Wine that gladdens the heart: Wineries you must know

The Ella Valley has become a pilgrimage site in recent months, not just because half the country is ablaze. This beautiful region, perfectly situated between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, is renowned for its endless landscapes, seasonal blossoms, fascinating history, and excellent wines.

The Ella Valley and the greater Mateh Yehuda area boast over 40 small wineries, some of which have received international acclaim in wine competitions. Recently, wineries from Mateh Yehuda, united under the name "Yehuda," won gold and silver medals at the open competition for registered wine regions in Italy. It is the only Israeli wine region to achieve this feat, and it marks the first time Israeli wineries have participated in the competition.

Amid all this excellence, one cannot ignore the female presence leading the Ella Valley wine industry. In Israel, the combination of wine and women is no trivial matter. For many years, female winery owners or winemakers were almost unheard of, but today, more and more boutique wineries are opening their doors, revealing intriguing female entrepreneurship. Currently, three leading female winemakers operate in the Ella Valley, growing vineyards and producing excellent wine at family-run wineries.

To meet them and learn their stories up close, a tour following the "Women Winemakers of the Ella Valley" will take place on Friday, June 28. The tour, costing NIS 240 per person, is part of Mateh Yehuda's Wine Month events and will be led by wine expert Orit Greenbaum Liron. Orit holds a diploma in wine and spirits from the London WSET school, is a lecturer and instructor of wine courses, a guide for wine and culinary tours in Europe, and a member of "Hashizra" - Israel’s Women Wine Community. The tour includes visits to the Mettler, Tzafririm, and Roglit wineries, featuring brief and fascinating conversations with the winemakers and concluding with a wine tasting. Whether you are into organized tours or not, you should get to know the work of these three women who woke up one morning and decided to make wine - and not just any wine, but good wine.

Mettler Winery - Agur

In the tiny village of Agur, amidst vineyards and fields, you will find Mettler Winery, a boutique winery founded by Leah Mettler and her husband Heinz. Leah, a painter and sculptor, discovered the world of wine through her husband's fondness for the drink. The couple moved to Agur from Hod HaSharon after years of searching for a place to build their estate away from the crowds. Leah initially did not intend to produce wine commercially but wanted to make wine for personal consumption. However, both quickly gained expertise in the production process, and the winery, which was supposed to remain home-based, expanded.

They planted their first vineyards in 2010 and released their first wine in 2014. Today, Mettler Winery produces 7,000 bottles, half of which are rosé and light whites. Along the way, Leah also makes spiced beers and arak.

In addition to wine tasting, Leah offers light meals at the winery, including homemade breads and pastries, cheeses and jams, salads, shakshuka, and more. During a visit, you can combine a wine-tasting tour, enjoy some wine, and admire her artwork displayed everywhere. If you fall in love with the place, the winery has several sweet cabins suitable for couples and families.

When: Tuesday to Friday, 9:00-15:00.Price: NIS 110-120 for brunch, breakfast for two - NIS 170.Cabins: Starting from NIS 650 midweek, from NIS 850 on weekends.Contact: 050-2802554, 054-4512045.

Tzafririm Winery - Tzafririm

Near Khirbet Midras, after a drive on a slightly dusty dirt road, you will see the vineyards recently planted by the Lander family, owners of Tzafririm Winery. The vineyards, planted in 2021 (before the Sabbatical year), are currently thriving - lush with green grapes. The vineyards, where three grape varieties are grown, are another step in the winery’s establishment, allowing it to produce wine from grapes not purchased from other growers for the first time.

Behind Tzafririm Winery stands winemaker Laurie Lander. The winery is another local success story, having started as a small home winery. It all began when Laurie and Shaike Lander decided to make wine in their backyard in Tzafririm in the Judean Hills. For Laurie, who immigrated from the United States, wine production is an important Zionist act. Coming from the world of archaeology, the connection between land and wine production seemed so natural that the wines are named after the ruins near the vineyards.

The couple opened the winery about 20 years ago, and even today, when Laurie talks about wine, her passion for the craft is evident. When visitors arrive at the winery, she hosts them warmly, sharing stories about the wine and the unique terroir where the grapes grow. Currently, the winery produces about 7,000 bottles a year of white, rosé, and red wines.

Visiting Hours: Open Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00. The rest of the week by appointment only.Activities: Wine tasting and tour - NIS 60. Cheese platter available - NIS 120.Contact: Laurie - 052-4493042.

Roglit Winery - Neve Michael

Winemaker Sharon Cohen studied oenology and worked at the Soreq Farm before she and her husband Yishai established Roglit Winery in the heart of the Ella Valley. The 10-year-old winery now produces about 10,000 bottles a year from grapes grown in vineyards the couple planted in 2016. While Yishai is in charge of vineyard care, Sharon is responsible for creating the wonderful wine.

As you might guess, the winery is located at their home in the village of Neve Michael. Like all great success stories, their wine journey started by chance - after receiving leftover wine grapes from a close friend.

Wine enthusiasts visiting to admire the winery's products are hosted on the couple's porch overlooking the open view of the Ella Valley. If visiting independently, they offer a short tasting tour that includes four types of wine alongside a cheese and vegetable platter. Alternatively, you can order a bottle and a cheese platter and simply lounge in front of the view.

Tasting Tour: NIS 100.Weekday Hours: 11:00-15:30, open on weekends by appointment.Contact: Sharon - 052-8806469.

Lunch Break with Nurit

With all my love for cheeses, a winery tour can't be complete without a good meal. The Ella Valley area does not have many restaurants, but the few available are surprisingly creative. Speaking of female entrepreneurship, one cannot miss one of the most intriguing women in the area, Nurit Hertz. Nurit, a tour guide and private chef, combined two loves - nature and cooking - to create the concept of seasonal foraging meals. You can join Nurit's foraging work at certain times of the year, but even if you don’t, you can enjoy the results at meals she hosts under the mulberry tree in her yard.

Her meals are vegetarian and super creative, with every bite reflecting freshness. Among the dishes she serves, you can find "Ish Lechem" bread with dips; "Mulberry Leaf” - roasted Saint-Maure in a mulberry leaf, Afghan mulberry jam, black pine nut cracker, wild fennel flower; "Springs Salad" with watercress, mint, mulberries from the spring, loquat vinaigrette; "Gibneh and Camembert Skillet" with native apricot, thyme and savory, zucchini flowers from the garden; pumpkin agnolotti, sage in sage butter and lemon sauce; gnocchi alla Romana with cherry candy, capers, za'atar, and more. The meal is served at a relatively slow pace, with each dish receiving its due attention. You can, of course, add suitable wines to the meal, and even chilled vermouth.

Contact: 052-8333844.