Adam Montefiore

Adam S. Montefiore is a wine trade veteran and a winery insider turned wine writer, who has written his Wine Talk column for The Jerusalem Post since 2010. For over thirty-eight years he has contributed to the advance of Israeli wine and has been referred to as "the English voice of Israeli wine." Born in London, brought up in England, he initially worked in the English wine trade. When he made Aliyah, he devoted himself to Israeli wine, working for many years for Yarden-Golan Heights Winery, Carmel Winery and Yatir Winery. He was a founding member of The Academy of Wine Service (UK) and founder of Handcrafted Wines of Israel. Montefiore is a member of The Circle of Wine Writers, based in the UK. He is author of: Domaine du Castel: The Biography , Golan Heights Winery: Forty Years… , The Wine Route of Israel , and Wines of Israel . He is also a contributor to Jancis Robinson MW’s The Oxford Companion To Wine , The World Atlas of Wine , Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book , and The Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia . Other than writing about wine, he divides his time between The Israel Wine Experience, which educates about Israeli wine and advances wine tourism, and Adam Montefiore Wine Consultancy, which advises wineries, hotels, restaurants, retailers, and private individuals. He is the fifth generation after Sir Moses Montefiore and the first from the family to make aliyah. His brothers include historian Simon Sebag Montefiore (author of Jerusalem: The Biography ) and writer Hugh Sebag Montefiore. He lives in Ra’anana, north of Tel Aviv. His wife passed away in 2015 and he has three children and six grandchildren. Adam is a two time winner of the Gourmand Awards, the Oscars for food and wine books, and he was recently presented with the prestigious Terravino Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his contribution to Israeli wine.
LIGHT MEAL with a light wine: Rose is always a good option.

Wine Talk: Make me a match

If all this sounds too serious, then note this slogan: “Match the wine to mood, not to food.”

JUNE 6, 2026
YARDEN SAUVIGNON BLANC is perfect with goat cheese. Cheese and wine are natural partners.

Wine Talk: Wine and cheese, please

On Shavuot, it is traditional to serve dairy products, and it is the perfect opportunity to have a wine and cheese party.

MAY 16, 2026
Assaf Granit (L) and Elie Wurtman sample their wine in the Bat Shlomo vineyards.

Alef: Tasting the Israeli rosé wine going global with Assaf Granit's push

From vineyard to global tables, Barely Pink reimagines Israeli rosé with bold flavor, identity, and international reach.

MAY 2, 2026

Wine Talk: Wining in the kitchen

From bland beginnings to a food and wine boom, Israel’s culinary scene has transformed into a global dining destination.

APRIL 25, 2026
Good-old cooking days: Old-school Israeli kitchen in more modest times.

Wine Talk: Keep calm, drink wine

Most important is to choose a wine you like or that you would really like to try. This is far more important than buying something simply to impress anyone with you.

APRIL 11, 2026
QUITE SIMPLE: The recipe is to pour yourself a glass of fine wine like Barkan Altitude in order to feel better

Wine Talk: Pass over the wine

Here's what you need to know to choose the perfect wines for your Passover Seder.

MARCH 28, 2026
Passover may be seen as a wine banquet. The 1848 Winery offers quality, value, and award-winning wines.

Wine Talk: The three musketeers

Tzora and Flam wineries make history, becoming the first Israelis to own a Bordeaux estate with Château Tour du Haut-Moulin.

MARCH 22, 2026
ISRAELIS IN BORDEAUX. The three musketeers (L to R): Eran Pick MW, Dan Sheinman, and Golan Flam – owners and winemakers of Château Tour du Haut-Moulin.

Wine Talk: The French revolution

From Rishon LeZion to Zichron Ya’akov, Rothschild’s wineries anchored Israeli wine through empire, mandate, and statehood.

FEBRUARY 21, 2026
BARON EDMOND DE ROTHSCHILD, founder of an Israeli wine industry.

Wine Talk: Wine on the edge

Vineyards growing in the desert, the Negev is Israel’s daring wine experiment.

JANUARY 31, 2026
The Pauker Red made in memory of winemaker Gideon Pauker, murdered on Oct. 7, 2023.

Wine Talk: The journey continues

Adam Montefiore recounts 50 years shaping Israeli wine, from pioneering oak barrels to international awards.

JANUARY 17, 2026
Successful service: Presenting the Yarden Award for Wine Service with Segev Yerovam (C) to Avi Ben Ami (R).

Wine Talk: Experiencing la dolce vita

All credit to Guy Haran and Vinspiration. Keep onwards and upwards. Wine tourism is crucial, and your success is our success!

JANUARY 4, 2026
Chateau Montalbert.

Wine Talk: From winemakers to farmers

For the Flam boys, the deep cellars, aromas of the winery, and dark corners were a playground that beckoned them into a world of wine.

DECEMBER 20, 2025
Flam's vineyard snakes through the valley.

Wine Talk: Exploring biblical Israel

The archaeological site of ancient Shiloh is situated near the modern Shiloh. One shows evidence of ancient winemaking, the other houses a modern winery.

DECEMBER 6, 2025
Drinking wine