New visitor center for the Yatir winery - The Jerusalem Post

Yatir Winery, located at the foot of the ancient citadel in the Judean Tel Arad, 10 minutes from the vineyards located in the Yatir forest, in the heart of the forest's tourist area and close to other tourist sites such as: the Artisans' Quarter in Arad, the Susia site, Masada and the Dead Sea.

The Yatir Forest in the south of the Judean Mountains has a rich history of wine production, it is one of the best areas for growing vines, which has an extensive and developed wine industry since ancient times 2800 years ago, when the farmers who lived in the period between the destruction of the Second Temple and the beginning of the Muslim era, made a living mainly from growing grapes and olives and exported the produce to Egypt, to Rome, and throughout Israel.

One of the goals of Yatir Winery is to emphasize the uniqueness inherent in the wines produced with the latest technology and equipment, and of course in the high-quality vineyards planted in clay-limestone soil in one of the most fascinating growing areas (terroir) in the country.

The visitor center of Yatir Winery offers in these days of return to normality, a wonderful and unforgettable experience that combines exposure to the world of the winery's quality wine, history and a spectacular desert landscape.

Basic tasting: includes a guided tasting of 3 types of wine to choose from at the visitor center.

Price: NIS 50 per person. Wide tour: a guided tour of the winery, which includes a visit and observation of the innovative wine-making processes, a visit to the barrel room accompanied by explanations about the history of the winery and the vision for its establishment and a guided tasting of 5 types of wines with a cheese palette. Price: NIS 100 per person.

The winery shop offers for sale the variety of the winery's wines, you can also purchase a pampering picnic package that includes handmade crackers, aged boutique cheeses, a wooden wine box, 2 wine glasses, an opener, a map and disposable utensils and go out for a romantic meal in nature for the price: NIS 180. Center operating hours Visitors: Sunday - Thursday 9:00-16:00 Friday - 10:00-14:00

Yatir Winery was founded in 2000 and was established in the unique Tel Arad area. The vineyards of Yatir Winery are planted at a high altitude, in clayey limestone soil, on slopes in the heart of Yatir Forest, the largest planted forest in Israel, rising up to 900 meters above sea level and located a few minutes' drive from the winery.

The vineyards enjoy a semi-desert climate, dry and cold at night, conditions that create a unique growing area (terroir). The grape varieties planted enjoy ideal conditions for growing wine grapes.