The Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute reported that Israel wine exports rose 10% last year and reached US$40 million and total sales were US$220 million.
The report noted that there is a growing demand from North America, Europe and Asia for Israeli wines, some of which have won dozens of prizes and are rated with top wines from California and France. Israel has 250 wineries, half of which are commercial operations.
Several wineries produce products from grapes grown in the Golan Heights and Judea and Samaria, where dry summers, cold winters and high altitudes contribute to the grapes’ high quality. In 2014, 58% of wine exports amounting to $23 million ($20 million to the US) went to North America, $13 million (up 12%) to Europe and $2.2 million (up 27%) to Asia. In Europe, France is the biggest market for Israeli wine.
