One of the most beautiful things, to me at least, in the world of wine is that you constantly meet wonderful and interesting people whose motive is not necessarily greed or even the need to make a living but the desire to do good, out of a passion for wine.
Shlomo Musari from Acre is one of those people.
After retiring from long-term permanent service (Lt. Col. Res.) And "slipping" into citizenship as a project manager for several years, he decided to devote his time and energy to volunteering in a variety of organizations and fields. Green light and Yad Sarah and more.
At the same time, as a wine lover who also tried to produce some wine for self-consumption, he devoted himself to expanding his knowledge in the field and completed a practical study course for making wine at MATI Galil Western, led by Yiftach Peretz, currently the chief winemaker of Carmel Wineries. - Wine and volunteering - and founded the "Wine in the Walls" club, the Akko wine lovers' club. The first cooperative winery in Israel - "We harvest the grapes together, sort them in the winery together, do crushing and make the wine together, and in the end everyone gets the amount he has committed to."
So what, anyone can make wine?
"Anyone who wants can sign up for our practical course and learn how to make wine - from vintage to bottling, in the quantity he wants, from 50 bottles to 3 barrels. The cost is accordingly, per bottle, and the price is equal for each person when the experience is very special and the atmosphere .
In the first vintage (2020) we made 12 barrels together and in the last vintage that was during Corona we even grew by 25% to 15 barrels, which is about 4,500 bottles, quite a bit for a group of amateurs.
We have quite a few kosher participants and everyone knows that in their barrels no one is allowed to touch.
Even an official kosher certificate from the regional rabbinate can be obtained from us.
The person who accompanies us in this course is the winemaker Gino Cohen and we pick the grapes from vineyards in the localities of Amikam and Aviel near Zichron Yaacov. "
And how does it work in practice?
"The course is limited to fifty people in each cycle, but not everyone is there all the time. We do division of labor throughout the production stages, but I am there almost every day. Someone has to make sure the air conditioner is running, the barrels are full, purchase equipment and market the courses. I wanted the place to serve as a regional wine center and give a whole range of ideas to wine lovers and travelers, and we added more programs. Theoretical, longer, in which they will learn about the chemistry of the wine, defects in the wine, the role of the barrels, choosing grapes and more - just without actually making wine.
Recently, the Municipality of Acre and the Society for Community Centers also joined us, and we offer people to come and connect with the issue of wine - we have set up a pergola and for the summer we will offer a variety of outdoor events.
We also offer 'around Acre' tours around the winery, which pass through sites such as the tomb of the French general Caparelli, the Persian garden, the aqueduct, the 100-year-old Ficus Avenue, and also include a presentation at the winery and wine tasting. "
What's amazing is that Shlomo does all this activity on a full-time basis, out of love for wine and Acre - "there are great people around me who love wine, so this occupation gives me great pleasure and happiness."
Kishor Winery
Kishor Winery, Photo: Boaz Eshkol
Another wonderful example of another blessed social cause is Kishor Winery, a winery that no longer needs to be introduced to many wine lovers. The winery, which is part of the Kishorit Therapeutic Village in the Western Galilee, serves as a source of employment and livelihood for the villagers, and its wines are available not only in its beautiful visitor center but in all the finest wine shops. The residents in Kishorit, graduates with special needs, are integrated in the variety of employment in the village, including dogs, an organic vegetable garden, a bakery, a free range chicken coop, a goat dairy and a dairy farm and of course a vineyard and winery. They take care of the vineyards, harvest the grapes, bottle and actually create the wines with their own hands, accompanied and guided by a team of expert consultants. The winemaker is Richie Davis and the consultant is Itai Lahat, who do a wonderful job together and bring out wonderful wines from a region of land that has not yet been properly publicized in his vineyards.
Our recommendation: Vionia 2020, Kishor Winery - a charming Vionia installed by an artist.
Its color is very light, in the nose the scent of greenish smith apples and a hint of butter, but in the mouth the oiliness disappears and next to the apples are added sour citrus flavors and fresh herbs.
Crisp and fresh wine, and believe it or not - great for the Israeli winter as well.
(95 NIS)
Binyamina Winery
But in order to do something good for the community, it turns out that it is possible to start small, without changing worlds or changing concepts.
Binyamina Winery, one of the largest and oldest wineries in Israel, has decided to donate NIS 10 from each wine from their reserve series that will be sold during the next six months in the "Wine in the City" chain, to the "Shalva" organization.
Binyamina winemakers with Yossi, Photo: Yachz
The association, which became famous thanks to their wonderful band, was founded in 1990, at the initiative of Kalman and Malkei Samuels, the parents of Yossi Samuels, a healthy child who, following a defective vaccine he received, became deaf, blind and with complex disabilities. They believed that families like them needed support for the enormous challenges involved in raising their special children, and over the years they had grown into a leading organization working to promote and socially integrate people with disabilities. Their unique programs include sports therapy, art, music, life skills acquisition, leisure activities for children and families, training and preparation for the world of work and support and empowerment of adults with disabilities in independent housing and volunteering for the IDF and national service. And suitable for children and families.
Our recommendation: Shiraz Reserve 2019, Binyamina Winery - The price accessibility of the wines of the winery's reserve series has also made the wine more accessible and no less quality.
This shiraz is characterized by aromas and flavors of black berries, mocha and vanilla and a bit of anise at the edges.
His body is velvety and pleasant and very elegant.
It does not pretend to be a great wine and as such it gives great value for its price.
(60 NIS)
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