By Appointment
In the south of Israel, near Mitzpe Ramon, something interesting is happening — a new kind of wine is being made in the desert. At the center of this change is Kerem HaRuchot (“Vineyard of the Winds”), a special vineyard planted in 2012. It grows on dry loess soil, at a high location where hot, sunny days are followed by very cold nights. These tough conditions are actually great for growing high-quality grapes.
In the middle of the vineyard is Porat Winery, which brings a fresh approach to making Israeli wine. The winery is led by Hillel Porat, who comes from a farming family and has a strong love for nature and agriculture. He doesn’t live in the desert, but he chose to grow his grapes there because of the special qualities of the land. He uses careful farming methods, with as little use of chemicals as possible, and grows grape varieties that are suited to the desert climate.
Over the years, the grapes from Kerem HaRuchot have become popular among leading wineries in the Negev. More and more people are now noticing this region, which is starting to find its place on the map of Israeli wine.
Kerem HaRuchot is part of a growing movement that shows the desert can offer not only quiet and space — but also depth, richness, and a unique wine experience.
In the vineyard, 75 dunam of highly praised grape varieties, such as malbec, merlot, marselan, syrah, shiraz, semillon, petit verdot, petit syrah, pinot grigio, and cabernet sauvignon, as well as olives for oil are grown. The vineyard’s unique characteristics – elevation, aridity, and drastic temperature dips between day and night ushered the development of unique growing methods that reduce the need for pesticides and form an authentic desert wine. In 2022, the vintner and owner Hillel Porat, won the “Eshkol HaZahav” award and his grapes are in high demand among Negev winemakers.
The vineyard is in the perfect location for excursions to Makhtesh Ramon, Har HaNegev, Nachal Zin, and nearby Mitzpe Ramon.
