Har Bracha JOZEF

“To make this Shabbat a Delight”, consider a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Har Bracha Winery. With a composition of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, and aged for 10 months in French oak, it is rich in the flavors of blueberry and cherry, and a smooth sweetness on the finish. 

The Har Bracha winery is located in the Samarian area on Mt. Gerizim, which is 870 m above sea level and considered one of the highest peaks in Israel. They experience a typical Mediterranean climate with hot days and cool nights. In biblical times this area was home to the tribe of Joseph (thus the name of the wine)  and in modern times, up until 1982, it was an army outpost. Today it is a community of about 300 families, most are traditional Jews. The Lavie family opened the winery to make wine in 2007. Previous to that they were growing grapes to sell  to other wineries. 

Producing wine in this area is a passion for the Lavie family. They love the land and believe in the hard work it takes to produce quality wines. Theirs is a “family affair”, with Nir Lavie as winemaker and his wife and children active in caring for the vines.

The date of Oct. 7th , will forever be ingrained in the memory of this  family. They learned of the events while at holiday services. Nir’s son Oz, who had just finished service as an IDF Paratrooper, was called to the reserves and headed to the North, while his son-in-law, Yitzhak, headed West. Shira, Nir’s wife, began cooking for the National Guard soldiers that came to protect their area, and everyone else went to work taking care of the vines. 

When the war started, Har Bracha still had 1/3 of their grapes in need of picking. With workers leaving to defend the country, they relied on the community’s help. Family, friends, children, local Yeshiva boys all jumped in to finish the harvest, which is done by hand. They poured everything they had into it, and with a little luck, they will reap the benefit with a 90,000 bottle yield.

The war continues, but the spirit of the Lavie Family at Har Bracha will not be defeated. This month of February, Nir will be traveling to America, to share his experience. Join him at Kosher Wine Warehouse’s Meet and Greet on February 29th. 

This Shabbat, let’s support Nir and his family by putting a bottle of the Har Bracha Cabernet Sauvignon on your table. I picked up mine through 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