Our adventures take us this time to the northern part of Israel near Tzfat, to the haven of Or Haganuz. Home to many beautiful vineyards which overlook Meron, this area has been known to have some of the best soil in the entire country to grow the most luscious grapes. It is said that the grapes from this region were used to make wine for the Korbanot in the Beit Hamikdash. Or Haganuz winery was founded in 2005 and has since been run by a completely Shomer Shabbos Orthodox staff. The meaning of the winery’s name ‘Hidden Light’ is a hint to the creation of the world.

Many may think that making wine is an ungodly type of task, but they are indeed incorrect with this assumption, especially the wines that are being produced at this particular winery. The area in the Galilee where the winery lays, has been the destination for hundreds of thousands of Jews throughout history, whether they are visiting the cave of Rav Shimon on Lag Bao’mer or visiting the Kivrei Tzaddikim in Tzfat like Rav Yitzchak Luria also known as the Arizal or Rav Moshe Alsheich. The winery has the most beautiful vineyards right on the campus of the winery, said to be the most beautiful estate winery in the entire land of Israel. The scenery and Kedusha are breathtaking. This area truly is a hidden light in the north, which brings the inhabitants of the village and purveyors of these wines to another level.

The philosophy of the winery is singular, highlight the grapes grown in each vineyard to its potential. This philosophy can certainly be applied as a personal lesson as well, highlight our good traits to the best of our ability, winemaker Aharon Ziv says. The village was established and is lead by the Kabbalist Rav Mordechai Sheinberger and his students, who wanted to create a cooperative based on giving to the community and make a spiritual impact on each other. The Rav was a contemporary of Rav Yehuda Ashlag who wrote a commentary on the Zohar. It is befitting that this spiritual haven is footsteps from Har Meron and the burial place of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai author of the Zohar. The village is based on giving to others and influencing the world spiritually. Through the winery the villagers have found a wonderful way to combine these together. The winery provides a respectable livelihood to the residents of Or Haganuz and supports the social ideals on which the village is based. Producing quality wine with much love while complying with the strictest rules of the Halacha with regards to both quality and Kashrut to the joy of Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael and the Diaspora Aharon explains to me that their philosophy for winemaking is one that has high aspirations.

Making good wine is not enough for this winemaker, experimenting and utilizing the most advance technology is key to improving the wines vintage after vintage. The winery is also involved with aiding and producing wines from different wineries. The highest standard of Kashrut is adhered to at Or Haganuz, making it an ideal facility for cooperative agreements with surrounding wineries to do their crushing and bottling. The opportunity for achdut among Israeli wineries is astounding. This is something I knew nothing about until I saw it in action where winemakers from all different walks of life collaborate. They constantly try to help each other with any questions or production or roadblocks during any one of the intricate processes that are involved with producing wine. Aharon Ziv comments that he loves to learn from wineries making wines in an old world style, while Or Haganuz wines are for the most part new world in style. The blend of both styles and methods have resulted in amazing unique appealing wines, on both ends.

Or Haganuz offers many wines for every type of consumer. There is the Amuka, Elima, and Marom Series, as well as the flagship Orot series, which includes the Horkenus. We recently had the opportunity to have a white wine tasting panel. The star of the show was the Blanc Blend from the Amuka Series. It was floral and refreshing and easy on the palate, while being able to stand up to an array of fine cheeses presented with the wine. A fun wine for summer and even more fun for every season. Other wines to note are the dessert wines. There is the Har Sinai Dessert wine, which is made in port style. The Har Sinai is robust and interesting with its dark inky purple hues and nose ripe with dark red fruits and chocolate shavings atop tobacco. This type of wine will pair with anything chocolate easily, as well as on its own as a digestif post Shabbos meal. Two wines which are winners year in and out are the Marom Cabernet Franc and the Namura Cabernet Sauvignon. They are versatile and continue to become more complex as the vineyards and winemaking process mature at Or Haganuz.

There is no lacking of interesting and tasty wines offered by Or Haganuz, but there is one wine which catches most people’s attention since it appeal to a niche market of those who avoid added sulfites to wines. All wine and grape juice has sulfites naturally as grapes contain sulfites. Many foods contain sulfites from dried apricots to pickles. Some people enjoy wines in their purest forms and this is where the Elima wine fills a void in the kosher consumer market. There are a handful of no added sulfite wines on the market. The Elima, with its no added sulfites and background of a spiritual winemaking process at Or Haganuz is a must for wine drinkers. Named for Elima College, which is an institution which teaches natural medicine this wine is a vehicle for connecting the body with the soul and the mind. I strongly urge tourists and locals alike to visit the production at Or Haganuz winery to see where Kabbalah and physical unite in the winemaking process. It would be befitting to stop by their facility after a visit to the Kever of the Rashbi next Lag B’aomer! L’chaim!

To schedule a tour and a tasting at Or Haganuz, the winery can be contacted via email at: ofer@amit-manage.co.il