Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon, Turkey & Georgia

Question 1

Where and when Baron Lafite Rothschild established in Israel?

Answer 1

Mount Carmel 1887. He sent French experts to help establish vineyards. Taken with the landscape and potential near Mount Carmel, he dedicated further resources to transform the area into a fine wine region, with cuttings from the Lafite vineyard. The winery he built continues to operate today as Carmel.

Question 2

What invented Simcha Blass in Israel?

Answer 2

Drip irrigation by Simcha Blass in the mid-20th century. Technology was adopted by the global wine industry,

Question 3

Golan Heights Winery?

Answer 3

Founded in 1983 was another turning point for the industry. After successful experimental plantings by UC Davis Professor Cornelius Ough, Golan Heights demonstrated the region’s potential for fine wine crafted using contemporary techniques.

Question 4

What is Kosher Winemaking?

Answer 4

There are varying kosher certifications, but the foundational principle is that once harvested, grapes and wine are only to be handled by Sabbath-observing Jews. Many of Israel’s winemakers cannot engage in the physical activities of winemaking, nor even touch their own barrels. All additives, such as fining agents, yeasts, and even cleaning materials, must also be kosher certified.

Question 5

Red varieties in Israel?

Answer 5

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah Old vine Carignan

Question 6

What is Argaman grape?

Answer 6

A cross of Carignan and Souzão first crossed in 1972 by Pinchas Spiegel-Roy in Beit Dagan at the Agricultural Research Organization’s Volcani Center.

Question 7

White varieties in Israel?

Answer 7

Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier. Despite climatic conditions, quality examples of Riesling and Gewürztraminer can also be vinified.

Question 8

Indigenous grape varieties from Israel?

Answer 8

W: Marawi, Dabouki, Jandali R: Baladi Asmar and Bittuni

Question 9

Where is located the mountainous area of Golan Heights?

Answer 9

• Northernmost area, divided into Upper and Lower Golan (Mount Hermon); - Vineyards reach up to 1200mt; - Volcanic Plateau (Tufa and Basalt).

Question 10

Where is Galilee?

Answer 10

• North, largest wine regions; - Vineyards reach up to 1000mt (Mount Tabor); - mix soil of limestone, volcanic soils, and terra rossa; - Divided in East, West, and Lower Galilee.

Question 11

Where is Coastal Plain?

Answer 11

• Close to Tel Aviv (Mediterranean); - Israel’s hottest and most humid conditions.

Question 12

Where is Judean Hills?

Answer 12

• South between Coast and Central Mountains (inland); - vineyards from 300 to 1000mt; - terra rossa soil with limestone.

Question 13

Central Mountains?

Answer 13

The Central Mountain range also sees viticultural activity further north in the historic Mount Carmel area, home to the original Rothschild plantings around Zikhron Ya’akov and Binyamina. The area experiences more protected coastal influence from the Mediterranean. Just south, the Shomron Hills region is a relatively young area at higher elevations. The Central Mountains conclude with the Yatir Forest.

Question 14

Where is Negev?

Answer 14

Further south, desert area and scarcely planted.

Question 15

Israel wine regions (5-not official yet)?

Answer 15

• Galilee (Golan Heights and the Galilee) - Shomron (upper Central Mountains) - Judean Hills - Samson (Coastal Plain and Judean Foothills) - Negev

Question 16

When did Lebanon’s modern winery start?

Answer 16

• 1857, when Jesuit missionaries established Château Ksara, today Lebanon’s largest producer.
• François-Eugène Brun founded the nearby and still-operating Domaine des Tourelles in 1868

Question 17

Most renowned and old wineries in Lebanon?

Answer 17

Château Ksara, Château Musar, Domaine des Tourelles, and Château Nakad.

Question 18

When did Lebanon wine start to become known in Europe?

Answer 18

Serge Hochar brought Château Musar to the 1979 Bristol Wine Fair, where his wines were praised by renowned critic and auctioneer Michael Broadbent, bringing new attention to Lebanon’s wines.

Question 19

Where is located Beeka Valley?

Answer 19

Between Lebanon Mountain and Mount Hermon (Israel Golan Heights border)

Question 20

Beeka Valley climatic conditions?

