Domaine du Castel

“To make this Shabbat a Delight”, consider putting a bottle of the La Vie Rouge, from the winery Domaine du Castel, on your table. Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot, the wine is juicy and well balanced. After fermentation it was aged for one year in concrete tanks (to maintain fruitiness) and is best enjoyed within 1-3 years of harvest. On the nose there is an essence of blackberries, raspberries, and black cherries, and on the palate it reveals soft tannins with a tad bit of acidity. This wine pairs well with Pastel, a meat pie popular in the Sephardic community.

Domaine du Castel is a Winery rich in history. Its owner and winemaker, Eli Ben-Zaken was born in Egypt, raised in Europe, and moved to Israel as an adult. He served in the 1973 Yom Kippur war and then opened a restaurant. It was through the restaurant that he learned about wines and began growing grapes; which he did in the backyard of his home in the Judean Hills. In 1992, he produced his first harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and called the wine Castel Gran Vin (Jerusalem Haute), to honor the French method of labeling wine by appellation. The name “Castel ” was to honor the fort at the peak of the Judean Hills used during the War of Independence in 1948. 

While his first vintage was just a few hundred bottles, today the Domaine du Castel produces about 100,000 bottles. Eli is still the head of the operation, but his children have joined him and are integral to the business. Consistently producing award winning wines, they are considered one of the top wineries in Israel. Over the years both Robert Parker and James Suckling, the most influential American critics, have rated their wines from 90-94 points.

Although these past 3 months have been a challenge, Domaine du Castel continues to persevere in providing us with excellent wines. They were able to finish the harvest shortly after Oct. 7th, but did have to close their visitor center for almost 2 months. They have lost staff serving in the military, including two of their vignerons. Despite the hardships, they have been trying to use their winery to support the community by planning special events and raising funds to support Kibbutz Be’eri. They have a special connection to the kibbutz having served their fine cheeses in the visitor center for many years. They want us to know they are donating 10% of their income to the recovery of the kibbutz.

This first Shabbat of the year 2024, let’s show our support to Domaine du Castel Winery by putting a bottle of the La Vie Rouge ( or their other wines) on your table. By purchasing their wines, you will also be helping them to help others. 

I made my purchase at the Wegmans in Cherry Hill. My brother in LA is headed to the Total Wine in Woodland Hills to pick up his. 

The easiest way to get wines from Domaine du Castel: Kosher Wine Warehouse, free Shipping with a purchase of $99.Use the code ISRAELWINEGIRL for 10% off your entire purchase.

Make this Shabbat a Delight, Drink Blue and White