Vineyards and Wineries in the Golan and Galilee : Bicycle touring in Israel

March 14, 2009 - PRLog -- The Israel Travel Company is pleased to announce this wine tour of  Northern  Israel on bicycles.


Day 1
Northern and Central Golan
Approx 40 Km.

We will begin our journey at the north end of the Golan Heights and take two days to gradually descend toward the Jordan Valley.



In the midst of an ancient oak forest lays Odem, an agricultural community neighboring the Druze communities of the Hermon Region. Here you will find The Odem Mountain Winery ,pressing grapes grown in magmatic soil into fine wine.
Then  we head towards the Pelter Winery established in 2005 . Using only handpicked grapes and employing only family members, the Pelters offer a wide selection of red and bubbly wines.

In Kidmat Tsvi. we visit  several wineries including  Bazeltet HaGolan Winery and end the day in the Bell-Ofri Courtyard with a restaurant, gallery and winery all in a small slice of paradise. You can also visit the several living exhibitions of olive oil production and wine pressing from Talmudic times.
Overnight : Katsrin,

 
Day 2
Katsrin and the Southern Golan Heights
Approx 40 Km.


Visit the Golan Winery , one the largest and most famous wineries in Israel and producing wine in a state of the art wine producing center. Golan Winery also holds a visitors center, wine store and gourmet dining.
We then ride to Avnei Eitan and the Bashan Organic Winery . After Bashan, we head a few kilometers down to Ali Ad. Just outside the moshav, above the waterfalls of the El Al stream stands the Chateau Golan Winery. In a new and modern building, the owners combine wine, modern art and architecture.
Overnight Katsrin

Day 3
Down to Rosh Pina and Up to the Galilee
Approx 45 Km (hilly).


The day will begin with a long downhill, toward Rosh Pina. and  the Rosh Pina Winery,then . two kilometers north to Hazor HaGlilit, and the Meister Winery. A long uphill awaits you heading to the city Of  Safed (Tsfat). The Ancient city of Safed, holy to Judaism, sits above most of the Galilee, overlooking Mt Meron.and a winery in Biria
From Biria, we ride  to Dalton. Two wineries thrive here in Dalton; Adir and Dalton. We will end the day in Kerem BenZimra (Kerem meaning Vineyard), home to three wineries; Ben Zimra, Miles, and Rimon.

Overnight in Kerem BenZimra.

Day 4
The Upper Galilee and the Beit Hakerem Valley
Approx 50 Km.


Our first stop for the day in Ramot Naftali, a few kilometers away.  The Ramot Naftali Winery offers a small selection of wine and a tour of the winery and the vineyards that surround it. Nearby the Na’aman Winery holds wine and a selection of accessories. and the Amram’s Winery a small venture  in Ramot Naftali.

Following the  road along the border with Lebanon  will eventually bring us to Kibbutz Yaron. In the entrance to the Kibbutz awaits the Galil-Mountain Winery .This is one of larger wineries in the north, and is one of the several brands which are exported from Israel. The winery offers tours and wine tasting.  
We then ride towards Gish and Meron and turn to Kfar Shamai, our last stop for the day.  Beyond the gates of Kfar Shamai, you will find the Nahal Amud Winery and a  hosted private tour and tasting.
Overnight in Kfar Shamai or Amirim .

Day 5
The Lower Galilee and the Tabor Region
Approx 60-80 Km.


We head down the hill outside of Beit Shamai, towards the Beit HaKerem Valley  until we reach Ma’ale Tsvia. The Essence Winery is a unique communal project. The whole village takes part in all the stages of wine making, a joint effort that generates fine red wines.
After the Essence Winery,we head south , cross the town of A’rabe and continue  through Mashed and up to the City of Nazareth. The city itself, although it holds no wineries, is well worth a visit due to its historical and religious significance.

Follow the city streets down toward the valley separating Nazareth to Mt Tabor  we continue to the  cyclists Hooha hotel., Kfar Tavor has two wineries. The Tabor Winery offers a fascinating tour and visitors center. Nearby is, the Mount Tabor Wine Celler
Overnight in Kfar Tavor.


Day 6
The Lower Galilee and the Carmel


Ride to Migdal HaEmeq. This small town, overlooking the Jezreel Valley, is home to the Keshet Winery .We will then Visit the organic winery at  Kfar Yehoshua, .
From Kfar Yehosua,we ride to Kfar Tikva. with its' Tulip Winery  which aims to be the largest wine-culture center in the north,
Overnight in the Kiryat Tivon area.

If we still have time and energy, we will climb up to Kiryat Tivon, and head downhill to the two wineries north of there. The Alon Winery is set in an 150 year old stone building in Aloni Aba and north of there in Aloni HaGalil, the Yftachel Winery set in a wood house, offers red wine and homemade honey.



Day 7
The Carmel and Zichron Ya’akov
Approx 60-80 Km.

Leaving  the Kiryat Tivon area we head to the bottom of Mt Carmel. A long climb awaits ,through the town of Nesher where we will climb up the northern slope of Mt Carmel. At the top of the hill, on the border between Nesher and Haifa, we will visit  a small winery .
From there we  head along the ridge of the Carmel to the Druze town of Daliat El Carmel. After a visit to the town and its markets, we rde towards Kerem Maharal. Just outside of this community, in the Mekora farm, the Amphorae Winery awaits in a stunning stone building.

From Kerem Maharal, we ride to a unique winery. A large cave, dug for unclear reasons during the Ottoman empire time has been converted in the past few years into a winery; The Cave estimated to be 400 years old is on our travel route to Zichron Yaakov . The town, founded in 1882 together with The Carmel Winery, the largest in Israel, has been active ever since in the very same spot. Carmel Wineries offer a fascinating tour of the location, including tastings and an exhibition of the history of wine-making in the Carmel. Two other boutique wineries are also to be found in the town. The Smader Winery and  the Somek Winery.
A few kilometers south of Zichron Ya’akov stands the last “wine town” of this tour; Binyamina. Two large wineries, Tishbi and Binyamina, are an inseparable part of the landscape of the southern Carmel. The Tishbi family started to grow vines in the area in the 1880’s, and opened their own winery here a hundred years later. The winery offers wine tasting tours, and a fine dairy restaurant in their beautiful visitors center. Binyamina  is one of the largest wine producers is Israel. In the heart of this old town, the winery offers wine tasting and tours in addition to seminars and classes about the culture of wine.

Transportation to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa are all available here, or spend the night in Binyamina over a fine bottle of wine.

This tour outline is an example of the customized and personalized tour that we design for each of our client groups  according to their interests and  touring time frame .Please contact us for further detailed information.

Associated Websites:
 http://israeltravelcompany.com
 http://www.israeltravelcompanytours.com
 http://www.zeltours.com

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A small tour company specializing in custom designed ,family or small group travel experiences in Israel (min 4 - max 18 persons) ,with an off the beaten track emphasis and highlighting personalized wine,bike and walking tours of Israel.