Fireworks and distilleries, Bubbles and foam celebrations

The wine and alcohol division of Yashirko is bringing to Israel a greeting from another world. That is, from New Zealand. Nowadays it’s all the same, after all.

Yealands Winery was founded in 2008 on the coastline of the country’s South Island and was the first in the world to boast a zero-carbon footprint. Its estate vineyards, naturally called Seaview Vineyards, are located in a relatively wild area, enjoying wind and a maritime climate that is certainly unusual for winemaking.

The winery’s pioneer delegation currently includes a dry white wine from Sauvignon Blanc grapes (NIS 65) grown in the famous Marlborough region, with fruity-herbaceous aromas and refreshing acidity; and Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc (NIS 79), the winery’s premium wine, based on select grapes from selected plots in the Awatere Valley, offering a long, deep sip, perfectly suited to a blue-and-white summer.

A very intriguing move by the excellent Polish brand shifts the focus to what it calls “the next generation of premium drinks,” or super-premium—depending on how you like your luxury.

Belvedere Organic Vodka, part of the LVMH luxury group, is the herald of a gradual transition to fully organic production. It is, of course, based on organic rye, boasts European Union procedural labels and certifications, and shuns words like “fertilizer” and phrases like “synthetic pesticides.”

The result, as expected, is incredibly smooth, elevating what was already considered an excellent drink. The taste is mostly neutral, with only light hints of spice, and a “clearance” that can be enjoyed even without coming straight from the freezer. Price: NIS 149 for a 1-liter bottle (with a new gold cap and a label communicating the switch).

The popular Israeli brand naturally reaches into a new category and launches a new summer of possibilities.

Spring’s new beverage series offers, for now, three flavors (and 5% alcohol, of course): Tropical Island (tropical fruits), Golden Sunset (pineapple-banana), and Garden of Eden (pear-apple-prickly pear).

The format is 330 ml cans, and the stated intentions are to give a happy shake to the local market, which has not yet joined a broad global trend. In this regard, it’s an excellent, tasty, and fruity opening move—naturally gentle in its drink strength and ideal for a start.

One of the most popular alcohol brands on the shelf also enters summer with its own launch.

Raspberry Breezer from Bacardi (imported by breweries) joins the hits of watermelon, mango-passion fruit, peach, pineapple, and lemon-lime, sharing the same traits—275 ml bottles, gentle and reasonable 4% alcohol, and a bit of rum. As a ready-to-drink beverage, it does its job well, moderately uplifting, sweet, and making everything else seem to fall into place just a bit better. Price: NIS 10–15.

The Dutch lager brand expands its offerings with a new, tailored, and focused four-pack.

Heineken’s green pack (NIS 24.90), brought to Israel via Tempo, includes four 250 ml bottles designed to respond to consumer demands and provide a proper solution for a personal, elegant, and moderate craving. For the vast majority of consumers and drinkers, it’s a winning move that allows flexibility and relative control over the drinking, all the way to a positive and joyful summer experience.

The veteran alcohol brand pours light, cooling bubbles over us from Italy, via AGAT&D The glasses are, of course, included.

Zonin’s Prosecco pack—a family winery established in Veneto in 1821, no less—includes an Extra Dry sparkling bottle and two colorful flute glasses, intended as a gift for hosts, though you’d do well to think of yourselves in this matter too.

The wine, from local Glera grapes, undergoes double fermentation in the winery’s tanks and emerges with a refreshing sip, a golden-greenish look, and a fruity, tangy taste. Price: NIS 79.

Another delivery from AGAT&D brings less alcohol (0.0%, to be exact) but exactly the same vibe—summer, and summer’s release.

La Trappe Nillis is the new star of the veteran brewery (1884 and still bubbling) in Berkel-Enschot, the Netherlands, boasting traditions and secret recipes passed down from generation to generation, crafted meticulously by the monks of “Our Lady of Koningshoeven,” and steeped in a rich mythology.

It’s a dark beer, with a deep reddish color, light foam, and a thick-rich texture, all culminating in a refreshing, bitter-sweet sip, aiming for caramel notes—and indeed reaching them. Price: NIS 14.90 for a 330 ml bottle.

The excellent Israeli winery celebrates the summer and a rather exciting win at the Golden Cluster competition.

