As Israel’s wineries have grown in number from dozens to hundreds over the last twenty years, slowly but surely the culture of wine drinking in Israel is also evolving. Restaurants are expanding their wine lists and offering better wines by the glass, more wineries are opening up visitor’s centers and better wines are making their way to the table for Shabbat meals. Still, with several hundred different Israeli wines to choose from, it can be daunting to find which wine might be best suited to your taste, budget or special occasion. However, the ongoing proliferation of wine festivals in Israel is an encouraging development for the curious consumer or aspiring connoisseur.

A wide diversity of wine festivities exists in Israel, each with its own special flair. For instance, there are city festivals held yearly in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Be’er Sheva and Haifa. There are appellation festivals featuring wines from vineyards from particular growing regions such as the Judean Hills and the Galilee. Trade events, usually in Tel Aviv, are geared to introducing new wines from wineries, distributors and importers to restaurants, bars, wine shops and journalists. A few festivals that just focus on specific styles of wine are also becoming more popular. 

City festivals are typically annual events featuring two to three dozen wineries that offer a few wines each.  Visitors can choose from over a hundred wines to sample over two to three consecutive nights (necessary if you’re determined to try to sample all of the wines presented).  These affairs are a much more economical and festive method of trying wines than visiting dozens of individual wineries scattered from the Golan Heights to the Negev.

Possibly the most popular city festival is the Jerusalem Wine Festival held every July or August in the Sculpture Gardens of the Israel Museum, just steps away from the Shrine of the Book. In 2009, for  NIS60, attendees had over 35 wineries to sample wines from in a casual chic backdrop accompanied by a live jazz trio.  Each winery manned its own station and quite often the winemaker was on hand to greet, meet and educate any of the tens of thousands who attended what’s become a highly anticipated three-night tradition. For NIS60, a five-hour evening of all you can drink revelry is a wise investment.

Appellation events feature wines from a particular area of Israel and are an interesting avenue of exploration for the wine consumer curious about how the microclimate and soils of each Israeli wine region may be better suited for different wines. As regions such as the Golan Heights, the Galilee and the Judean Hills establish a reputation for superior wines it seems fitting that they have region specific events that help build the region’s brand. Although these events are less frequently attended by wineries and guests, the average quality of the wine offered might be more rewarding for those who value quality over quantity.

On the other hand, professional events geared to attracting those in the trade can be the most hospitable and most edifying if you can find a way to get on the invitation list.  Every fall, after the holidays, Tel Aviv hosts Israel’s largest wine trade show as the Sommelier 2009 demonstrated. Thousands of wines are presented not only by Israeli wineries but also by most of Israel’s major importers. As the city festivals drum up grassroots support for  strictly Israeli wines, these trade events attempt to wheel and deal new distribution opportunities for the estimated 5,000 domestic and imported wines available in Israel. Not promoted to the public, admission was available for NIS100 though it was free to those invited. Several hospitality stations were set up by wineries for VIPs and many also kept handy barrel tastings of unreleased premium wines to make an impression not offered at public alternatives.

Two unique festivities have emerged that celebrate different styles of wine. In the summer of 2009, Herzliya established what organizers expect to be an annual celebration of over 100 white, rose and sparkling wines. On a hot summer night with each wine sitting in a spot drilled into blocks of ice it was as visually stimulating as it was to the palate.  Three Israeli wineries release Beaujolais Nouveau style wines the third Thursday in November to celebrate the first released wines made from that year’s harvest. The Tishbi winery hosts a party that attracts about 600 guests, and for NIS150 it’s an all you can eat and drink celebration, and you even get a bottle of wine to take home.

Last but not least, it’s worth noting here that February 7 - 11 2010, we can all look forward to Israel’s largest wine event, the Israwinexpo, that will be held in Tel Aviv. It’s so large that it’s only held every two years. I’ve yet to attend but from all the good reviews I’ve heard, if you attend you’ve got a good chance to see me there with a glass of wine and a smile.