The tag line for Vitkin is “an Israeli journey through vineyards and varieties.” We received a sample of a rosé Vitkin wine and were interested in this Israeli winery’s story. This family owned winery crafted its first vintage in 2002. Israeli Journey is a series of wines made from a blend of grape varieties. The fruit is sourced from different vineyards throughout Israel, and the name results from the physical journey to the vineyards. Blends in this series are unique, as was the blend in the rosé we tasted.

Doron Belogolovsky is the winemaker. In the 1980s he worked in Italy where he was immersed in the wine culture. A decade later, Doyon was join by his brother-in-law Assaf Paz who completed an oenology degree in Bordeaux, France. Sharona Paz-Belogolovsky also caught the wine bug, and as an architect planned and refurbished the winery. Sharona’s and Assf’s father, Avraham Paz, retired and then join the winery staff.

The 2016 Vitkin Winery Pink Israeli Journey Dry Rosé Wine was a blend of 90% Grenache Noir (Garnacha) and 10% Carignan (Mazuelo). The grapes for this particular blend were sourced from vineyards in the East Carmel Ridge. Some of the fruit was left on the skins for several hours to extract color and flavors, while the rest of the fruit was pressed with little skin contact. The wine had a salmon color with a red hue. The very fruity aroma emphasized red berry fruit especially strawberry on the taste. The finish was crisp and fruity with fruit yielding to mineral on the aftertaste. This is a perfect aperitif. We paired this wine with cheese and humus. We also had it as an aperitif. This is an excellent wine for Mother’s Day and throughout the summer months. Keep the wine cool with a frozen strawberry added to the glass of wine. The suggested retail price for the wine is $29.99.

Cheers,
Terry