Alexander Winery is a high quality, Israeli boutique winery. The winery is named after the late Alexander Shalom, who began making wine for personal consumption in the early twentieth century with his father, Bruno. Alexander's son, Yoram Shalom, has continued this family tradition as Alexander Winery's owner and winemaker.
The winery, surrounded by a young vineyard, is located on a family estate bounded by an olive grove and pecan trees in Beit Yitzchak, a veteran moshav in the heart of the Sharon region.
Yoram started producing wine in small quantities in 1996, combining the aromas and flavors of his childhood with modern technologies. The encouraging responses and increasing demand for his wines encouraged him to increase output. However, it was only in 1998 that he took the decision to abandon his career in television to become a fulltime winemaker and winery owner. Today the winery produces 45,000 bottles a year under several labels.
Ten years after its establishment, the winery is currently undergoing a process of expansion and construction. Despite its growth, it is still a family winery where each bottle receives personal attention.
The winery took a strategic decision to preserve its unique features in its new graphic design while adopting a line that provides the winery and its products with a more exclusively brand that expresses quality and professionalism. The image of the late Alexander Shalom has already become an icon in the Israeli winery and wine scene, and will continue serving as the winery’s logo. The wine labels, however, have been given a new and exciting look.
The unique motif of Alexander Winery’s new labels includes authentic pieces of Tunisian jewelry that have been in the Shalom family for four generations. They represent the world of the family of Alexander Shalom and are an expression of status and wealth. The jewelry, an integral part of the family’s collective memories, is passed down through the generations. For example, the ring that appears on the “Alexander the Great” label has been in the family for four generations, and the choice of this motif represents an integration of aesthetic and cultural values.
winery believes that great wine starts with excellent grapes.
The Winemaker
The love of wine that Yoram acquired in his childhood, together with meetings with winegrowers in the Kerem Ben Zimra region, convinced him to open the winery. As an autodidact, Yoram acquired his knowledge from professional literature, visits and courses abroad and the Internet. He made a point of traveling overseas several times a year to visit various wineries, meet with local winemakers and learn about wine production methods. When still at the beginning of his new career, he never hesitated to consult with his Israeli colleagues. Today, young winemakers are benefiting from Yoram’s knowledge and experience.
“Good wine begins in the vineyard”
The vineyards, whose grapes are harvested exclusively for Alexander Winery, are situated in the north of the region in Dalton Plateau at Kerem Ben Zimra and Kefar Shamay. Situated in northern Galilee venues and are recognized for the outstanding quality of their grapes.
The winery's vineyards are located in the North Galilee, some of the highest locations in Israel, where an ideal micro-climate exists for growing wine vines.
Much emphasis is placed on the use of modern agricultural techniques and low yield of grapes per vine ( about 500 kg per dunam). Close tracking of the grapes ripening process and strict selection of the harvest day ensure optimal grape quality.
The winery vineyards from the day it was founded are all vineyards of about 10-26 years. To date the winery has about 50 dunams which production is dedicated to the winery under a long term contract.
The dedicated and expert winegrowers work in cooperation with the winery’s agronomist, using advanced agritechnology methods and a stringent irrigation
regime, which also contribute to excellent quality of the grapes and offer prestigious and distinguished wines of the highest quality.
The harvest is conducted in the early hours of the day so that the grapes arrive at the winery when they are still cool and are immediately processed by the modern equipment of the winery
The Wines
The wine making process is a long process of learning and research which is targeted towards continuous improvement of wine quality.
The winery currently produces about 45,000 bottles.
· Red wine is macerated and fermented over a period of several weeks followed by pressing and aging in French (90%) and American (10%) oak barrels until it is ready for bottling.
· White wine is pressed and cooled immediately after the harvest and fermented and aged in oak barrels at low temperature.
Throughout the process each vineyard section is treated separately and the final blending of the wine is executed close to the wine bottling. This process enables the winery to reach the targeted wine style and the optimal wine quality. After bottling the wine is stored for several more months in the winery's cellars before it is marketed.
The winery produces several labels:
Sandro – a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (25%) and Sauvignon Blanc. After extended fermentation at a very low temperature, the wine is aged for 14 months in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels.
Alexander Label – varietal wines
Alexander Cabernet Sauvignon - 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 18 months in French (70%) and American (30%) oak barrels.
Alexander Merlot – 100% Merlot, aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.
Alexander Syrah – 100% Syrah, aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.
Alexander Gaston – a blend of Merlot (76%), Syrah (12%), Grenache (12%), aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels.
Alexander the Great – the winery’s premium and flagship label, made from Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Merlot (5%) to create a softer, rounder wine with distinct edge. The wine is aged for at least 30 months in French (90%) and American (10%) wooden barrels.
White wines
Chardonnay Lisa – 100% Chardonnay, fermented and aged for 18 months in Burgundy barrels (50% new and 50% used).
Sauvignon Blanc Lisa – 100% Sauvignon Blanc, cold-fermented, co contact with wood.
Bruno - a Port-style, fortified wine released once every two years, made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah and aged for 36 months.
Award
Alexander wines have won several prominent Israeli and International awards, and have won the hearts of devoted wine-drinkers throughout Israel.
The Alexander winery has quickly claimed its place in the wine industry in Israel having received high scores in professional wine tasting competitions.
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The Market
The winery aim is get to a target customers / wine consumers that understand and know to appreciate good wine and will pay the price for a good and appreciated wine.
Local Israeli Market
In Israel the Alexander winery is promoted by a marketing company specializing in the local wine market. Alexander wine is sold in local restaurants and wine specialized shops. In addition the winery has an increasing number of private consumers that visit the winery regularly and return to buy our excellent wines.
Since the winery foundation each year the quantity of grapes received was doubled and as a result also the number of produced bottles, all this clearly due to the increasing demand of the market and the excellent quality of our produced wines.
International Export
Last year the winery owner has taken a strategic decision and has decided also to open its gates to exports targeting the same quality wine consumers. Clearly the winery will not give up its local customers.
In particular, out of Israel, our target markets are wine consumers that would value good wine in general and in particular good and KOSHER Israeli wine from the top quality.
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