Independence 2024: Time to venture beyond the center

A few days before Passover, I raised a festive glass with the folks from the Golan Heights Winery, who came to Tel Aviv with their wines to spread some joy.

One of the surprising revelations at that event was that the winery's visitor center is currently open.

Why surprising? Because it turns out that uncertainty about openness in the north, what's open and what's closed for domestic tourism, isn't just mine, and that's a shame. So here I am to bring some order ahead of Independence Week.

The Golan Heights Winery visitor center is located in Katzrin. While there isn't much tourist traffic to the area these days, the winery is open to visitors.

It's a golden opportunity to take a short trip to the Golan, book a tour and wine tasting, and come back with some valuable bottles (like the Jordan Brut Rosé, for example). They're there, waiting for you, even on Fridays until 3:00 PM.

Visitor Center, Golan Heights Winery

Where: Derech Hayain 4, Katzrin

For details and reservations: 04-696-8483

Peripheral Empire

In the past two years, there's been an interesting blossoming of wine bars and good restaurants in the Sharon region. Such is Ariana, a wine bar that opened last October for just two days with high hopes, closed due to the war, and now reopened with hopes that this time it will succeed.

Behind the place offering over a hundred carefully selected wine bottles by wine expert Idan Oz and open for glasses too stands chef Ran Elkobi. The menu allows, alongside the good food, choosing wines based on their taste characteristics.

You don't need to know anything about wines or varieties or countries, just connect to the taste characteristics listed on the menu (fruity, light, natural, traditional, etc.) and choose your favorite glass.

Ariana Wine Bar

Where: Atir Yeda 4, Kfar Saba

For details and reservations: 077-444-7039

Beautiful Blanc

Sometimes I write trends for myself, get stuck on specific types of wines, and don't let them go for a while. I don't know why it happens, but it's been a few weeks since I've been hooked on Blanc de Noir.

Blanc de Noir is a white wine made from red grape varieties. There are many interesting Blanc de Noir wines on the market, but in the Israeli corner (after all, it's Independence Day soon), one of the interesting ones is the wine with the wonderful name: 'Casa Blanca' from the Galil Winery in the northern Negev, made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. Price: NIS 115.

The White Frank from the Tulip Winery that I tasted this week is not a classic Blanc de Noir, but rather a fine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (red) and Sauvignon Blanc (white). We chilled it well and enjoyed its beauty with last Saturday's beach picnic. Price: NIS 67.