Answer 20

• The Bekaa Valley rests between these two mountain ranges, at roughly 900 to 1,000 meters in elevation.
• Mount Lebanon barricades the Bekaa from Mediterranean humidity, while the Anti-Lebanon range shields the valley from the Syrian desert’s heat.
• The Litani River, which frequently runs dry in the summer months.

Question 21

Beeka Valley soil?

Answer 21

Alluvial

Question 22

Lebanon grape varieties?

Answer 22

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault, Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscat.

Question 23

Lebanon Indigenous grape varieties?

Answer 23

W: Obaideh and Merweh

Question 24

Lebanon spirit Arak? Method of production?

Answer 24

Unsweetened grape-derived spirit. Arak undergoes multiple distillations (typically two to four), most traditionally in a Moorish copper still, with anise seed added before the final distillation. The spirit is then aged in cloth-covered clay amphorae. For serving, arak is typically cut with two parts water to one part spirit, which gives it a cloudy appearance, similar to absinthe when diluted.

Question 25

The soil of Cyprus and the most important mountain?

Answer 25

Cyprus is blanketed in various volcanic-derived soils, particularly along with the central Troodos Mountain range, around which most vines are cultivated.

Question 26

What is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world?

Answer 26

Commandaria

Question 27

Cyprus indigenous grapes?

Answer 27

The native red Mavro and white Xynisteri (bush vines).

Question 28

How Commandaria is made?

Answer 28

The Commandaria PDO spans 14 villages in south-central Cyprus.

The native red Mavro and white Xynisteri are harvested from bush vines, then sun-dried for about two weeks. While Commandaria must be vinified within the appellation boundaries, it can be aged outside the region.

Today, two divergent expressions of Commandaria can be found: non-vintage, fortified wines composed primarily of Mavro made at the larger firms, and vintage-dated, unfortified examples with a higher concentration of Xynisteri.

Question 29

Commandaria producers companies?

Answer 29

Four large beverage companies—KEO, Etko, Sodap, and Loel

Question 30

Cyprus PGI? (4)

Answer 30

Larnaka, Lemesos (Limassol), Lefkosia (Nicosia), and Pafos

Question 31

PDO’s of Cyprus? (7)

Answer 31

Commandaria

Pitsilia

Krasochoria Lemesou (the Winemaking of Limassol)

Krasochoria Lemesou-Laona

Krasochoria Lemesou-Afames

Vouni Panayia-Ampelitis

Laona Akama

Question 32

Cyprus main grape varieties?

Answer 32

R: Mavro, Maratheftiko and Yiannoudin, and French varieties;

W: Xinisteri, Promara and Morokanella

Question 33

Has Phylloxera ever reached Cyprus?

Answer 33

Phylloxera never reached Cyprus, so vines are largely planted on their own rootstocks.

Question 34

Turkish spirit?

Answer 34

rakı, an anise-flavored grape spirit (similar to arak).

Question 35

Turkish International varieties?

Answer 35

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache, and Tempranillo.

Question 36

Turkish Indigenous grape varieties?

Answer 36

R: Öküzgözü**, whose name translates to “bull’s eye” due to its large berries, delivers softly tannic, fruity red wines with elevated acidity. **Kalecik Karası** also offers young-drinking wines, while wines from **Boğazkere**, whose name means “throat puckerer” for its acidity, demonstrate the greatest aging potential. Other indigenous red grapes include **Çalkarası, Papazkarası,** and **Karasakız.

W: Narince** yields mid-weight, Chardonnay-like wines with an affinity for oak, while **Emir** has a crisper character. **Yapıncak** and **Sıdalan are other white grapes to know.

Question 37

Turkey main wine regions?

Answer 37

• Aegean;
• Anatolia;
• Mediterranean;
• Marmara;

*Main climatic influences: Marmara sea, Aegean sea, and Black sea

NB: The best vineyard are located on the west side of Istanbul at the border with Thrace (Greece) and Bulgaria

Question 38

The main regions of Georgia? (5)

Answer 38

Ajara

Imereti

Kartli

Racha-Lechkhumi

Kateti

Question 39

The most important grapes in Georgia?

Answer 39

W: Rkatsiteli, Mtsvani

R: Saperavi

Style: semi-sweet white and reds