It was in this area that Deborah the Prophetess instructed Barak Ben-Avinoam to mobilize an army that would defeat the ruling Canaanites, thus ending 20 years of oppression.
Hundreds of years later, a Roman army under General Pompey routed thousands of Hasmonian King Alexander’s soldiers.
Tabor is also sacred to Christians as the “high mountain apart,” upon which the Disciples witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration.
The growers of Kfar Tabor sold their grapes to outsiders for generations until four local families decided to fulfill a dream and build their own winery.
They built a modern winemaking facility in 1999 next to the vineyards
Aryeh Nesher, a winemaker with 30 years experience, is the man behind Kfar Tabor’s wines. Nesher was the winemaker for a commercial winery in Russia before immigrating to Israel in the early 1990s.
The Russian immigrant must feel at home with the new ground, because he is doing something right.
Tabor Mescha 2001 is a blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot (18%) aged 14 months in casks of French oak. It displays outstanding fullness and richness, a real song of fruit tastes and various spices. Price: 116 shekels (about $25).
This wine’s older brother in this quality series, Tabor Mescha 2000, is also strong and concentrated. Uncorking the bottle releases a fragrance of blackberry, wet tree bark and vanilla absorbed from the wooden cask. Price: 130 shekels (about $30).
The winery’s second series, Tabor Red, is particularly enjoyable.
The Cabernet Sauvignon Terra Rosa 2002, is made with a small addition of Merlot (7%), and is aged 12 months in wooden casks. It maintains wonderful vitality, alongside rich tastes and a soft velvety touch.
The Merlot – Bazelet 2001, is made from a pure grape strain growing
in a small part of the vineyard consisting of just six rows.
Aged for 15 months in casks, the wine displays seductive fragrances that the nose follows into the glass, and a harmonious touch and taste on the tongue.
Each of the wines has a price of 60 shekels (about $13).
The winery also produces three white wines offering much satisfaction: Chardonnay - Bazelet 2003, Chardonnay - Gir 2003 and Sauvignon Blanc - Gir 2003.
With this collection of fine wines, Kfar Tabor is clearly placing itself on the map of local winemakers. All the wines are kosher
Kfar Tabor
Lower Galilee
Tel: +972.4.6760444
Fax: +972.4.6772061