It’s due to the warm sun that ripens grapes and cool fog and breezes coming off the Pacific that moderate the sun’s heat, the combination of which leads to elegant, restrained wines. Home to the rugged beach in Big Sur, the luxe beach community of Carmel and the world-class golf courses of Pebble Beach, it’s also where you’ll find some well-made pinot noir and chardonnay. GuildSomm, an educational resource for sommeliers and enthusiasts, takes it one step further with a video about wineries in Israel as well as Lebanon and Cyprus.Īn hour south of Silicon Valley lies one of the most breathtaking spots in the entire Golden State. Start with videos on Wines of Israel’s YouTube channel that give an overview of the country’s wine history and explore specific regions, the diverse varietals and more, including footage from vineyards and interviews with winemakers and researchers. Today, there are five main wine regions in the country, including Galil, with a high elevation, cool breezes, nutrient-rich well-drained soils and diurnal temperature swings that make it well-suited for producing cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot and sauvignon blanc. Wine has been produced here for thousands of years, but it wasn’t the late 19th century that the industry started to flourish due to the influence of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, whose family owns the prestigious Bordeaux house Château Lafite Rothschild. It’s unexpected, to be sure, but Israel has become one of the most exciting wine regions to watch.

Guild somm australian wine maps