Peres launches vineyard trail

Ever since he was a young man who helped found Kibbutz Alumot in the Lower Galilee and who lived for several years on Kibbutz Geva in the Jezreel Valley, President Shimon Peres has had a soft spot for the Galilee and is ready to go there at the drop of a hat.

This was especially felt during the period in which he was minister for the regional development of the Galilee and the Negev from 2006 to 2007.

Despite the intense heat and humidity on Wednesday, Peres headed north to help launch the Galilee Vineyard Trail. He visited vineyards, wineries and breweries, saluting those residents who had taken the initiative to grow grapes and produce wines, beers, cheeses and various regional delicacies.

After pronouncing the vineyard trail “unique,” Peres said that he was not sure how many Israelis had been exposed to its charm, rustic beauty, rural hospitality and wonderful people. If anyone was looking for an Israeli equivalent to Tuscany he said, this was it.

Temporarily becoming the new voice for the promotion of domestic tourism, Peres urged the public to spend a day or two in the area, or to choose the Galilee as a venue for a family holidays or romantic vacations.

The launching of the vineyard trail took place that evening in the presence of some 400 tourists. Peres, who toured the area earlier in the day, remained for the evening’s festivities.

The Galilee has in recent years become a place of pilgrimage for wine connoisseurs who attend the annual international wine festivals in the area.

The Galilee, however, is not without its problems. The heads of the local authorities that hosted Peres discussed some of these issues with him.

For some people the time spent in wearying climatic conditions might have been a draining experience, but for 87-year-old Peres, it was all in a day’s work as he remained as buoyant as ever.