Vitkin Winery

Vitkin Winery is a family-run estate in Kfar Vitkin, founded in 2001 by brothers-in-law Doron Belogolovsky and Assaf Paz on land tied to Doron's family, whose great-grandparents helped found Kfar Vitkin in 1932. Sharona Paz-Belogolovsky joined in 2003 as CEO. Bordeaux-trained winemaker Assaf Paz made Vitkin a pioneer of Mediterranean-style winemaking in Israel, reviving varieties such as Carignan and Petite Sirah for quality varietal wines; critic Adam Montefiore calls him "the father of quality Carignan in Israel." Around 2015 the winery moved to a larger modern facility — the vintage from which its wines became kosher. Vitkin is especially known for its old-vine Carignan and Petite Sirah, along with Collector's Edition whites such as Grenache Blanc and Gewürztraminer. The estate makes three lines: Israeli Journey (entry-level blends for everyday drinking), Vitkin (varietal wines, including its noted Carignan), and Shorashim / "Roots" — the prestige line of age-worthy wines (for example, Roots Z). Vitkin runs a reservation-based visitor and events center beside the Alexander Stream reserve and the Turtle Bridge. It offers guided wine tastings (white or red ~₪75; lunch/dinner tastings ~₪95; premium tastings ~₪150-250 per the official site), a farm-to-table dairy dining experience by Chef Elihai using local seasonal ingredients, and an on-site wine shop with current releases, rare Collector's Edition wines and family-cellar bottles. It is not a walk-in venue — seating is by reservation only.

Information updated: May 2026