Kosher Food and Drink

Editor’s Note: We are excited to introduce a new regular column featuring Israeli wine tourism from Kosher Food & Drink contributor, Hyun Park, WSETII.

As an avid traveler with a background in wine, I was excited to receive an invitation from Guy Wolf for a visit and tasting at Midbar Winery. So we hit the road to this boutique winery in the Negev.

Midbar Winery was founded in 2012 after it was bought by businessman Yitzhak Wolf. The winery was originally founded by Ya’acov Oryah in 2006 and named Asif. Today, at its winery in Arad, Midbar produces around 50,000 bottles per year and focuses on low-intervention winemaking with an eye toward creating fresh red and white wines. The emphasis is not on manipulation but on precision: physical cooling, long fermentation, careful blending, and close attention to each vineyard parcel and harvest moment. This is a boutique winery in the truest sense — thoughtful, restrained, and deeply connected to its environment.

“Midbar” means desert in Hebrew. It’s a name that manages to encompass both a geographical fact and a winemaking philosophy. A two-hour drive from Herzliya, as the landscape gradually shifts from coastal calm to desert intensity, you begin to understand the philosophy behind Midbar Winery.

Here, the desert and the glass are the only stars.

The Terroir

While Midbar’s winery is located in an industrial complex in Arad, most of the grapes come from desert vineyards in Israel’s Mitzpe Ramon area, planted at around 800 meters above sea level. The conditions here are extreme: absolute dryness, strict irrigation, sharp day–night temperature differences, intense solar radiation, and loess and limestone soils. Add to that minimal use of pesticides and very limited chemical intervention in the cellar, and the result is wines that feel clean, precise, mineral-driven, and unmistakably desert-born.

Kosher Certification and Philosophy

Midbar Winery is certified Kosher Mehadrin, supervised by the Chief Rabbinate of Arad and Rabbi Dov Landau. Many of the wines are also marked Vegan Friendly.

Most people in Israel are familiar with Midbar’s entry-level wines — accessible, reliable, and widely available. But the real charm lies in the higher-tier and limited-edition wines, which truly showcase the winery’s depth and ambition. These higher-tier bottles are available through the winery’s website.

Wines We Tasted

Midbar, Private Limited Edition, Single Vineyard, Negev Heights, White 66, 2023 

A premium, limited-edition white blend made from Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon, and Sauvignon Blanc, all from single vineyard parcels in the Mitzpe Ramon area. Each variety was fermented and aged separately using only free-run juice. In the glass, it showed green and stone fruit, pear, subtle nuts, and a restrained tropical note, with precise acidity and clear mineral tension. Light to medium-bodied, fresh yet complex, and deceptively elegant. A wine that balances desert austerity with finesse. 12% ABV.

Midbar, Single Vineyard, Negev Heights, Viognier, 2022

A single-vineyard Viognier from Mitzpe Ramon, fermented and aged in stainless steel for six months. Aromatic and expressive, with floral notes, white peach, nectarine, honey, and hints of citrus peel. Medium-bodied, low acidity, rounded and generous, with impressive balance despite the warmth of the region. This wine has an impressive track record, including a gold medal at Decanter London, the first for an Israeli white wine. 12.5% ABV.

Midbar, Single Vineyard, Negev Heights, White Syrah, 2023

An early-harvest expression that leaned into spice rather than weight. White pepper and subtle herbal notes stood out, with moderate alcohol and a refreshing structure — a fascinating and uncommon take on the variety. 10.5% ABV.

Midbar, Single Vineyard, Negev Heights, Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc, 2022

A classic blend where both varieties were grown, fermented, and aged together. Aromas of white fruit, citrus, and mineral notes carried through to the palate. Medium-bodied, with tropical hints that never dominate, sharp acidity, and a clean, refreshing finish. Highly gastronomic and dangerously easy to keep sipping. 11.5% ABV.

The Visit

The visitor center is very down-to-earth, matching the winery philosophy, with no fancy decor, no curated snacks, and no cheese platters. This is not a place designed for lounging all afternoon; it’s a place designed to focus on wine. It’s a refreshing departure from the Instagrammable wineries. Here, the desert and the glass are the only stars.

Guy was an exceptional host, knowledgeable, unpretentious, and generous with his time. The tasting felt personal and informative, with real insight into both the challenges and the rewards of desert viticulture. You leave not just having tasted wines, but having understood why they taste the way they do.

Winery Information

Address: Sadan St 10, Arad

Visits: By appointment only

Hours: Sunday–Thursday, 10:00–15:00

To book: Guy – 054-585-8724

Online Shop: Higher-tier and limited wines are available via Midbar Winery Website (www.midbar-winery.co.il)

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Hyun Park is a WSET Level II wine enthusiast who grew up within South Korea’s vibrant culinary landscape. Her love for wine grew significantly while living in Germany, where she visited wineries in Pfalz, Mosel, Nahe, and Rheingau. Now living in Israel, she actively explores the country’s diverse wine regions and evolving wine culture. As a non-Jewish, non-Israeli observer, Hyun brings a fresh, international lens to Israel’s wine world. She also shares reviews of wines and boutique producers on Instagram at @hyunshinebites.