About

Negev Agricultural and Wine Tourism

Negev wineries and vineyards show how ancient wine traditions, desert terroir and agricultural innovation come together to create wines with a distinct local character.

The growing community of wineries and vineyards in the Negev is shaping the region into a distinctive wine tourism destination and creating new opportunities for local growth.

The Negev as a wine tourism destination

Developing the Negev as a wine tourism destination is part of Merage Foundation Israel’s agritourism initiative in the Negev. The initiative is based on the belief that agriculture, tourism, culinary experiences and wine can serve as regional growth engines, strengthening the local economy, the connection to the land and the Negev’s ability to tell its story in Israel and around the world.

Wine tourism was chosen as one of the initiative’s central pillars because it naturally brings together vineyards, wineries, hospitality, culinary culture and landscape. Through wine, visitors can encounter the Negev not only as a geographic region, but as a place of craft, tradition, innovation and local identity.

Download Negev Winery and Vineyard Map

Negev Wine Consortium

The Negev Wineries and Vineyards Consortium was established in 2020 by Merage Foundation Israel to strengthen the wineries and vineyards operating across the region and build a professional community around desert wine.

Bringing together wineries and vineyards from the Western Negev to Eilat, the consortium supports collaboration, peer learning, events, tours and regional partnerships. Through this shared activity, it helps move the Negev forward as a desert wine region with a clear local identity and a unique visitor experience.

To develop the Negev as a destination for wine and agritourism, Merage Foundation Israel supports wineries and vineyards through several key areas of activity:

Business consulting and professional training for winery owners, winegrowers and winemakers

Peer learning forums and knowledge sharing

Regional wine and agricultural festivals

Advocacy efforts to lessen beuraucratic and statutory hurtles

Positioning the Negev as an international destination for wine and agritourism

The consortium meets every other month at one of the member wineries, creating a regular space for updates, professional development, shared thinking and planning. Members also participate in tours and events that offer learning opportunities, strengthen collaboration and support the development of wine tourism across the Negev.

Recognizing the Negev as a Wine Appellation

The official recognition of the Negev as a wine appellation in 2026 is the result of a four-year professional process initiated and led by Merage Foundation Israel. Throughout this process, the foundation worked with wineries, vineyards and professional partners to define the regional identity of Negev wines, deepen the understanding of the desert terroir and establish the distinct character of the region.

This recognition reflects the Negev’s unique climate, soils, ancient wine traditions and local story. It marks an important milestone for the wineries and vineyards operating across the region and for the Negev’s growing place on the Israeli and international wine map.

Negev Wines on the international stage

In 2025, Negev wines were presented in a series of international exposure events in Spain, Mexico and across the United States, including a delegation of 19 wineries to Madrid. The events introduced Israel’s desert wine region to professionals from the worlds of wine, culinary culture, tourism and media, and highlighted the Negev’s unique story: desert terroir, ancient wine traditions and a growing community of wineries and vineyards working together.

These activities strengthened international awareness of Negev wines and helped position the region as a distinctive desert wine appellation with a clear local identity.

Join Negev Wine Consortium

Do you own a winery or vineyard in the Negev? Interested in hearing more about the project?

Please fill in the form and we will get back to you as soon as possible!

Merage Foundation Israel

Merage Foundation Israel was founded by the David and Laura Merage Foundation located in Denver Colorado, USA. Since 1998, the Merage Family has been working in Israel with the goal of strengthening a prosperous and cohesive Israeli society through a variety social and economic endeavors. Merge Foundation Israel works to incubate and accelerate circles of change—those who are strengthened, strengthen others, thus leading the way in promoting prosperity for Israel and wellbeing for all its citizens.