This week’s featured wine is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (85%)and Semillon (15%) from one of Israel’s northern most wineries, the Pelter Family’s MATAR Winery.
The Pelter’s have been in the wine business since the early 2000’s, starting with a production of just a few thousand bottles. Today, they run two wineries side by side; Pelter (the non-kosher line) and Matar (the kosher line), with each producing about 100,000 bottles
Sauvignon blanc, one of my favorite wines, is a dry white wine loved for its herbal flavors and high acidity. It originated in the Loire Valley in France, but today is grown world wide. One of the regions best known for producing delicious Sauvignon Blanc is New Zealand. It has done very well there as a result of their well draining soil, long sunny days, and cool evenings. Does this sound familiar??? Exactly, it sounds like Northern ISRAEL! It sounds like the Golan Heights, which is where Matar Winery is located and where this wine is produced.
The Golan Heights is the area that revolutionized the Israel industry. It is located in the Northeastern part of the country overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and in the shadow is the beautiful Mount Hermon. Only about 40 miles long, and 13 miles wide, the area is covered with vineyards. Its elevation rises to just over 7,000 feet, which combined with the rich soil, large temperature range, and intense sunlight, allow grapes to mature and ripen slowly. This growth pattern produces grapes rich in flavors and quality, then producing excellent wines.
These past months have been a struggle for our friends at Pelter/Matar. Their staff has been reduced due to those serving in the military, and those working often had to evacuate for safety. Despite this, Gal Yaniv, Pelter’s CEO, remains optimistic and signs all correspondence “Praying for Better Days Soon”. We here at Israel Wine Girl, join Gal in praying that better days are on the way.
Make this coming Shabbat a Delight by enjoying the Matar Sauvigion Blanc/Semillon 2023. Matar Wines are available at Total Wines and online at Kosher Wine Warehouse, free Shipping with a purchase of $150. Use the code ISRAELWINEGIRL for 10% off your entire purchase.
Israel Wine Girl 
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