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Vineyards Offer Visitors More Than Wine

Two boutique wineries located near Beit Shemesh may be neighbors, but there the similarities end

KIBBUTZ TZORA - Both Tzora Vineyards and Mony Winery can be found in the area between the Judean Hills and coastal plains. Kibbutz Tzora owns the winery of the same name, with its nearby petting zoo and chicken coop.

 

Every year the kibbutz holds an event on November 29 to celebrate the release of the new wines.

 

Mony Winery is located in Dir-Rif’at and owned by the Artul family, an Arab-Christian family from the Galilee town of Mghar.

 

They moved to Dir-Rif’at – a planned Arab town that has yet to be built – to produce wine and olive oil. The vineyard is located near a beautiful church, where “peace” is written on the structure’s ceiling in 340 languages, including Arabic.

 

Despite competing for the hearts (and pockets) of wine enthusiasts, Tzora winemaker Ronny James assists the younger Mony Winery, while Mony winemaker Nur Artul sends clients to his elder neighbor.

 

The two vineyards receive visitors every day of the week, but visits to the church are held on Saturdays only or with arrangements made in advance.

 

The panoramic observation post in the Mony Winery offers a breathtaking view of the area, including the grapevines and olive groves cared for by the Artul family. The family patriarch, Shakib, leased land from the church and established the winery in 2000.

 

Mony is named for Shakib’s first-born son, Doctor Mony Artul, who was a cardiologist and died from a heart defect. Another son, Nur, took up winemaking as a profession and runs the winery along with his father and two other brothers.

 

The winery itself is located in tunnels dug 120 years ago by clergy from the church. One tunnel stores the wooden casks in which the wine is aged. A second tunnel houses an enormous table around which festive events for up to 50 people can be held.

 

Visitors to Mony can taste and purchase the vineyard’s cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay, as well as its olive oil, olives, honey, goat cheese, pastries and zatar (hyssop).

 

This year marks 12 years since Ronny James launched Tzora Vineyards, which has already won international medals for its wines.

 

Tzora offers a larger selection of wines than its neighbor. It includes a shaded garden and restaurant, and also offers activities for children. A tour of the petting zoo next door costs 15 shekels a child.

 

While the kids are busy, adult visitors are free for a guided wine tasting. But if younger wine connoisseurs do not want to be left out, Tzora offers a winemaking workshop for children ages 3-8 that includes stomping grapes.

 

Older children and adults can tour the vineyards in the morning, help pick grapes (during the harvest season) and eat a wonderful breakfast to complete the experience, but such a visit requires arrival at the kibbutz at 5 a.m. and arrangements in advance. Cost: 60 shekels (about $13) a person.

 

For large groups Tzora offers a lecture on wine, followed by tasting and a meal. According to James, this type of visit offers three options: “events with a bit a food, a lot of food and masses of food.”

 

Those who prefer a less formal and didactic visit can picnic outside in the beautiful surroundings. The winery store sells a fully equipped picnic basket, including wine of course.

 

A basket for two costs 130 shekels (about $29); for four: 200 shekels (about $44). And whoever wants tasty souvenirs to take home can choose from a selection of jams, oils, cheeses, dips, halva and organic spices.

 

Tzora wines from 2002 and later are kosher; Mony wines are not.

 

Tzora Vineyards

Open Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday until 2 p.m., Saturday until 6 p.m.

Phone: +972.2.990.8261

 

Mony Winery

Open Sunday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

Phone: +972.5.236.8498

The nearby church is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Visits on other days, except Sundays, must be arranged in advance. Phone: +972.2.991.7981

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.27.04, 14:57
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