Rosh Hashanah is not simply the start of another year. It is the soul of renewal — a moment when Jewish families gather, taste sweetness and pray for blessings to come.
On the holiday table, nothing symbolizes that hope more than the wine poured into the Kiddush cup. Wine has always been the Jewish people’s link between land, ritual and destiny. But this year, that choice of wine carries weight beyond flavor.
The past three years have tested Israel like no other — war, grief and economic pressure have shaken the nation. And yet, the vineyards still produce. The wineries still press. The land still yields its grapes. To drink Israeli wine this Rosh Hashanah is to say: Israel endures, and we stand with her. It is to transform the simple act of Kiddush into a statement of solidarity.
I have written before that “the land of Israel is a vineyard and the Jewish people are its grapes.” When you lift a glass of Israeli wine, you are not just savoring its taste; you are tasting the resilience of a people, the strength of a land and the continuity of a story thousands of years old. Here are five exceptional bottles — four reds and a trio of whites — that tell that story in every sip.
1. Jezreel Valley Single Vineyard Argaman 2021
The Argaman grape is Israel’s own. Indigenous, bold and deeply colored, it produces a wine that cannot be mistaken for anything imported. Jezreel Valley’s single vineyard Argaman bursts with cherry, spice and a texture that mirrors the richness of the land itself. To serve this wine on Rosh Hashanah is to embrace what is uniquely ours — a reminder that renewal begins with authenticity.
2. Matar Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
From the volcanic soils of the Golan Heights comes a wine of refinement and power. Matar’s Cabernet balances ripe black fruits with graphite and spice, carrying the crisp mountain air in its structure. It is the kind of wine that elevates the holiday table, pairing beautifully with roasted meats and hearty mains. But more than that, it represents Israel’s strength: rooted in ancient soil, looking confidently to the future.
3. Shiloh Mosaic 2020 (Mevushal)
Shiloh Winery, perched in the biblical heartland, crafts wines that speak to continuity. Mosaic 2020 is rich with plum, cherry and velvety tannins, yet remains approachable for all guests. As a Mevushal wine, it ensures inclusivity across the spectrum of observance. In its name and flavor, Mosaic tells a story: that Israel is not one note but many, blended into harmony.
4. Tulip Black
Tulip Winery embodies the spirit of modern Zionism. Beyond producing award-winning wines, Tulip employs individuals with special needs, demonstrating that excellence and ethics can coexist. The Tulip Black is luxurious, velvety and layered with dark berries and cocoa. To pour it is to celebrate not only flavor but also dignity, compassion and the best of Israeli innovation.
5. The White Flight: NANA Estate Chardonnay 2023, Yatir Creek White 2022 and Matar Chardonnay
Every New Year begins with light, and so too should your table. These three whites showcase Israel’s diversity and creativity.
NANA Estate Chardonnay, grown in the Negev desert, is nothing short of miraculous: a vineyard coaxed from the sands, producing elegance and balance where once there was emptiness.
Yatir Creek White offers freshness and minerality, a crisp wine that shines for daytime Kiddush or the first course.
Matar Chardonnay, with its refined texture and subtle fruit, brings the Golan Heights’ high-altitude clarity into the glass.
Together, they are a flight of renewal — proof that Israeli winemaking can flourish from the desert to the mountains, from tradition to innovation.
Why choose Israel this year?
Every purchase of Israeli wine is more than a bottle on your table. It is an investment in Israel’s farmers, vintners and small businesses. It is support for the agricultural economy that sustains families and communities across the country.
It is also a declaration. When you lift your glass and say L’Chaim, you affirm that Israel lives in your home, not just in your prayers. You affirm that even in a year of struggle, sweetness will prevail.
Wine is not just for drinking. It is for remembering. It is for hope. It is for connecting. This Rosh Hashanah, let your Kiddush cup overflow with Israel itself — its vineyards, its people, its promise, because the land of Israel is a vineyard. And we, her people, are the grapes.
This year, drink Israel. Support Israel. Bring Israel home.
- Adam Scott Bellos is the CEO of The Israel Innovation Fund. TIIF’s flagship project is called Wine On The Vine. Where you can plant grapevines and vineyards in Israel, like we once did with trees at plantavine.org, or order Israeli Wine directly to your home in the UK, the United States and Israel at www.wineonthevine.com