The Yatir Winery is one of Israel’s first wineries to have planted and produced wine from this challenging variety, originating in cool regions of the northern Rhone Valley. The first vineyard was planted in the Yatir Forest in 2003. The style that was ultimately selected reflects the growing conditions of a high desert frontier region. The winery strives to express the accentuated aroma of this variety in a subdued manner, while focusing on fresh fruit flavors and blossoms (peach, chamomile, acacia, quince, papaya, citrus fruit and citrus blossom) and avoiding over ripeness. The use of wooden barrels during the aging process is limited to old and neutral barrels only and the wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation. The wine is bottled in the first spring after the vintage and is approved for marketing only after 6 additional months of further aging in the bottle. When it’s young, this wine is characterized by fruity freshness. The wine can be aged for several years, during which it develops a honeyed aroma, with a deeper flavor texture.
Vintages: 2016 2015 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
A dry white wine produced from 100% Viognier grapes, coming from two different vineyards in the Yatir Forest – 650 to 690 meters above sea level. The wine fermented in stainless steel tanks, 2/3 of the wine was transferred to maturity for about three months in older used barrels. The wine was bottled at the winery in March 2017.
Tasting Notes: The wine displays a bright, golden green color. Aromas of white peach, quince and jasmine. Flavors of nectarines and citrus fruits. The wine has a medium body and a fresh, tangy finish.
Yatir Forest Vineyards 2016 Vintage: The combination of a colder and wetter than usual winter in the Yatir region contributed to an even and unified awakening in the spring. June was warmer than usual, a factor that was again very positive for the vines, and which contributed to halting the growth phase and good color development in the grape skins. During the harvest, weather was comfortable, making for a crop that was excellent both in terms of quality and quantity.
A dry white wine produced from 100% Viognier grapes, coming from two different vineyards in the Yatir Forest – 650 to 690 meters above sea level. After fermentation in stainless steel vats, the wine was aged for three months in used oak barrels. The wine was bottled in May 2016.
Tasting Notes: Golden yellow, pale green color. Displaying aromas of white peaches, quince and sweet apple, with peach, nectarine and citrus fruit flavors.
Dry white wine, produced from 100% Viognier grapes from two distinct vineyards in the Yatir Forest, situated at an altitude of 650 and 680 meters above sea level. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, half of the wine in transferred for aging for a period of approximately 6 months in old barrels only. The wine was bottled at the Winery in April 2015.
Tasting Notes: The wine’s color is golden light-green, combining aromas of white peach and citrus blossom. Its flavor is reminiscent of peach, nectarine and citrus. The wine has a medium body and a fresh, tangy finish.
Yatir Forest Vineyards 2014 Vintage: That year the winter was mostly dry, with only two substantial rainfall occurrences. The spring season was filled with wintery events, including significant spring rain; a total of 277 mm of rainfall (above the normal average). Summer and fall were relatively comfortable, with no major episodes of heat waves.
Dry white wine, produced from 100% Viognier grapes from two distinct vineyards in the Yatir Forest, situated at an altitude of 650 and 680 meters above sea level. After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, half of the wine is transferred for aging for a period of approximately 6 months in old barrels only. The wine was bottled at the winery in May 2014.
Tasting Notes: The wine’s color is golden light-green, combining aromas of white peach, green apple and citrus blossom. Its flavor is reminiscent of peach, nectarine and citrus. The wine is endowed with a medium body and a fresh, tangy finish.
Yatir Forest Vineyards 2013 Vintage: The level of precipitation in the winter of 2013 in the Yatir Winery vineyards were a bit below average (248 mm.). Most of the rain fell during the first half of the winter. The accumulation of cold spells, which are crucial to the uniformity of the flowering process, were at a normal level in the vineyard region. The ripening period (May-August) was relatively comfortable, with cold nights and a few heat waves. As a result, the ripening process was uniform and efficacious. The vintage was a bit earlier than usual. The quality of the grapes was good, with natural, high acidity.
Dry white wine, produced from 100% Viognier grapes from two distinct vineyards in the Yatir Forest, situated at an altitude of 650 and 680 meters above sea level. The wines were fermented in chilled stainless steel tanks and were transferred for a short aging period of approximately 3 months in old barrels only. The wine was bottled at the winery in May 2012.
Tasting Notes: The wine’s color is golden light-green, combining aromas of white peach, green apple and citrus blossom. Its flavor is reminiscent of peaches, nectarine and citrus. The wine is endowed with a medium body and a fresh, tangy finish.
Yatir Forest Vineyards 2011 Vintage: The winter was low on precipitation and cold spells (112 mm. of rainfall in Ramat Arad and 175 mm. in the Yatir Forest. A substantial amount of rain fell in the spring), followed by a cloudy and colder than average spring season. The growing season was comfortable and exceptionally mild.
Dry white wine, produced from 100% Viognier grapes from two distinct vineyards in the Yatir Forest, situated at an altitude of 650 and 680 meters above sea level. The wines were fermented and aged in chilled stainless steel tanks and the wine was bottled at the winery in February 2011.
Tasting Notes: The wine’s color is sparkling yellowish-green, combining aromas of white peach, nectarine and apricot. Its flavor is reminiscent of ripe peaches and mango. The wine is endowed with a medium body and a fresh, tangy finish.
Yatir Forest Vineyards 2010 Vintage: The level of precipitation was normal for the region, with most of the rain falling at the end of the winter and at the beginning of spring. Blossoming and flowering took place early that year, however an August heat wave deferred the ripening process. Harvesting of the white varieties commenced at the beginning of August.
Dry white wine, produced from 100% Viognier grapes from two distinct vineyards in the Yatir Forest, situated at an altitude of 650 and 680 meters above sea level. The wines were fermented and aged in chilled stainless steel tanks.
Semi-dry white wine, produced from 100% Viognier grapes from two distinct vineyards in the Yatir Forest, situated at an altitude of 650 and 680 meters above sea level. The wines were cold fermented and aged in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks.
Dry white wine, produced from 100% Viognier grapes from two distinct vineyards in the Yatir Forest, situated at an altitude of 650 and 680 meters above sea level. The wines were fermented and aged in chilled stainless steel tanks.
Semi-dry white wine, produced from 100% Viognier grapes from two distinct vineyards in the Yatir Forest, situated at an altitude of 650 and 680 meters above sea level. The wines were fermented and aged in chilled stainless steel tanks. The first Viognier vineyard vintage in the Yatir Forest (in the Southern Judean Hills). 2,390 bottle were filled in the spring of 2007.
