Dalton Alma Red

To make this Shabbat a Delight, consider putting a bottle of Dalton Winery’s Alma Red on your table. This is a Rhone-style red blend made from 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache,  and 10% Carignan. Each varietal was aged separately for a year before being blended and aged in concrete tanks. On the nose it’s fruity with a bit of spice, and on the palette it has a nice berry flavor with a licorice finish. Overall, the wine is rich and has good body. With a rating of 92 (Excellent) from Wine Enthusiast, this wine would be an excellent accompaniment to a brisket dinner.

Located in the Galilee, Dalton Winery was started in 1995 by the father and son team Mat and Alex Haruni. Moving to Israel from England, they were the first to create a commercial winery in the Galilee Region. At the time, they were pioneers as there was not much wine production going on in the area, but they believed in its potential. They hired a consultant to help them get started and began with a production of 20,000 bottles. Today they produce close to a million and distribute throughout Europe, USA, and Brazil.  

Right now, our friends at Dalton Winery are really hurting. They are located in the Galilee, Israel’s Northern region, just a little over a half hours drive from the Lebanese border. Since Oct. 7th, they have been victims of steady rocket fire from Hezbollah who are  trying to destroy as many homes and villages as possible. Not a week goes by without sirens sounding and everyone taking cover. Many of the winery’s workers have small children and can’t take chances. They’ve evacuated and are living in hotels, hopefully in safer spots, but feeling like refugees in their own country. 

About 10% of Dalton’s vineyards have been deemed totally inaccessible due to their proximity to the border fence, anyone entering becomes an immediate target of enemy fire. Their vineyard in Elkosh has suffered a direct hit, totally destroying their Sauvignon Blanc. The visitor center has been closed since Oct. 7th, due to safety concerns. Wine educators like myself, if not serving in the IDF, have been furloughed.

Despite these hardships, our friends at Dalton are dedicated to helping their country in every way possible. Their staff are cooking meals for the army units stationed along the border, they are helping their friends at Avivim whose winery was demolished by rockets, and they are active in organizing wine events in safe areas so  communities can come together to enjoy some normalcy. 

The Haruni Family originated in Iran before moving to England and then Israel. They are no strangers to the terror inflicted on people by Iran’s authoritarian government and their hatred of Jews. They specifically moved to the Galilee 30 years ago to make wine and be part of the regentrification of the region. We are thankful for all their hard work. 

Grapes will continue to grow in the Galilee, and our friends at Dalton will continue to make delicious wines. Let’s remember them this Shabbat and at our Passover Seders by putting their wines on your table. I ordered online with Kosher Wine Warehouse, Free Shipping with a purchase of $99. Use the code ISRAELWINEGIRL for 10% off your entire purchase.