Historic news for wine enthusiasts in Israel and around the world: The Negev region has received official recognition as an "Appellation of Origin" named "Negev." This official recognition places the Israeli desert and the magnificent wine heritage of the Negev on the global wine map. The recognition is based on a series of professional studies, authored by some of the leading researchers in their fields in Israel, which showed that the desert wines produced in the Negev have a fresh and unique mineral "fingerprint."
The move to obtain official recognition was initiated and led by the Merage Israel Foundation, which took it upon itself to lead the development of the Negev as an internationally recognized wine tourism region. The process took about four years, and now a new and significant wine region named "Negev" has been defined in Israel, whose borders stretch from Kiryat Gat in the north to Eilat in the south and includes over 60 wineries and vineyards, which together produce over a million bottles a year. This recognition revives an ancient wine production tradition dating back thousands of years. The Negev was known for its quality wines as early as the Biblical period, but wine production there was only renewed in the 20th century. Today, with the help of innovative technologies, the region's winegrowers are proving that vines can be grown in the desert specifically in an era of global warming and extreme climate changes.
The first appellation in the country: Judea region
The recognition will lead to significant international promotion and strengthening of Israeli wines, which combine a fascinating story, unique flavors, and technological and agricultural innovation at the highest level in the world. This is because an "Appellation of Origin" is much more than a geographical name; it is a legal promise to the consumer that the wine was produced under unique climate and soil conditions, under strict supervision and standards that guarantee authentic and special "local" quality and taste. This prestigious diploma is held by the world's leading wine regions, including iconic names such as Champagne, Chianti, Bordeaux, and Napa. The path to regional wine recognition in Israel was broken by the Judea region, which was recognized several years ago and became the first distinct wine region in Israel.
The Merage Israel Foundation is a family philanthropic foundation of David and Laura Merage, from Denver, USA. The foundation has been active in Israel since 1998 and deals with a variety of social and economic fields, aimed at strengthening Israeli society in all its shades. From the beginning of its activity, the foundation identified that the Negev is one of the important growth engines of the State of Israel, and therefore the foundation supports and leads many social and economic initiatives in the area, including a program to promote agricultural and wine tourism in the Negev.
Nicole Hod Stroh, CEO of the Merage Israel Foundation: "The recognition of the new wine region of the Negev constitutes for me a personal milestone in fulfilling my Zionist dream. As someone who made Aliyah from Colombia and has worked for many years to promote regional development and economic growth in the Negev, I see wine tourism as a contemporary and significant expression of today's Zionism. This is a move that strengthens the economic and tourism advantages of the region, and now also receives international recognition as an innovative and high-quality wine region. I have no doubt that in the near future the Negev will become a sought-after wine tourism destination on the international stage, alongside leading wine regions in the world."
Irene Benjamin, Manager of the Negev Wineries Club: "The recognition of the new wine region of the Negev is a significant achievement for the region's wineries and for the Israeli wine industry. As someone who closely accompanies the activity of the Negev Wineries Club, I am exposed daily to the unique challenges of creating quality wines in desert conditions, alongside the extraordinary professionalism and commitment of the winegrowers and winemakers. The international recognition constitutes an important milestone in the development of the region and strengthens its position on the global wine map."