(Courtesy of Psagot Winery) Psagot Winery is happy to announce the completion of its new home along with its new chief winemaker.
The 2020 vintage begins at its new location with an expected production in excess of 600,000 bottles and marks our 17th year of wine production in the Binyamin region just north of Jerusalem.
The story of the winery and the traditional winemaking combines the historical connection, fine quality and modern progress that is expressed in the new architectural structure, carefully planned and designed by Naama Berg after two years of construction.
The architectural style of the winery is built in the shape of an ancient inn overlooking Wadi Kelt and the Edom mountains. On one side is the impressive wine production plant, and on the other side, above the barrel cellar—where over 1,000 barrels are aged each year—is the visiting center and event hall. In the center is a magical garden overlooking the primeval landscape.
In the new Psagot Winery complex you will find a mini wine museum. In addition, we offer tours for groups and individuals, events, conferences and seminars. The beautifully designed hall was created to provide special family occasions that include bar/bat mitzvahs, parties and elegant weddings for up to 600 people in the summer in a special atmosphere with great wine and spectacular views, and is only a 20-minute drive from Jerusalem.
Concurrent with the move to our new location, the winery recruited Sam Soroka to the position of chief winemaker at the winery.
Sam, a native of Montreal, studied oenology at the University of Adelaide in Australia and received his bachelor of science degree in food sciences from McGill University in Quebec.
He is an expert in wine production that includes a background in food sciences. Sam lives and breathes the secrets of wine and is considered one of the important players in upgrading standards and wine qualities. His 20 years of experience have earned many awards and accolades, including the following comment from Robert Parker of Wine Advocate: “For my first impression the style seemed to lean to elegance and harmony. These are graceful wines, not bombastic wines…. they are a pleasure to drink.”
When asked about the move to Psagot, Sam replied “It is a great privilege and honor for me to be the chief winemaker of Psagot Winery and to be a partner in the winery’s vision for making quality wines in the Land of Israel.”
Yaakov Berg, CEO and founder of Psagot Winery, summarizes:
“The prophet Amos, who was a shepherd and farmer in the land of Israel 2,500 years ago, prophesied and promised us ‘I will return the captivity of My people Israel, and they will rebuild desolate cities and settle them; they will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will cultivate gardens and eat their fruits. I will plant them upon their land and they will never again be uprooted from their land that I have given them, said Hashem, your G-d.’” (Amos 9:14-15)
Yaakov concludes “We thank the Creator of the world for the privilege of fulfilling this prophecy 2,500 years later. Living in the land of Israel, planting vineyards and producing fine wine and winning awards that are recognized throughout the world.”
