Winery Name: | Yatir Winery |
Location City: | Tel Arad |
Location Country: | Israel |
Coordinates: | 31.2782°N 35.127°W |
Wine Region: | Negev desert |
Year Founded: | [1] |
First Vines: | 1997 |
First Vintage: | 2001[2] |
Parent Company: | Carmel Winery |
Signature Wine: | Yatir Forest |
Distribution: | international |
Yatir Winery (Hebrew: יקב יתיר) is an Israeli winery in Tel Arad, Israel. Yatir’s vineyards are situated on a hill 900 meters above sea level on the outskirts of Yatir Forest.[3]
Planting of the vineyards commenced in 1997. Eran Goldwasser, a graduate of the University of Adelaide, Australia, is the chief winemaker.[4] The company is owned by Carmel Winery. As of 2012 annual production is about 150,000 bottles.
The winery began producing on two levels: Yatir and Yatir Forest, the latter being the winery's flagship series. In 2004, Yatir introduced a Sauvignon Blanc wine and the following year, a single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. In 2006, it came out with a varietal Viognier.[5]
Yatir's wine has received accolades from critics such as Robert Parker.[6] It is the first Israeli wine to be listed in the main selection of Selfridges in London.[7]
On the grounds of the winery, 180 ancient wine presses have been discovered [8]