✨ A mellow Merlot with an Old World soul—perfect for everyday enjoyment or your next Shabbat Dinner.
Color: Reddish-purple
Aroma: Ripe berries with a hint of oak and spice
Flavor: Plum, black cherry, raspberry, and a touch of caramel
Body: Medium
Finish: Smooth, fresh, and well-balanced
About the Wine
Easy to drink and full of character, this Merlot bursts with flavors of ripe berries and plum, rounded out by subtle notes of caramel and smoke from its five months in French and American oak barrels. The tannins are soft, creating a mellow, approachable wine without any bitter edge. It’s no wonder many wine lovers refer to Merlot as the “Mellow Merlot”—this bottle fits the description perfectly.
A classic “Old World” varietal, Merlot originated in Bordeaux, France, and is now cultivated across the globe. It shines both as a single varietal, like this expression from Teperberg, and as a blending partner with Bordeaux natives such as Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Thanks to its medium body and balanced profile, this Merlot is wonderfully versatile at the table. It pairs beautifully with grilled steak or chicken, and is equally at home alongside spaghetti or pizza. One of our favorite pairings? A rich, tender brisket—especially Celebrity Chef Jamie Geller’s Ultimate Beef Brisket (watch her recipe video for inspiration).
About the Winery
Teperberg is one of Israel’s oldest wineries, founded in 1870 in Jerusalem’s Old City by Avraham Teperberg and his son under the name Efrat. Now based in the Judean Hills, the winery remains family-owned and operated five generations later.
Although the winery is near Kibbutz Tzora (outside Jerusalem), its vineyards are spread across Israel—from the Golan to the Negev—allowing each varietal to thrive in its ideal terroir.
Today, Motti Teperberg, great-great-grandson of the founder, leads the winery. His “Vision” carries forward the same philosophy as his ancestors: honoring traditional winemaking while embracing modern innovation to produce quality wines.
About the Winemakers
Since 2002, Teperberg’s head winemaker has been Shiki Rauchberger, who studied agriculture and winemaking at Hebrew University and later at UC Davis in California. His global experience includes working at wineries in Australia and Chile, as well as serving as Head Winemaker at Carmel before joining Teperberg.
Shiki is supported by Daniel Friedenberg, an American-born winemaker who moved to Israel in 2012. After studying biology, Daniel pursued graduate studies in agriculture and earned a master’s degree in winemaking at Cornell. He has been part of the Teperberg team for nearly a decade.
Other key members of the winemaking team include Zvi Skeist, a veteran of over 30 years at leading Israeli wineries, and Avi Waiss, a rising new talent in the field.
Where to Find
This Merlot is not only delicious—it’s also a steal. We spotted the Teperberg Vision Merlot 2023 at Wegmans in Moorestown, NJ, for just over $7. It’s also available online at Kosherwine.com. (Purchasing through this link helps support the mission of Israel Wine Girl.)
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