Margalit Winery is a trailblazer in Israel’s boutique wine scene. The winery was founded in 1989 by Dr. Yair Margalit, a scientist who previously worked at the Israel Institute for Biological Research in Ness Ziona. Early retirement led him into the world of wine. Despite moving from an asbestos-riddled shack in the Hadera forest to a slightly more modern warehouse in Binyamina’s industrial park, the winery has kept its production small — just over 20,000 bottles annually. But, despite its small scale, its bottles consistently outperform many of the winery’s peers.

 

Cabernet Franc was added to the original offerings of Cabernet and Merlot, and in recent years, the team added a Southern French blend — made with Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre grapes. The winery also produces a superb Riesling and a white wine made from a grape mutation discovered in their vineyards, aptly named Margalit Blanc.

Food writer Hilik Gurfinkel notes: “Margalit and his son Asaf, along with Rami Livneh, and Irit Shenkar, [Yair’s] partner, create wines that are delicate and restrained, yet bold. They prove that world-class wine can be made here. This father and son team has shown that you can proudly say ‘quality Israeli wine’ without hesitation. To me, this is true pioneering.”

 

The winery does not have a visitor center. Tours are available by appointment and for a fee.