ABOUT TABERNACLE
A hidden paradise
in the Land of Israel
Sprawling vineyards nestle in the rolling hills.
Grapes are deepened in flavor by a brilliant Mediterranean sun.
Welcome to the Galilee, a secluded paradise Tabernacle Winery calls home.
Moshav Tzuriel, the serene town that houses our winery, dates back to the 1950s, when Israeli immigrants planted trees and vineyards to enhance the beauty of their homeland. Now, in homage to our ancestors, we are committed to showcasing the distinct qualities of wines grown in the land of Israel. We’ve honed our legendary craft for decades, and we are proud to present the bountiful fruit of our continuous efforts.
Our vineyards, situated in the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights, reach soaring heights: 650-850 meters above sea level. They enjoy relatively low temperatures, high precipitation, and a unique environment for quality grapes to flourish.
Part of the credit for the glorious terrain is owed to the Kinneret, or the Sea of Galilee, that runs through the heart of the region.
Its many distributary streams flow alongside the land, where water laps up to soil to create a unique terroir. This profusion of nutrient-rich vineyards across the region-which are consistently cool in temperature, yet offer variations in terroir-allow us to choose from a diverse selection of superior grapes.
The Winemaker
Ari Tannenbaum, MFS
Ari’s passion for winemaking was born in Israel, when he had the opportunity to make wine in an ancient cave next to King David’s tomb in Jerusalem. From this experience, his love for the land of Israel, wine, and tradition began.
Ari grew up in Long Island, New York and moved to the Upper Galilee in 2014 to work in the wine industry. Since then, he has had the privilege to be mentored by some of Northern Israel’s top winemaker’s, including Gidi Sayada of Lueria Winery and local Enologists Itay Lahat and Avi Feldstein. Ari returned to the states in 2018 to further his education, graduating from Cornell University with a Master’s degree in Winemaking,
At Cornell, he focused on wine microbiology, working under the supervision and mentorship of Patrick A. Gibney, Sesquicentennial Faculty Fellow, Cornell Department of Food Science. Upon graduating in 2019, Ari joined the Tabernacle Winery team in Northern Israel, where he crafted luxurious wines and aided in the development and planting of 30 acres of Tabernacle vineyards.
In 2020, Ari was promoted to head Winemaker at Tabernacle Winery, where he continues to produce inspiring wines along with a great team committed to excellence.
OUR PROCESS
“Our process combines centuries-old traditional winemaking with more forward-thinking techniques”
says Ari Tannenbaum, winemaking consultant. While we respect the time-honored ways of working the land, we embrace innovative methods to produce more robust, expressive grapes.
Our family-owned winery allows intimate supervision over every detail of the process-which starts with growing and picking. “Part of the process is reigning in the exuberance of the fruit, and crafting a wine that is more nuanced and refined. To do that, we pick the grapes when they’re just ripe.”
Ari explains that for much of the process, he prefers to take a step back. “Our intentions are those of good parents-we guide the wines without coddling.” This hands-off approach of less moving, filtering, or interrupting allows the wines to mature with fuller flavors, higher quality, and lush textures.”
OUR APPROACH
To grow anything, you have to pay attention.
“Taking your time with wine is of paramount importance,”
says Ari Tannenbaum, winemaker. Sourcing the best vineyards, cultivating the vines, and letting the wine age in oak barrels for an extended period with minimal intervention, does take time. But the results make the time spent well worthwhile.
The unhurried process allows us to create wines that are in harmony with our vision: to craft wines that are a genuine representation of the land they grow on and our heritage.
