Despite lower than average rainfall and higher temperatures, Israel's wine production is set to grow this year, officials of the Israel Grape and Wine Council said Sunday. Farmers are expected to harvest 50,000 tons of wine grapes this year, compared to 47,000 last year. Some 38,000 dunams of farmland in Israel are dedicated to growing wine grapes, with most growing concentrated in the Galilee, Golan, Judea, Jerusalem area, Zichron Yaakov, Binyamina, parts of the Negev, and the Gezer area. An additional 5,000 dunams will be planted this year. The grape harvest continues throughout the rest of the summer, until mid-October.
Over 35 million bottles of wine will be produced in Israel this year, 70% of it red, and the balance white. Fifteen percent of the production is marked for export. Wine sales in Israel will amount to about NIS 800 million this year, officials said, with $24 million of that coming from exports.
Over 35 million bottles of wine will be produced in Israel this year, 70% of it red, and the balance white. Fifteen percent of the production is marked for export. Wine sales in Israel will amount to about NIS 800 million this year, officials said, with $24 million of that coming from exports.