How far is the winery from Haifa?

Pelter Winery in Kibbutz Ein Zivan, on the Golan Heights, is about 105 km from Haifa — roughly a 96-minute drive.

Do I need to book ahead?

No, walk-ins are welcome. But for groups of 8 or more, tour guides and organized groups, and on guest-chef days, it's best to contact ahead — seating is subject to availability.

Is this a kosher winery?

The main Pelter label is deliberately non-kosher. The kosher wine here is a separate sister label, Matar by Pelter (since 2012), sold as certified kosher (reported non-mevushal). The exact hechsher is stated inconsistently across sources, so confirm with the winery or on the label; in the tasting room, ask specifically for the Matar wines.

What does a visit include?

A tasting right inside the working production hall among the tanks and barrels: Pelter wines, the kosher Matar wines and distillery spirits by the glass or bottle. Alongside them, a platter of local goat cheeses with bread and olive oil, and guest-chef menus on weekends and holidays.

What is Pelter Winery known for?

Its unusual dual-label model: the founders kept Pelter non-kosher and built a separate kosher winery, Matar, alongside it rather than converting the existing one. It's also known for its high-altitude Golan terroir (~1,000 m, volcanic soil), tastings among the barrels, and its own distillery (since 2013) making gin, vermouth, brandy/arak and whisky.

Pelter Winery

Golan

Pelter Winery was founded in 2002 by brothers Tal and Nir Pelter, starting in the yard of the family home in Moshav Tzofit with about 4,000 bottles. In 2005 it moved to Kibbutz Ein Zivan in the northern Golan Heights, where it sits at roughly 1,000 m on volcanic basaltic soil, surrounded by its own vineyards. Winemaker Tal Pelter trained in oenology and viticulture in Australia and built the winery around the idea of "quality wines at an accessible price"; the late critic Daniel Rogov rated Pelter among Israel's top wineries. Pelter has an unusual dual-label model. The main Pelter label was deliberately kept non-kosher so Tal could work the wines hands-on, and in 2012 the brothers created a separate kosher sister label, Matar by Pelter, made with the help of observant workers. The wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a méthode-traditionnelle Chardonnay sparkling wine; the kosher Matar range offers Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc–Semillon, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Petit Verdot and a "CB" blend. Since 2013 an on-site distillery makes gin, vermouth, brandy/arak and single-malt whisky from grapes, Pink Lady apples and Medjool dates. The tasting room is set right inside the working production hall — among the fermentation tanks and barrels. Here they pour Pelter wines, the kosher Matar wines and the distillery spirits, by the glass or bottle to enjoy on-site. Food is a platter of locally produced goat cheeses with bread and olive oil, plus local delicatessen items; guest-chef menus run on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays (confirm dates with the winery). The venue is wheelchair accessible, with a wine shop on-site and online. Important: because the room pours both the non-kosher Pelter and the kosher Matar, a kosher visitor should specifically ask for the Matar wines.

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Pelter Winery

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