This week’s featured wine is the Barkan Classic Chardonnay 2024.
- Color: Pale straw
- Aroma: Citrus, white flowers
- Taste: Fruity with notes of pear, apple, and peach; refreshing acidity with a smooth finish
- Body: Medium bodied
- Aging: Primarily stainless steel with some neutral oak
About the Wine
Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world. This Chardonnay, part of Barkan’s Classic Series, is made from grapes grown in both the Upper Galilee and the Jerusalem Mountains.
The Upper Galilee vineyards are known for their cold winters, which allow the vines to rest and rejuvenate. The region’s terra rossa soil retains water well—an essential quality for healthy vine growth. Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Mountains offer limestone-rich soil, prized for producing exceptional wines. Limestone not only retains water but also drains efficiently, contributing to a wine’s natural acidity and minerality. In this Chardonnay, it enhances both freshness and structure.
Adding to that freshness is the wine’s aging process. Fermentation and maturation in mostly stainless steel tanks help preserve the grape’s natural flavors. Unlike oak barrels, stainless steel is non-porous and doesn’t impart flavors or aromas, resulting in a clean, crisp, fruit-forward Chardonnay.
About the Winery
Barkan Winery began in the early 1990s, named after its original location at the Barkan Industrial Center. The site was previously home to a bankrupt spirits company, which was purchased by two of its employees, Shmuel Boxer and Yair Lerner, who transformed it into a winery.
In 2001, Barkan acquired Segal Winery, and in 2005, it was purchased by Tempo Beverage—the largest producer and distributor of beverages in Israel.
Today, Barkan Winery is located in central Israel at Kibbutz Hulda, a scenic area often compared to Tuscany. The winery produces approximately 15 million bottles annually, with 25% exported to over 45 countries.
About the Winemaker
Olivier Fratty became the Head Winemaker of Barkan Winery in 2024, succeeding Ido Lewinsohn. He studied winemaking in France and spent the past 18 years at Teperberg Winery before joining Barkan.
We picked up our bottle of Barkan Classic Chardonnay 2024 at Bottle King in East Windsor, NJ, on sale for just $8.99. As the #1 producer of Israeli wines, Barkan can be found in wine shops—large and small—just about everywhere.
Israel Wine Girl 
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