Wines made from Tannat grapes of Judean Hills
Discover the best wines made with Tannat as a single variety or as a blend of Judean Hills.
Tannat is a red grape variety from Béarn which belongs to the cotoïdes family. Present in several vineyards of France, it occupies nearly 3,000 ha. Its leaves are reddish with tan patches. Its bunches are either of normal size or larger. Its berries have a thin skin and are rounded. Its foliage has a swarthy appearance. This variety must be pruned long because it is vigorous. It likes sandy and gravelly soils. Tannat is often exposed to leafhoppers and mites. It is also somewhat susceptible to grey rot. It has 11 approved clones, including 474, 717 and 794. Once mature, this variety produces acidic, fruity, tannic, acidic and full-bodied wines. Various aromas emerge, notably tobacco, cinnamon and exotic wood. Tannat is rarely used alone. It is combined with iron-servadou to obtain a fruitier taste or with cabernet sauvignon to be more rounded.
Judean Hills wine region – which is theoretically further divided into the Jerusalem, Gush Etzion and Southern Judean Hills sub-regions – Lies within the Samson region of Central Israel. The Judean Hills (or Mountains) form a low mountain range that dominates the landscape around Jerusalem and the West Bank. Hebron, Bethlehem and Ramallah also lie within the range, which formed the core territory of the Kingdom of Judah where the earliest Jewish settlements were located. Although not one of Israel's better known wine regions (like Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights in Galilee), Judean Hills is an emerging viticultural area, and significant potential has been identified for its future.