 NIS
1. JERUSALEM, Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve, The Windmill Project 2020
1. BARKAN, Cabernet Sauvignon, Platinum 2021
1. BARKAN, Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Reserve 2021
2. MONY, Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Reserve 2021
2. SHILOH, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shor 2022
Cabernet Sauvignon – 100-140 NIS
1. TABOR, Cabernet Sauvignon, Judaica Vineyard 2019
2. BARKAN, Cabernet Sauvignon, Altitude 624 2021
2. BARKAN, Cabernet Sauvignon, Altitude 720 2021
3. BINYAMINA, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sheba 2022
Cabernet Sauvignon – Above 140 NIS
1. CHATEAU REMO, Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve 2019
1. BARKAN, Cabernet Sauvignon, Superieur 2020
2. MUNITZ, M-Parliament 2020
2. SHILOH, Cabernet Sauvignon, Secret Reserve 2021
Merlot – up to 90 NIS
1. HAYOTZER, Merlot, Legato 2022
2. SHILOH, Merlot, Shor 2022
3. BARKAN, Merlot, Special Reserve 2021
Merlot – Above 90 NIS
1. BINYAMINA, Merlot, Sheba 2022
2. TURA, Merlot, Mountain Heights 2021
3. CARMEL, Merlot, Evyatar Creek, Single Vineyards 2019
Syrah – up to 100 NIS
1. SHILOH, Syrah, Shor 2022
2. TELEM, Red 2022
3. HAYOTZER, Syrah, Lyrica 2020
3. BINYAMINA, Ruby 2020
Syrah – Above 100 NIS
1. HAYOTZER, Syrah, Auteur 2020
2. BAZAK, Syrah, Glory 2021
2. CARMEL, Syrah, Single Vineyards – Ein Zitim 2019
2. BINYAMINA, Syrah, Sheba 2022
Cabernet Franc
1. TEPERBERG, Cabernet Franc, Legacy 2019
2. 1848, Cabernet Franc, 5 Generation 2021
3. SHILOH, Cabernet Franc, Secret Reserve 2021
Marselan
1. GALAI, Marselan 2020
2. BINYAMINA, Marselan, Sheba 2022
3. MONY, Marselan, Estate Reserve 2022
Petit Verdot
1. MONY, Petit Verdot 2022
1. GASCON, Petit Verdot 2022
2. MONY, Petit Verdot 2023
3. TEPERBERG, Petit Verdot, Legacy 2020
Petite Sirah
1. TEPERBERG, Petite Sirah, Legacy 2020
2. MUNITZ, Tamara 2021
3. JERUSALEM, Petite Sirah, Single Vineyard, The Windmill Project 2020
Red Grape Varieties
1. SHILOH, Barbera, Shor 2022
1. CARMEL, Carignan, Single Vineyards – Nahal Taninim 2021
2. MIDBAR, Pinot Noir 2022
2. MONY, Malbec, Estate Reserve 2022
2. BARKAN, Argaman, Beta 2022
Archive wines (2012-2016)
1. TABOR, Malkiah 2014
2. RECANATI, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lebanon Vineyard, Reserve 2016
3. MONY, Via 2014
3. MONY, Grand Via 2016
Small Boutique Winery
1. BERENICE, Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
2. KADMA, Gran Reserve 2018
3. CARMEI MEVORACH, Shiraz 2022
