(Courtesy of Yarden Inc.) In response to a growing American demand for wine-pairing advice for an increasingly trendy Middle Eastern cuisine, Israel’s leading Golan Heights and Galil Mountain wineries released a pocket guide to Middle Eastern food and wine.
The guide, which can be downloaded for free at http://yardenwines.com/press/favorite-middle-eastern-foods-with-the-right-wines/, provides an eclectic menu of Middle Eastern foods available in the U.S., whether in restaurants, from street vendors or in supermarkets, and matches them with the most appropriate wine varietals.
The wineries created the guide in response to a burgeoning demand for information about the Middle Eastern diet, as increasing numbers of people seek healthier and vegetarian food options. At the same time, more and more people are seeking to include wine as part of a healthy diet, with numerous studies showing the benefits of moderate wine consumption, or simply want the right wine for their favorite Middle Eastern dishes.
“Whether it’s in wine shops, at tastings or just in the grocery aisle, more and more people are asking us about which wines go with various Middle Eastern foods,” said Dorit Ben Simon, executive manager of Yarden Inc., the U.S. importer of Golan Heights and Galil Mountain wines. “So we wanted to provide this free guide as a way to help people see how different wines can enhance these wonderful foods.”
The wine guide, for example, recommends that you pair medium-bodied riesling or rose with hummus, sauvignon blanc with Israeli salad, chardonnay or rose with chicken pilaf and even pinot noir or riesling with stuffed grape leaves. The guide also recommends pairings for popular desserts, like a late-harvest riesling or muscat with baklava, or moscato with rice pudding.
The wineries are also hoping to expand the food-and-wine-pairing initiative beyond the pocket guide, since the new Mideast cuisine is ever evolving. The wineries are urging people to contact them about food and wine pairings not featured in the guide, and they’ll provide further recommendations.
Since its founding in 1983, Golan Heights Winery has played a significant role in developing and nurturing Israel’s blossoming wine culture. The winery also has altered the way Israeli wines are perceived globally, and placed Israel firmly on the world wine map. The winery’s Golan Heights home, with its volcanic soil and cool climate, echoes the ideal conditions of Bordeaux and Tuscany and is known as Israel’s wine country. Golan Heights Winery markets its wines under four leading brands: Yarden, Hermon, Golan and Gilgal. The winery is Israel’s leader in wine quality, technological innovation and new varietal development. For more details, please visit: http://www.golanwines.co.il/english.
Established as a joint venture led by the world-renowned Golan Heights Winery in 2000, Galil Mountain Winery preserves the delicate balance between tradition and new technology. Leveraging five local vineyards, a state-of-the-art production plant and proven expertise, Galil Mountain Winery offers an inspired selection of award-winning wines that remain true to their roots. The Upper Galilee mountain range is the winery’s home, and its heart and soul. Atop the Upper Galilee Mountain range, the winery blends innovative design with ideal climate, soil and topography, aimed at revitalizing the region’s centuries-long history of winemaking. For more details, please visit: http://www.galilmountain.co.il/english/About.
Yarden Inc. imports quality Israeli wines from Golan Heights Winery and Galil Mountain Winery. Premium brands imported to the United States include Yarden, the internationally recognized flagship brand, Golan and Galil Mountain. The company was established in 2001 as a fully owned subsidiary of Golan Heights Winery, Israel. Yarden Inc. headquarters are situated in New York City, and its representatives are located in main regional markets. Yarden Inc. operates throughout the U.S. in over 30 states. For more details, please visit: http://yardenwines.com.
