Galil Mountain Winery Viognier 2014
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Wine & Spirits
This is an exotic viognier, ripened to honeysuckle richness. The fruit feels as ripe as a cantaloupe in high summer, deep orange and dripping with juice; notes of orange peel and honeycomb add complexity. While it’s on the sweet side of dry, there’s enough acidity and depth of flavor to pair it with duck sausages.
The Upper Galilee mountain range is much more than an abode for Galil Mountain Winery; it’s the Winery’s heart and soul. Sitting in a breathtaking spot atop the Upper Galilee mountain range, the innovatively designed winery is committed to revitalizing the region’s rich history of winemaking. Over 2,000 years ago, the mountain range one of Israel’s highest at more than 1,000 meters above sea level was a choice location for the cultivation of quality grapevines. Today, the area’s topography, soil and climate make it an ideal home for the vibrant Galil Mountain Winery.
Established as a joint venture in 2000 by the world renowned Golan Heights Winery and Kibbutz Yiron, Galil Mountain Winery unites the best of tradition and technology. Leveraging six area vineyards, a state of the art production plant and proven expertise, Galil Mountain Winery offers an inspired selection of award
winning wines that remains true to its roots.
Uniting the best of tradition and technology, the winery’s
vineyards have been the first to be certified sustainable internationally under the rigorous and renowned LODI
RULES program.
Full-figured and charmingly floral, Viognier is one of the most important white grapes of the northern Rhône where it is used both to produce single varietal wines and as an important blending grape. Look for great New World examples from California, Oregon, Washington and cooler parts of Australia. Somm Secret—Viognier plays a surprisingly important role in the red wines of Côte Rôtie in the northern Rhône. About 5% Viognier is typically co-fermented with the Syrah in order to stabilize the color, and as an added benefit, add a subtle perfume.
With a rich history of wine production dating back to biblical times, Israel is a part of the cradle of wine civilization. Here, wine was commonly used for religious ceremonies as well as for general consumption. During Roman times, it was a popular export, but during Islamic rule around 1300, production was virtually extinguished. The modern era of Israeli winemaking began in the late 19th century with help from Bordeaux’s Rothschild family. Accordingly, most grapes grown in Israel today are made from native French varieties. Indigenous varieties are all but extinct, though oenologists have made recent attempts to rediscover ancient varieties such as Marawi for commercial wine production.
In Israel’s Mediterranean climate, humidity and drought can be problematic, concentrating much of the country’s grape growing in the north near Galilee, Samaria near the coast and at higher elevations in the east. The most successful red varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, while the best whites are made from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Many, though by no means all, Israeli wines are certified Kosher.