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To mark Tu BeShvat (the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shvat, Jan. 28, 2021), the holiday celebrating fruit from the Land of Israel, the World Mizrachi movement invited me to produce a wine TV program. To this end, I interviewed five top Israeli winemakers and tasted their best wines along with them. You’re welcome to watch [2] this fun 70-minute program, preferably with glass of Israeli wine in hand. It also can be viewed on YouTube [3].
The winemakers (and their wines) who are featured in this video are Dani Friedenberg of Teperberg (we drank his Essence Cabernet Sauvignon 2017), Amichai Lourie of Shiloh (Rose 2020, and Secret Reserve Shiraz 2017), Eli Ben-Zaken of Domaine du Castel (‘C’ Blanc du Castel 2019 – Chardonnay), Golan Flam of Flam (Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2018), and Yaacov Ben-Dor, CEO of Yatir (Creek Red Blend 2016).
In the video, I comment that after 2,000 years of desolation and neglect, the Land of Israel is coming alive and giving forth glorious fruit to its indigenous people. This is nothing less than Biblical prophecy come true: Of such abundance that “Judah shall wash his garments in wine and his clothes in the blood of grapes” and “his eyes will be shot red with wine” (Genesis 49:11).
Indeed, in the time of redemption the mountains of Israel are commanded to “shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My People Israel; for they will soon come” (Ezekiel 36:8). The Jewish People is promised that like the days of old, “Judah and Israel (will dwell) safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba” (Kings I 5:5).
How fortunate we are to be living in this generation of redemption. Happy Tu BeShvat. LeChaim!