Yarden Chardonnay (2018)

About this wine

The 2018 Yarden Chardonnay from Golan Heights Winery offers a delightful blend of pear, lemon, green apple, and tropical fruit flavors, complemented by subtle mineral and floral notes, all set against a backdrop of French oak. This full-bodied wine provides a satisfying and lingering finish. Sourced from vineyards at elevations up to 1,200 meters in the northern Golan Heights, Israel's coldest winegrowing region, this Chardonnay benefits from the area's unique terroir. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, with approximately 40% being new, for seven months, enhancing its complexity. The 2018 vintage was notably early and short, with a warm winter and spring leading to an early harvest, contributing to the wine's distinctive character.

About the grape

Chardonnay, originally from France's Burgundy region, has become a key grape in Israel's Golan Heights, particularly in the 2018 Yarden Chardonnay. The Golan Heights' high-altitude vineyards, reaching up to 1,200 meters, offer a cool climate and volcanic soil that are ideal for cultivating Chardonnay. This environment allows the grape to develop a balance of acidity and flavor. The 2018 vintage was notable for its early and short harvest, influenced by a warm winter and spring, leading to wines of exceptional quality.

Quick facts

• 🏔️ The 2018 Yarden Chardonnay is crafted exclusively from Chardonnay grapes grown in vineyards at elevations up to 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) in the northern Golan Heights, Israel's coldest winegrowing region.
• 🪵 This wine underwent fermentation and aging in French oak barrels, with approximately 40% being new, for seven months, imparting subtle oak influences.
• 🌞 The 2018 vintage was characterized by a relatively early and short harvest season, beginning about 10 days early on July 31 and concluding on October 15, due to warm winter and spring conditions with average rainfall.
• 🏆 The Yarden label, under which this Chardonnay is produced, is the flagship brand of Golan Heights Winery, representing their finest wines.
• 🍷 The Golan Heights Winery, established in 1983, is credited with starting the 'quality revolution' in Israeli wine, elevating the country's global wine reputation.

Palate profile

Producer

Established in 1983 by a consortium of four kibbutzim and four moshavim, Golan Heights Winery is located in Katzrin, Israel. The winery played a pivotal role in revolutionizing Israeli winemaking by introducing modern techniques and focusing on quality production. In 2012, it became the first Israeli winery to receive Wine Enthusiast's 'New World Winery of the Year' award. The winery is also recognized for its commitment to sustainability, being the first in Israel to adopt the LODI RULES certification for sustainable winegrowing.