Fried foods and fine wine: Pairing Israeli wines with French fries

A few days ago, I saw someone tweet that every morning she wakes up missing yesterday—not because it was good, but because of how relentless the days feel lately. Honestly, with the current pace of events, I can’t imagine a life without wine. Especially in times like these, I fully support embracing a little guilty pleasure culture.

Here’s my confession: my guilty pleasure used to be late-night binge-watching Sex and the City, a secret I kept from even my closest friends. I’d talk with them only about the art films I saw at Cinema Lev. But now, Carrie and Samantha don’t cut it for me—I need something heavier.

Lately, my indulgence has been pairing wine with fries. This has become my go-to weekend ritual with friends (sometimes even midweek), each time at a different spot in the city, with a few strict rules: high-quality Israeli wine and fries. It’s like the fashion trend of mixing designer pieces with affordable, secondhand finds.

Let’s be honest; the past week has called for some emotional drinking and comforting fried foods. After coming clean on Instagram about this culinary “quirk”—and receiving a flood of supportive comments—I realized I wasn’t alone. It’s time to normalize this publicly. So, here are a few wine recommendations we’ve loved, which you can easily enjoy at home too.

Bar-Maor Winery, Nadiv Blanc

What happens when Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Colombard come together? Remy Bar-Maor discovered the magic of this blend, and I can only ask that someone who loves me buys me another bottle. It’s fruity with a pleasant hint of acidity, aromatic, dominant, and well-balanced—perfect for any emotional storm.

Price: NIS 109

Carmel Winery, Experiment, Verdelho

Verdelho is a Portuguese grape, so even though it’s grown in the Jerusalem hills, it brings to mind places with fewer troubles. This wine is complex, and while it deserves more sophisticated dishes than my fries pairing, it’s a deeply enjoyable, rich wine. It’s a reminder that Carmel Winery creates exceptional wines.

Price: NIS 120

Lewinsohn Winery, Garage de Papa, Rosé

This began with a visit to Lewinsohn Winery in Petach Tikva, sampling wines alongside gourmet food. But our craving for the Garage de Papa rosé, made by Ido Lewinsohn, persisted, and we decided to add it to our regular weekend indulgences.

Cladoc, a lesser-known grape, is actually a cross between Malbec and Grenache. This balanced, unique rosé offers freshness and rich flavors, beautifully complementing our palate after devouring fries.

Price: NIS 129

Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Brut Rosé

I’ll save the full story of my late love affair with sparkling wines for another time. It took me a while, but once I tasted the right ones, I fell for the genre.

Although we’re already in winter, and 5 p.m. feels like midnight, somewhere in the world, it’s still summer. So, I ordered us one of the finest sparklers I know—a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with juicy acidity. It’s the type of wine that, with closed eyes, transports you straight to Paris.

Price: 150 NIS

As a side note, for those willing to splurge, Katzrin Blanc de Blanc from the same winery is a divine wine. If you happen to get your hands on it—and are willing to spend 300 NIS—share it only with people you truly love.