Now that you have a quality bottle of wine, bottle opener and glasses, all that’s left to do is to find the right scenery and enjoy the many options the northern Golan Heights has to offer. The Bahat Winery is located in Kibbutz Ein Zivan, in the northeastern part of the Golan Heights.
The kibbutz is three kilometers away from the Syrian border, and a very short drive or reasonable walk can get you from the winery to the Kuneitra Valley area. In the valley, you can see the vineyards from which the winery makes the wine you are drinking. During harvest season, you can join a tour and follow how grapes are processed into quality wine.
We will be glad to tell you about unique bike trails that combine nature, scenery and heritage sites, making for an unforgettable day at a stone’s throw away. Below are several recommendations for places worth visiting.
The Kuneitra Valley Observation Point spreads before you the Syrian portion of the Golan Heights and the Syrian city of Kuneitra. Kuneitra means arch, named after the Arch Bridge the road to Damascus ran through. During the Six Day War, Kuneitra was abandoned by its residents and thus taken without battle. Kuneitra remained in Israeli hands from 1967 to the 1973 Yom Kippur War. During these years, the IDF conducted combat training in built-up areas in the abandoned town. After the war, the town was returned to the Syrians under the armistice agreements. The Syrians did not restore Kuneitra’s ruins, but built next to it a new town called Kuneitra Jadida, or New Kuneitra.
The Kuneitra Observation Point is located at the foot of Mount Avital. The observation point can also be reached by Tomcar, bicycle or horse! Anyone who wants to ascend a volcano (inactive…) can climb Mount Bental. From the 1204 meter high mountain, you can see the view in all directions, drink coffee at Coffee Anan, and even go down into the dug out bunkers on the mountain which are open to the general public to wander in.
In April and May, you can view the purple blooming of the Aram Naharaim iris nearby the kibbutz and of course, the profusion of blossoming deciduous groves.
From May on, at the peak of summer, you can join a fruit picking for the entire family: cherries, nectarines, plums, apples, berries and of course, grapes for wine.
Antiquities enthusiasts can visit Bab al-Hawa, Gate of the Winds. This ancient site was excavated, yielding the discovery of the remains of a settlement and artifacts from the Iron Age (biblical times) to the Byzantine period. These remains are hundreds and thousands of years old. Among other things, you can see structures and a burial cave there.
If you have arrived in the region in the fall or winter, you can drive a bit southward towards the Bashnit ridge. On your way, you can pass by Mount Bnei Rasan and watch turbines used to produce more than enough electricity for all Golan Heights residents by environment-friendly means.
A pleasant stroll on the Bashnit ridge will lead you to autumn carpets of sternbergias, colchicums and crocuses.
If you desire dessert, it’s time to backtrack and visit the chocolate factory in Ein Zivan, rest a little, shower and return for a merry evening at the Bahat Winery wine bar.
If you are interested in obtaining more information on the wide range of attractions and options in the area, press “Wine and a Little More…” and you will come to our attractive packages for individuals, families and groups.
Is Wine Healthy?!
What hasn’t been said about wine?
Extends lifespan, prevents heart attack and cancer and perhaps the ideal recipe against overweight?
The Bahat Winery team invites you to look at studies that will show you which wine to drink and how much:
The “French Paradox”
Does the “French Paradox” ring a bell? Here is a brief reminder: A well-known study found that French people suffer less heart and blood vessel disease than Americans do. This finding is surprising in light of the fact that the French menu is high in fat and cholesterol, considered to be risk factors for these diseases. A paradox indeed! The assumption is that it all boils down to the French custom of drinking a reasonable amount of red wine daily.
It is healthier to drink Israeli red wine!
Unlike white wine, red wine undergoes fermentation with the skin left on. The grape skin contains a polyphenol called resveratrol, which is really a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in our body. These harm body cells and can cause cancer, heart and blood vessel disease, and they lead to aging. When red wine is prepared, the skin is left to immerse in the grape juice for a long time, absorbing polyphenols, which remains after the juice becomes wine. It is important to note that different varieties of wine contain different amounts of polyphenols, as does the same type of wine from different vintage years. This is because wine is affected by the type of land on which the vines are grown, the variety of grape, the weather and more. In this regard, we will note that Israeli wine contains almost double the amount of polyphenols in foreign wines. The production processes of different varieties of wine indicate that red wine has an antioxidant potency 20 times the amount of sweet red wine and 44 times that of white wine.
