The Grapes of Wrath: Six Great Wineries and Breweries in the West Bank
The established, the organic and the original: Breweries and wineries worth knowing
Cremisan Winery
An old monastery located in the Cremisan Valley between Bethlehem and Jerusalem houses a winery run by local Palestinians. The winery is almost directly on the border between Jerusalem and the West Bank, with a stunning view of hillside terraces. Most of the grapes come from the Gush Etzion area and are marketed to wineries in Palestine, some from vineyards belonging to the monastery. In the past, the winery was known mainly for its dessert wines (including Marsala and Port) but today Cremisan produces eight varieties of reds, five varieties of white in addition to dessert and sparkling wines.
Taybeh Brewery
The largest and best known beer brewery in Palestinian territories is located in the village of Taybeh, near Ramallah. The brewery also markets its beer in Israel. It was established after the Oslo Agreements, and recently began producing IPA, which has become fashionable. An Oktoberfest beer festival is held in Taybeh every year, parallel to Munich's Oktoberfest.
Shepherd's Brewery
Two years ago the Sayag brothers set up a new brewery in Bir Zeit. They brew light lager beer in the Pilsner style, darker Irish-style beer and dark beer resembling Guinness. A two-day beer festival was held in Bir Zeit in August, with parties, DJs and performances, including Palestinian Israeli rap artist Tamer Nafar. They intend to expand production in the next few years, to export the local beer and expand beer culture in the area.
Taybeh Winery
Taibeh Winery belongs to the owners of the Taybeh Brewery – Nadim Khoury, his brother David, and Nadim's son Cnaan – who decided in 2013 to begin making quality wine. The grapes come from vineyards in Taybeh, and also from the Bir Zeit and Aboud areas. The Khourys combine old and modern winemaking techniques, and in recent years have succeeded in increasing the quantity by many times. Among the wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.
Philokalia Winery
The Philokalia Winery was founded by Sari Khoury, a Palestnian architect, in his Bethlehem home. It's a small home winery producing a limited quantity of fine, organic wines – reds, white, even oranges – with no intention at all of turning into an industrial winery. In contrast to Cremisan, Khoury diligently employs traditional methods. He's connected to a tradition dating back to thousands of years of wine production in the area. One of his excellent wines is called Grapes of Wrath, a reference to the Israeli military campaign.
Wise Men Choice
Excellent boutique beer brewed in small quantities in the home of proprietor Rifaat Khouary in Beit Sahour. What is brewed is ale, and the brewery is experimenting with various tastes based on local herbs – among them Bethlehem Pale Ale, which includes sage, and other beers containing honey.