Galia

Jody Nestel

December 1, 2025

Galia Grenache Blanc 2023 for Zahav

Produced & bottled by Vitkin Winery

🍋 Tasting Notes

Color: lemon yellow
Aroma: green apple, pear, citrus, hint of herbs
Taste: white fruits, herbs, minerals, bright acidity
Body: medium-bodied, dry
Finish: crisp, clean, rich

🍇 About the Wine

Grenache Blanc is a full-bodied Mediterranean white that originally hails from Spain before gaining fame in France’s Rhône Valley. Thanks to Israel’s similar climate, it thrives beautifully in the Galilee.

Galia—meaning wave—is a proprietary blend created exclusively for the award-winning restaurant Zahav in Philadelphia. This Grenache Blanc is kosher and was produced by the Vitkin Winery in Israel. It’s made from:

90% Grenache Blanc
10% Macabeo

All grapes are grown in Upper Galilee vineyards at 700 meters elevation, rooted in limestone and terra rossa soils, which provide freshness and minerality.

After fermentation, the wine aged 6 months in used oak barrels on the lees, giving it a subtle creaminess that balances its acidity.

Perfect Pairings:

✔️ grilled fish
✔️ garlic chicken
✔️ spiced lamb
✔️ Moroccan dishes

🍽 About Zahav

Founded in 2008 by Chef Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook, Zahav Restaurant introduced modern Israeli cuisine and hospitality to Philadelphia long before it became widely known in the U.S.

Chef Michael Solomonov

4-time cookbook author
5 James Beard Awards, including:
- Book of the Year (2016) — Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking
- Outstanding Chef (2017)

Steve Cook

Co-founder of CookNSolo
Graduate of Wharton & the International Culinary Center
Rumored to be an even better cook than his partner 😉

In 2022, Zahav beverage director Steve McAllister traveled to Israel to seek a partner winery for a proprietary blend. He found the perfect match in Assaf Paz of Vitkin, known for championing Mediterranean varietals.

🏺 About Vitkin Winery

Founded in 2001 by Doron Belogolovsky, Assaf Paz, and Sharona Paz, Vitkin Winery set out to create authentic Mediterranean-style Israeli wines. They became early champions of varieties like Carignan, Colombard, and Petite Sirah.

In 2015, the winery moved to its home in the Hefer Valley, featuring a visitor center, designed by Sharona, and a warm, farm-to-table tasting experience.

Winemaker Assaf Paz:

First Israeli to graduate from Bordeaux’s oenology program
Worked in France, Australia, and California
Now considered one of Israel’s most accomplished winemakers

🛒 Where to Find It

Galia Grenache Blanc
👉 Available online at galiawine.com

Vitkin Grenache Blanc 2024
👉 Available online at kosherwine.com
👉 Also carried in select wine shops nationwide