Wine and Health
Different studies have found that these antioxidant chemicals, which come from grape skin and are found in red wine, suppress the reproduction of cancerous cells. Additional studies in this field have identified resveratrol (a type of polyphenol) as being highly significant.
Wine Wine Also Has Something to Offer:
A study by Professor Holgar Shunman from Buffalo University in New York found that red wine could benefit the heart, but that lungs prefer white wine. Researchers found that drinking white wine is closely associated with better lung functioning. Their study further notes that lung functioning could be an indication of overall health and is in fact a very good predictor of heart disease.
What is a “reasonable amount”?
A moderate intake means one glass of wine per day for women and up to two glasses for men.
Women are advised to drink half the recommended amount for men because their liver contains about half the amount of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol, and is why alcohol remains in their blood for longer.
Remember, as with all things good, one should not go overboard. The key is moderation, and in any case, one thing at a time, and remember: don’t drink and drive!
My husband received a rare bottle of wine for his bar-mitzvah. The gift giver wished him to open the bottle on the occasion of an important event in his adult life. This bottle went with him from one residence to another until we got married. On the evening of the proposal, we both learned that it isn’t enough to buy a superb bottle of wine from an excellent vintage year: you also need to know how to store the wine so that the costly investment won’t be wasted and leave a bad taste in the mouth…
True, wine is a bit more spoiled than other beverages and foods, and yet, by paying a little attention and understanding the simple principles, you too can extend the life of the quality wine you purchased even after opening it.
Wine Doesn’t Like Heat or Cold Either…
The optimal preservation temperature of white or red wine is between 14 and 18 degrees centigrade. Maintaining this temperature in a home in this country is no simple task. Nonetheless, here are a few helpful tips: don’t store wine in the kitchen, where the temperature frequently changes. Keep wine away from hot and cold spots such as ovens, stovetops and air conditioners. Store the wine in a shaded, dark and cool place and avoid direct sunlight.
Wine Needs to Lie…
Optimal humidity for wine storage is between 60-70%. Correct humidity protects the cork from drying out!
You can help maintain the humidity of the cork by storing the bottle lying down. When the bottle lies over time, the wine wets the cork, which swells and thoroughly seals the neck of the bottle. This prevents outside oxygen from penetrating. Under overhumid conditions, the cork will grow mold. On the other hand, when the cork is too dry, there is a danger of air penetrating the wine from the wall of the bottle. When the cork is dry, it will be difficult to remove from the bottle!
Wine Prefers Darkness!
Avoid exposing wine bottles to direct sunlight. Direct sunlight and continual light exposure adversely affects the hue of the wine and precipitates oxidation which hurts the wine’s flavor and fragrance. Store wine in a dark place (such as storeroom or closed cupboard).
What Else?
Various smells could make their way into wine, which is why to avoid storing wine in a place with strong smells. Additionally, try to avoid moving the wine around. There is a tradition that says that moving the wine interferes with its aging.
It is important to know that only quality wines can be preserved over time.
And What If We Opened the Bottle?
If you opened the wine, you can keep it preserved in the refrigerator. White wine will last about a week and red wine about ten days. Use of a special vacuum stopper, which is definitely a must item for every household, will prevent the wine’s oxidation and extend the life of the opened bottle. When taken out of the refrigerator, the wine should be aired. (Wine is removed from the refrigerator at a temperature of around 4 degrees whereas the desired drinking temperature is 17 degrees. It is advisable to take out the bottle about 15 minutes before drinking, open it and transfer the wine to a decanter) or to simply leave the bottle open about a half hour before drinking.
Wine Cooler, Cellar or a Little Bit of Knowledge and Attention
Home wine coolers can be purchased that will do the job of storage for you and control temperature and humidity. If you are wine buffs, you can create your wine cellar with the desired storage conditions. But certainly a little bit of attention and knowledge can prevent damage to wine caused by faulty storage and extend its shelf life.
In summary: Bottles of wine are properly stored lying, in a cool and dark place. These three conditions will prevent wine defects caused by faulty storage.
All of the items that will preserve the value and flavor of your wine can be found at the Bahat Winery or at Wine Products. For wine storage merchandise, click the link to the photo.