ONLY 1054 bottles made! Special, Special, Special, Delicious wine from Bethlehem. A beautiful blend of various native Palestinian varietals, old vines, traditionally dry farmed

"Manual harvesting in September 2021. Minimal intervention, crushing, 95% destemming, co-fermentation of several varietals, daily manual punchdowns, skin-maceration for two weeks. Malolactic fermentation naturally conducted (spontaneous and without inoculation). Three rackings, no fining, no filtration"

Origin: Bethlehem, Palestine
ABV: 13%
USNW Classification: Natural
Varietal & Type: 100% Indigenous Red Grapes
Vintage: 2021

About the Winemaker

Natural winery Philokalia was established in 2015 by architect Sari Kouri in the garage of his home in Bethlehem, Palestine. Production is small, at around 5000 bottles annually. Wines are made with no additions, in a mix of stainless steel and clay vessels that he’s had specially made.

‘The vineyards are located in the south-western part of Bethlehem governorate, argilo-calcaire soils, dry farmed bush vines that are elevated on posts, at altitudes of 930-940 m,’ says Sari. The vines are dry grown and rainfall is 450-550 mm per year, with big diurnal temperature swings.  

‘I’ve started working some years ago with old farmers who have preserved the heritage of grape farming, and work with them during the year for the preservation of several microplots to supply Philokalia. Our first cuvee from grapes farmed exclusively from my own plot was just harvested in 2022.’

He adds: ‘In Palestine there’s the “Baal” farming tradition (referring to the ancient Canaanite god Baal, god of fertility/rain… Baal crops such as grapes/olives/figs etc are historically known to the locals as being superior).’

They don’t state the names of varieties because, as Sari says, the ‘competition is eager to know what we’re up to in the vineyard, and they would have the resources and PR network to have their work recognised; we do not have that capacity and continue to evolve organically vintage by vintage.’