Tzuba’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2022, which took first place in the under-NIS 100 category in the local contest, is a dry red wine from the winery’s vineyards in the Judean Hills, aged for 14 months in French oak barrels. In return, they provide a complex aroma and a strong, spiced, moderately fruity sip that is excellent overall.

The excellent Israeli winery celebrates the hot season with the launch of products from the Aviezer Vineyard on the slopes of Judea—two ideal summer bottles from the Essence series.

Essence Chenin Blanc 2024 is a dry white wine from vineyard grapes. They aged in stainless steel tanks and used oak barrels, together creating a light blend with fruity aromas and a tangy-refreshing sip. Price: NIS 75.

Essence Sémillon 2024 is a dry white wine from grapes aged using the Sur Lie method, holding a delicate tropical aroma and light, balanced flavors. Price: NIS 75.

The excellent Israeli winery is also reopening its visitor center—for visits, events, tours, and, of course, plenty of tastings—and celebrates summer in due time, with all its advantages and passions.

Binyamina Chardonnay is a dry white wine from grapes grown on the slopes of Mount Gilboa, above the Beit She’an Valley, spending time along the way in stainless steel tanks and French and American oak barrels. The result is golden in appearance and fruity in taste, very refreshing, and promising development over the years for those who can wait. Price: NIS 85.

Yogev Gewürztraminer, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc is a semi-dry white wine from grapes grown on the ridges of the northern Negev, fermented separately, and finally blended into a wine that embodies a hot Israeli season—tangy and sweet, with apples and flowers, perfect as the opening to a meeting, an event, or a day. Price: NIS 45.

The wine and alcohol division of Yashirko is bringing to Israel a highly sought-after and well-timed Italian delegation, ready to pour.

The summer collection of Fattoria il Muro—a long-standing family winery operating for over 200 years in the Tuscany region and extending vineyards to the Castro Valley—includes three white wines and one rosé model. Exactly what the doctor ordered against the temperatures.

Fattoria il Muro Sassone (NIS 55) is a dry white blend from Trebbiano, Malvasia, and Vermentino grapes, with a fruity wrap, successful balance, and light character.

Fattoria il Muro Lama (named after an ancient farm on the winery’s grounds, NIS 55) is a dry white wine based on Chardonnay grapes, with light shades, floral aromas, and excellent acidity.

Fattoria il Muro Verdone (NIS 69) is a dry white wine from Vermentino grapes, excelling in refreshing minerality, all the way to the ideal aperitif–aperitivo sip.

Fattoria il Muro Elvira (NIS 69) is a dry rosé wine from Sangiovese grapes, with a delicate fruity emphasis and elegant flavors, even in the Middle East.

The excellent wine importer brings to Israel a very distinguished and highly popular delegation from France, all the way to a summer that is both hot and cool.

The Francophile hit that is JP. Chenet was founded in 1984 and quickly became one of the best-selling wineries in the world, with impressive sales figures (51 million bottles a year, and a sale every two seconds, according to the company), a necessary balance between production and pricing, and wonderful bottles with curved neck designs under the name “Josephine.”

The vanguard arriving in Israel via Shaked includes ambassadors from several categories, including classic varietal wines such as Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Merlot (NIS 40), which manage to deliver on most opening promises; alcohol-free wines such as Chardonnay and Rosé (NIS 49); the sparkling “Ice” edition in white or rosé format (NIS 55); and “Delicious” semi-sweet wines in white, rosé, or red versions (NIS 49).

The veteran Israeli winery opens the harvest season with a wide local spread (75 growers, 256 plots from the north of the Golan Heights to the Arad Valley), a Caribbean launch and a special wine series—with ice in its bottles.

The Ice Edition from Carmel Winery was created with the Israeli forecast for the coming months in mind, highlighting two new wines, recommended for drinking with ice cubes, of course.

The white blend is a dry wine from Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat grapes, with a lemony aroma, a touch of peach, and a refreshing presence. The red blend is a dry wine from Cabernet Sauvignon and Muscat grapes, with hints of cherry and strawberries, and a surprising lightness. Price: NIS 32.

At the same time, “Buzz Mojito” (NIS 29.90) was bottled here—a ready-to-drink cocktail based on white wine with gentle bubbles, moderate strength (5–7% alcohol), a bit of rum, and flavors of lemon–mint–lime. Over ice, straight from the fridge, or perhaps even as a duet with the friends above.