Galilee

Israel's northern region, the coolest and highest, generally considered its finest.

Country

Israel

Climate

Mediterranean, cool elevations

Main varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon · Merlot · Syrah · Chardonnay · Sauvignon Blanc

Galilee is one of the five regions in Israel's industry classification. Elevation, wide diurnal swings and basaltic soils in the region's east yield wines with sharper acidity than the coastal plain.

The overwhelming majority of Israeli wine is produced kosher, so kosher status here is the industry norm rather than a separate category.

A layer absent in the diaspora: the agricultural halachic requirements applying to produce of the Land of Israel: terumot and maasrot, orla, shmita. The registry computes their status as an informational indicator.

Israel's five industry regions were established in the mid-1970s and are registered with the US TTB and the European Community, which determines what may appear on export labels; the Golan is legally a sub-region of Galilee.