Scoria Winery

Scoria Winery is a small boutique estate winery in Kanaf, on the southern Golan Heights. It was founded in 2008 when Ofer Turgeman began making wine for family and friends from vineyards he planted at Tel Pares — a former volcano whose eruptions left rich volcanic/basalt soil, which gives the winery its name ("scoria" = volcanic rock). The estate farms about 36 dunams of vineyards at roughly 740 m elevation and vinifies only its own grapes. Over the years partners joined Turgeman (per the current official site, Julia and Yevgeny Paperni-Schwartz). Production has grown to roughly 15,000 bottles a year of red, white and rosé. Varieties include Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Merlot, plus whites such as Roussanne, Muscat, Gewürztraminer, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. Syrah is the flagship grape, and the whites are a particular strength (Roussanne, the "Dolmen" blend). The lineup also includes a red blend called "Rujum al-Hiri" (Wheel of Ghosts) and a rosé. At the visitor center you can do a guided tasting (about 45 minutes), tours of the vineyard and winery, and the winery's signature scent/aroma workshops. A longer combined tour (roughly 3–4 hours) adds a lookout from Tel Pares and visits to the ancient synagogue and spring at Kanaf. Tastings are paired with a cheese-and-cracker board served in the winery garden (bustan), along with local products such as bread, olive oil and vegetables. Note: visits are by advance reservation only, and the official site mentions that on-site visits were suspended due to the regional security situation — confirm the current status before visiting.