Sarig Winery
GalileeSarig Winery is a small family estate in Moshav Merhavia in the Jezreel Valley. The Sarig family has worked this farm since the early 1920s; in the mid-1990s they became the first in the valley to plant wine grapes, and the boutique winery itself was founded in 2005. It is run by Amir Sarig, the fourth generation on the farm (winemaking master's from the University of Adelaide, earlier work at Recanati and Tabor), alongside his father Dr. Pini Sarig, a viticulturist with more than 40 years' experience. Every step, from vine to bottle, is done by family members. This is a very small production — about 5,000–8,000 bottles a year (figures vary by source), mainly Syrah, Grenache and Marselan. The flagship is a GSM blend (Grenache-Syrah-Marselan) from the family's own Jezreel Valley vineyards, with a Marsanne white as well; on a small copper still the family also distills grappa, arak and gin. Tastings are held in a small farm courtyard and hosted personally by family members, who often show guests the vineyards and the on-site vine-propagation nursery of 70+ grape varieties that supplies vineyards across Israel. There is no restaurant or formal visitor center on site.