Golan Heights Winery

Golan Heights Winery is an Israeli wine producer located in the Katzrin settlement in Galilee. It has an extensive portfolio of wines, the most important of which is Yarden, produced from selected grapes from the best vineyards. White and red wines are also made under the Gamla, Gilgal and Hermon labels, with three everyday reds released as Sion and Golan.

The winery is a co-operative, and 15 member growers own 28 different vineyards in numerous locations covering a total of 600 hectares (1500 acres). These are further divided into 400 blocks, which are farmed and vinified separately. Wide variations in altitude, topography, climate and soil give a considerable range of blending options from the different parcels. Most of the grape varieties planted are classic French cultivars like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Cao. All of Golan Height's wines are kosher.

The first vintage was harvested in 1983, seven years after the first grapes were planted in the Golan Heights. The company is owned by a collection of four kibbutzim and four moshavim, and is also the parent of Galil Mountain Winery in Galilee.

The Golan Heights remain internationally recognized as a Syrian territory, though they have been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-Day War. There have, therefore, been several disputes with export markets over the inclusion of "Made in Israel" statements in promotional material, most famously with Sweden's state-owned monopoly Systembolaget.

Golan Heights Winery exports to more than 30 countries and has won numerous international awards for its wines; the 2004 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon was the first Israeli wine to make the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines list and, in 2012, it was named New World Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.