Even though it has been making wine for nearly 5 millenia, Israel is a wine region still finding its way in modern times. Josh Greenstein, Director of the Israeli Wine Producers Association (“IWPA”), is on a mission to promote “Brand Israel,” which is all about new discoveries. From winemaker stories to creating new grape varieties to mimic the descriptions in The Bible, Israel is making its mark on the global wine scene.

Detailed Show Notes:

Josh’s background: 5th generation in the wine business, including NY liquor stores and distribution

Israeli Wine Producers Association overview

~40 wineries (of 450 total) are members
Mission is to promote “Brand Israel”
Founded by the Herzog family, of importer Royal Wine Corp
Funded by the wineries and Royal Wine Corp

Israeli wine overview

Making wine for ~5,000 years
Wines were exported to the Romans
Growing Israeli food scene has helped
Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, many others including ancient grapes and new grapes, e.g. - Argaman, a genetically engineered crossing of Carignan and Souzao, designed to have a “crimson” color as referenced in The Bible
Climate: lots of micro-climates, Mediterranean climate, lots of farming
Soil types: varied, including volcanic, terra rosa, limestone
Tends to be tech forward in farming and winemaking practices

Wine consumption in Israel

Growing, consume most of domestically produced wine
Big use for religious purposes
Created wine tourism industry to grow wine knowledge in the country
US is #1 export market by far, majority in the NE (top markets - NY, NJ, Miami (fastest growing), LA, Chicago, TX); followed by Canada, Europe, South America

Total Wine has an Israeli wine section different from Kosher section

“Brand Israel”

About discovery, stories of the wineries and something different
Good QPR
Connects to multiple religions (e.g. - Easter is a large wine consumption event and Easter is about Israel)
People often respond saying “Israel makes wine?” (e.g. - at South Beach Food & Wine)

All wines in the group are kosher, but kosher is not the focus, just a beneficial attribute

Judaism has lots of holiday and events with wine integrated (e.g. - Shabbat)

Majority of Israeli wine sales in the US are off-premise, trying to push more on-premise

Israeli politics can go both ways, some people don’t buy and others want to support

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Exporting Brand Israel w/ Josh Greenstein, IWPA