"Today with production at approximately 1,000,000 bottles per annum, the Tishbi winery produces both varietal and non varietal wines in several series." Yonatan Sternberg heads off to Zichron Ya'akov to try and taste as much as he can.
The Tishbi family is one of the oldest players in the Israeli wine industry. After emigrating from Romania in the second half of the 19th century and settling nearby what was then known as the town of Zamarin, the Tishbi’s began planting vineyards on the slopes of the Carmel Mountain. In 1887, at the request of the Baron Edmond de Rothschild (who was the owner of Chateau Laffite and no stranger to the wine industry) the village was renamed “Zichron Yaacov” in memory of his father Jacob.
In 1985 Jonathan Tishbi, 4th generation to a family of vintners from Shefaya, just north of Zichron Yaacov, established the winery under the name “HaBaron” (Hebrew for 'the baron'), in honor of Baron Rothschild. Later on, the winery was given its current name “Tishbi”, with the encouragement of the poet Chaim Nachman Bialik.
Today with production at approximately 1,000,000 bottles per annum, the Tishbi winery produces both varietal and non varietal wines in several series. This week I sampled the Chardonnay from the wineries medium range series “Estate”. Wines from this series are usually intended for moderate aging and for the most part can be enjoyed from release.
Tasting Notes:
Estate, Chardonnay, 2007 Price: 44-50 NIS
With a light straw color, on the nose and palate this Chardonnay is showing distinctive citrus and green apple characteristics followed by a slightly alcoholic finish.
Food Pairing:
The winery recommends serving this wine alongside light fish dishes; another great option would bring this bottle on your next picnic lunch. Don’t bother to bring your cork screw since the Chardonnay 2007 is equipped with a screw top cap.
By the way, the winery also produces another Chardonnay wine as part of their premium Jonathan Tishbi series.
For further information on the Tishbi winery, check out their web site: http://www.tishbi.com/
