• Amichai Lourie, smiling and wearing glasses and a black hoodie with a red
  • Amichai Lourie is using a wine thief to sample yellow wine from an oak barrel into a wine glass. The barrel is marked with the

Shiloh's unique, mountainous terroir represents 3,000 years of Biblical, Jewish, and winemaking history in the hills where the Ark of the Covenant once rested. Here, Shiloh Winery was founded in the heart of Judea and Samaria. Known for its unique winemaking techniques that often begin with handpicking grapes at night, the winery creates inspired wine experiences. Let's explore the secrets of Shiloh Winery's success and how ancient winemaking traditions continue to influence their approach.

Amichai Lourie, wearing glasses and a black hoodie with a red "Shiloh Winery" label, holds a glass of white wine, standing in front of wine barrels.

Origins and History

Shiloh Winery was founded in 2005 by Dr. Mayer Chomer, who was discouraged by the lack of high-quality kosher wines available while living in Spain. This inspired him to open a boutique winery to help fill this niche.

Dr. Chomer enlisted winemaker Amichai Lourie to join him after a chance meeting where he sampled Lourie's domestically made wines. He convinced him to turn his hobby and passion into a profession, quickly agreeing on their business objective—to make the finest wine possible using the finest winemaking equipment.

Silhouette of Amichai Lourie tasting wine from a glass, standing between rows of wine barrels in a dimly lit cellar.

Early Journey of Amichai Lourie

As an amateur winemaker, Lourie began making wine for family and friends. In early 2000, he decided to take a practical winemaking course with his wife at the Soreq Winery School of Winemaking. Lourie's inventive, intuitive approach to winemaking is very hands-on, reflecting his commitment to perfection. Each team member is equally devoted to their pursuit of excellence and passion for wine.

Up to 60% of the 230,000 bottles the winery produces annually are exported to North and South America, Europe, and East Asia. Although their winemaking uses state-of-the-art equipment, including temperature-controlled tanks, pneumatic presses, and the finest oak barrels, Shiloh proudly connects to its Jewish roots. The design elements of their labels and winery literature are steeped in Judaism-influenced symbolism.

Close-up of a white box labeled "Shiloh Winery Made in Israel" with the winery's logo and website.

Symbolism and Jewish Traditions

The bull or ox logo symbolizes the Tribe of Joseph, who acknowledged the allocation of the land to him 3,000 years ago. The Tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant were kept in the area during the golden age of Israeli wine production. The ancient wine presses recovered from archaeological digs in the area are a testament to the region's winemaking.

Shiloh Winery observes Jewish law, ensuring they never compromise the quality of their wines. A perfect example is the Secret Reserve 6th Year Heroes Edition, a unique label used for wines produced from a single vineyard where the wine growers follow the tradition of Shmita. This ancient practice takes ownership away from landowners who work the land, giving it back to God, with the assurance that the sixth year before Shmita will provide harvests until the ninth year when the new crops begin to grow.

Close-up of a white box labeled "Shiloh Winery Made in Israel" with the winery's logo and website.

Community Contributions

The winery also strictly observes terumot and maaserot with annual donations to priests, religious leaders, teachers, and the poor. Unlabeled bottles are donated every third and sixth year, ensuring those in need have wine to make the Kiddush blessing for the Sabbath.

  • An aerial view of Shiloh Winery buildings surrounded by green hills and vineyards under a partly cloudy sky.
  • A lush green vineyard with rows of grapevines and olive trees in the foreground, and a distant city visible in the background.

Terroir and Vineyards

The Shiloh Winery vineyards are 1,950 to 2,700 feet above sea level with shallow terra rossa clay soils on a deep limestone bedrock. Although this stony land can make planting a challenge, it represents one of the finest growing regions in Israel.

The rare combination of sunbathed vineyards blessed by cooling winds from the Mediterranean Sea rid the area of the humidity common in other areas of Israel. Perfectly paired with the high elevation, cold nights provide a longer growing season, creating the ideal terroir for winemaking.

A man in a white shirt and black pants stands next to a large prayer plaque. He holds a prayer book, with vineyards visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Awards & Recognition

Shiloh wines have performed very well in local and international competitions, including Gold Medals in three red wine categories year after year in Israel's main competition. On the International scene, Shiloh Winery has gained recognition at the highest level, scoring 95 points in the Decanter World Wine Awards, 93 points in the Wine Enthusiast, 92 points in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and 90 points in the Wine Spectator.

Perhaps the winery's greatest achievement is that in 2020, Shiloh became the first Israeli winery to be awarded two Decanter Gold Medals in the same year. Seven further silver medals, with all the wines credited with over 90 points, showed wine lovers that Shiloh is a world-class winery, considered one of the finest and most consistent among Israeli wineries.

Exceptional Vintages

Exceptional vintages produced by Shiloh Winery include:

  • A bottle of Shiloh Secret Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon with grapevines, set against a black background.

    Shiloh Secret Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

    Shiloh's much-awarded ultra-premium label includes this luxurious dark red Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas of black fruit and cassis, elegant flavor notes of dark fruit and a rich bouquet of tobacco and coffee creating a pleasingly long finish.

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  • A bottle of Shiloh Mosaic Exclusive Edition 2020 with a grape and vine leaves, set against a black background.

    Shiloh Limited Edition Mosaic 2017

    Aptly named for its "mosaic" blend of grapes, aging this rich red will further develop its black fruit aromas and bouquet of cacao, coffee, and vanilla with a background of soft spice. Flavors of black fruit, prunes, and cherries are followed by a balanced acidity, leaving a refreshing sensation with a full-bodied, sumptuous finish.

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  • A bottle of Shiloh Secret Reserve Petite Sirah 2018 with a grape and vine leaves, set against a black background.

    Shiloh Secret Reserve Petite Sirah 2018

    Grapes handpicked at night from the best vineyards in the Holy Land produce wine aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months. The deep purple hints at the complex fruit flavors with notes of spice that become even better with age.

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Exploring Shiloh Winery

Israel's world-renowned agricultural advancements are critical to the winery's vineyards. Creativity and passion continue to drive innovations and increasingly impressive flavor profiles. A team effort ensures the winemaker maintains close contact with the growers, walking the vineyards regularly as part of his routine. The winemaker's hands-on approach provides insights into proper pruning and ensures the grapes are harvested when required to produce extraordinary wines of the highest possible quality.

The winery is now focused on creating an engaging visitor center where people worldwide can sample the wines the Land of the Ark has produced, echoing the winemaking methods of ancient times.

Learn More

Learn more by visiting the Shiloh wine collection here.

Source

Your Kosher Wine Guide

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