Shiraz wine
Israel’s wine industry making a fortune
Market research shows wine industry alone estimated at NIS 800 million (about USD 170 million), marking 3 percent increase from the same quarter in 2004; most of the wine produced by the local boutique vineyards is non-kosher; 50 percent of Israelis prefer red wine
Israel’s alcoholic beverages and wine industry processed NIS 1.2 billion (USD 255 million) in 2005, marking a 20 percent rise from last year’s numbers, a recent market research conducted by CIA showed.
According to the study, the wine market alone is estimated at a cool NIS 800 million (about USD 170 million), a 3 percent increase from the same quarter in 2004.
The country’s wine industry includes 12 commercial vineyards, five of which process more than 2,000 tons of grapes each year. In addition, there are between 150-200 boutique vineyards – about 90 percent of these vineyards are privately owned, while a few still belong to kibbutzim.
Notably, most of the wine produced by the local boutique vineyards is non-kosher, and therefore are not commonly sold only in liquor stores and the vineyards themselves.
Hint of sweetness
In general, Israeli wine is high in quality, has a hint of sweetness to it, and is not suitable for aging, as its shelf life is relatively short.
The CIA study also revealed a number of facts about Israeli consumers: The average citizen invests an average of NIS 25 (about USD 5) on a bottle of wine, with the majority of purchases being done at the major food chains (70 percent).
Moreover, the preferred wine of the average Israeli is red (50 percent); 30 percent find the taste of white wine more to their liking; the survey revealed.
The past two years have seen a rise in demand for unique wines, such as Cabernet Frank and Shiraz, according to the survey.
