Golan Heights “Yarden Chardonnay 2022”

This Shabbat, to honor the memory of the 12 children killed by a Hezbollah rocket attack in the Village of Majdahl Shams, located in the Golan Heights, we are featuring a wine from the Golan Heights Winery.

“Yarden Chardonnay 2022”, is a delicious wine that can be enjoyed young, like the 12 children playing soccer, or can be aged for 5-7 years from harvest. The wine was produced by esteemed winemaker, Victor Schoenfeld, with grapes from the Northern Galilee, considered one of the best appellations in the country. The vineyards sit on volcanic soil at a height of 1,200 feet above sea level, which is optimal for growing high quality Chardonnay. After fermentation, it was aged on the lees (dead yeast cells), in French oak for 7 months; creating a delicious full bodied wine. 

The 2022 Yarden Chardonnay has the aroma of ripe lemon, fresh pear, melon, and just a bit of floral. On the palette, it tastes fresh, has moderate acidity, feels creamy in your mouth, and offers a hint of vanilla. 

If you are looking for what to serve with it, try Celebrity Chef Jamie Geller’s Grilled Salmon and Veggie Bundles. Perfect for these hot summer nights, and can be made with fresh veggies from your local farm or market.

The Golan Heights Winery is located just a 40 minute drive from the Majdahl Shams community, so many are employed by the winery. We understand some of these employees have family and friends wounded in this tragedy. Our prayers are with them for a speedy recovery..

We know the days since Oct. 7th have been especially dangerous for those living in the South of Israel, near Gaza, but they have been equally as dangerous in the North, with the rocket fire coming from Lebanon. This northern part of Israel is where some of the best wines are made. To continue growing grapes and making wine in these conditions is a credit to the human spirit of endurance and demonstrates true courage. It also shows a true love of the wines. 

This Shabbat, let’s support our friends at the Golan Heights Winery by putting their Chardonnay on your table. I was lucky enough to find it on sale at my local Bottle King for $19.99.  It has been spotted at Total Wines, and online at Kosher Wine Direct.