In the Israeli wine world, where heavy red wines are still trying to steal the show, Sphera Winery continues to prove that the future belongs to the whites.
The winery, which has championed an exclusive specialization in precise white wines, does it again, this time with the launch of the sparkling wine Erez 2022.
Under the White Concepts philosophy of winemaker Doron Rav–Hon, the winery has become identified with distilled minimalism and a practice focused solely on white wine, while relinquishing background noise in favor of a deep exploration of the terroir.
Following the launch of Mia 2018, Sphera’s first sparkling wine, named after Doron and Sima Rav–Hon's daughter, the second sibling now joins the team.
In a winery that specializes only in white wines, the choice of a sparkling wine is not just a professional step, but also a statement of elegance and freshness.
Four years of hard work
Erez is a Blanc de Blancs, a sparkling wine based entirely on the purity of Chardonnay grapes. It brings to the glass everything that made Sphera Winery a household name: Understated elegance, sharp freshness, and a technical precision that allows the grape variety to speak for itself.
With the launch of Erez, Sphera Winery not only expands its sparkling wine line, but firmly establishes a tradition in which the first names of family members become an inseparable part of the winery's professional mosaic.
"During the production of the first sparkling wine," Sima shares, "Doron was late one day picking up Lia from dance class. Lia was very upset, and Doron asked her how he could make it up to her. 'I want the sparkling wine to be named after me,' the daughter replied. And that is where a tradition began."
"When we opened the sparkling wine, Doron declared that this was the first and last time he would make such a wine, and at that moment I realized he was wrong. I convinced him that we have two more children, and therefore he must continue the tradition. And so arrived, after four years of intensive and hard work, the wine Erez."
Mainly a lot of love
A swallow is illustrated on the bottle's label. "Erez loves tattoos," Sima explained. "When he got the first one, he told me a beautiful story about a tree and roots. When he wanted to get the second one, he suggested that we do it together, and I melted immediately."
"I asked him what he wanted to do and he said 'a swallow'. I asked why and he explained that a swallow symbolizes family. I immediately agreed."
"I am proud to be part of this family," Erez said. "I am drafting in August so I won't be here to help dad, but after the army I intend to come back here, to replace dad, while he stands by my side and explains everything.
"My siblings will also continue the legacy, and so instead of 12 or 13 years we will already reach 30 years and more, and we will continue to develop from year to year, and we will have more wine and more people." "And mainly a lot of love," Lia adds."
2,300 numbered bottles
Doron Rav–Hon, with his usual 'brevity', led us without any unnecessary speeches to the tasting of 'Erez 2022,' which is made of one hundred percent Chardonnay grapes that underwent 10 months of fermentation and aging in wooden barrels, and nearly twenty-five months on the lees in the bottle.
Sphera Winery, Erez, Blanc de Blancs 2022
The wine is produced using the traditional method from the Chardonnay vineyard grapes of Sphera Winery in Givat Yeshayahu. A charming and precise dry wine, with aromas of green apple, yeast, and a mineral acidity built on a beautiful texture.
The finish is long, gastronomic, and balanced. A limited edition of 2,300 numbered bottles. Zero dosage. The price: NIS 280.