By: Rachel Montefiore
20 years ago - white wine in Israel - was hardly considered wine. Most wine consumption was red wines and anyone who asked for a glass of white wine in Israel was considered the least sophisticated.
Today things have turned upside down in a big way!
The hot summer is upon us, some would say it's already here in full swing, and we enjoy seeing ice-filled panettone stands proudly among the tables, with chilled white wine oozing from within.
Every year in preparation for Shavuot, white and rosé wines take center stage.
But what about a little red? Which is actually a little like white? The best of both worlds.
Beyond White and Rosé: Surprising Wine Options for Shavuot
In this wonderful niche there are red wines that are fresh, stimulating, but also a little cheeky;
There are several parameters that will lead to the right path: the grape variety, the climate and soil (terroir), and the method of production.
Grape variety like Pinot Noir, a variety that loves a colder climate, a spoiled variety with a thin and delicate skin, which makes it more susceptible to disease and rot. However, when harvested at the right time, it can produce a wine with a low alcohol content, wonderful juiciness of red fruits, a mesmerizing clarity, one that you want to jump headfirst into, and uncompromising acidity. The use of oak barrels is only as a "secondary seasoning" in order not to mask the character and freshness of the wine. We chose to use larger wooden barrels or used barrels. There is also the option of forgoing the use of barrels altogether. There is an "aged" stigma that wine that has been aged in wooden barrels is of higher quality. This statement is light years away from the truth. The right question before buying or opening a bottle of wine should be:
"What wine do I feel like drinking today?"
Another red grape variety, a little more kicky is GrenacheA variety that produces wines with a bright red color, typical fruit aromas of the Grenache variety are: sour cherry, strawberry and spicy florality.
This is a variety that displays everything you love about your favorite red wine; depth, power, and boldness. And on the other hand, or rather, in complete harmony, there is freshness and a pleasant lightness. Grenache They are the kind of wines that will make you finish the bottle too quickly and you will be surprised: "What's over already!?".
Of course we have great white wines that have a rich and deep flavor profile that doesn't compromise on the fresh and robust backbone. Say, a white wine that's a little red? Look for wines made from varietals like Chenin Blanc, Viognier and even Dry Riesling And in this case, it's actually recommended that they have some quality time with a wooden barrel.
White Carignan: The exclusive innovation of Vitkin Winery
What about the option of drinking white wine from red grapes? For years, winemakers have been making wonderful white wines from red grapes. It begins in the production process at the winery, when the grapes reach the crusher, which very gently crushes the grapes and only causes the skin to break. This action causes the grape juice to flow. The time the grape is soaked with the skin is what will define the intensity of the wine's color. In other words, if the winemaker immediately separates the clear must from the skin, the color of the liquid will not be affected by the color of the skin. This is how, friends, white wine is born from red grapes.
We at the winery are excited to bring to the world a one-of-a-kind wine in Israel. White Carignan. The result is extraordinary, a dry white wine from black Carignan grapes that gives a new and wonderful expression to this wonderful variety:
Fresh with great sharpness, with a pure expression of citrus and white fruits, floral and aromatic character. When it gets a little aeration and warms in the glass it will reveal a deeper character with great texture.
So alongside the Israeli cheese, vegan cheese, pie or rich cheesecake, we recommend drinking a wide variety of wines:
A white that is white, or a delicate and fresh red like white, a white from red Blanc de noir or maybe even a pink that is a little bit of everything.
Cheers!
