LEADIN:

Professionals from the Israeli wine industry have gathered in Tel Aviv for the annual wine event: "Sommelier".

Wine has been produced in the region for millennia - but Israeli wine has only recently caught the attention of foreign markets.

STORYLINE:

This is "Sommelier" - the biggest wine event in Israel.

Israel is enjoying a growing number of tourists each year - and with that has come opportunities to expand its wine-selling network.

Professionals from the Israeli wine industry are gathered in Tel Aviv for the annual event, which has 60 wineries taking part.

The region may have been a wine-producing one for millennia, but Israeli wines have only recently started getting the attention of foreign markets.

Adam Montefiore, from The Israel Wine Experience, organises wine tours and tastings for tourists. He says:

"I don't want to overstate Israel's importance but it's a very historic area. We're a new world wine country in one of the oldest wine producing areas in the world and people want to taste something new."

Whereas 20 years ago the country hardly produced any wine, now it boasts lots of boutique wineries.

Israel was once mainly seen as a producer of kosher wines but that culture is now changing.

"We don't sell our wine as a kosher wine even if it is, we sell it as an Israeli wine," explains Samuel Zermati, CEO of Clos du Temple winery.

He makes Israeli wine which he exports with two other friends. They've so far sold 50,000 bottles.

The 1848 winery is based in the settlement of Maale Adumim. For its 170 year anniversary they made a bottle which sells for 848 shekels (231 US Dollars).

"Of course it sounds crazy to put 848 shekels (231 US Dollars) in a wine but it was somehow our way to say that's what we are able to do and the winery name is 1848, so we decided to use the same numbers of course so that's also something unique," says Ilan Assouline, a winemaker at 1848.

Despite an increase in Israel wineries, the price of its wines in general are still high compared to those abroad.

Arie Hochberg, an importer of Israeli wine to the US, says: "The American market really doesn't know Israeli wines."

But he adds that he is trying to change that.

"We're selling them to the most expensive restaurants in New York. So we are trying really to promote Israel as a wine producing country."

Israeli winemakers have often been criticised by groups who condemn the treatment of Palestinians and support boycotting Israel.

Last year a major Japanese department store quietly removed a vendor specialising in wine from Israel's occupied Golan Heights after protests from citizens' groups.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in 1981. The US and others consider it to be disputed territory.

Tel Aviv, Israel - 28 January 2019

1. Wine being poured

2. Tilt up of man tasting wine

3. Wide tilt up on Sommelier wine expo

4. Men smelling wine

5. Tura wine stand

6. Tilt up on Tura bottles of wine

7. Adam Montefiore, Israeli wine specialist and partner in The Israeli Wine Experience, smelling wine with another man

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Montefiore, The Israel Wine Experience:

"We're the representatives of the eastern Mediterranean. Now the eastern Mediterranean gave wine culture to the world 2,000 years ago, and whether you're talking about Jesus or King David we have a long history of wine growing. But the wine has been pretty awful for 2,000 years and now all the countries in the eastern Mediterranean are making fantastic wine and we're part of it. So again I don't want to overstate Israel's importance but it's a very historic area. We're a new world wine country in one of the oldest wine producing areas in the world and people want to taste something new."

9. Various of visitors at Sommelier wine expo

10. Mid of two men drinking wine

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Montefiore, The Israel Wine Experience:

"I find planting a vineyard, uncorking a bottle of wine is far removed from politics. So we can enjoy wine and take it out of the political arena and that's what wine is all about. You know you open a bottle of wine and the wine works its magic, we all enjoy it, so I haven't seen a lot of political reaction. Those that don't want to buy Israeli wine don't buy it, those that want to support Israel do buy it and those wine fanatics that want to taste something new are fascinated by Israel. So we don't lose."

12. Wide of Sommelier wine expo

13. Ultra Orthodox Jewish men tasting wine

14. Various of Clos du Temple winery booth

15. Wide of Samuel Zermati, CEO of Clos du Temple winery, speaking to visitors

16. SOUNDBITE (French) Samuel Zermati, CEO of Clos du Temple winery:

"We don't sell our wine as a kosher wine even if it is, we sell it as an Israeli wine. We chose the vineyards in the Judean Hills for a unique reason, it's because it's really hot during the day and pretty chilled during the evening. We're 700 metres high, so it gives us grapes and a wine that are exceptional. So that's what we are selling to the people who want to buy this wine. It's people that understand where the wine comes from and the importance of the climate, and also the influence of the climate, of the temperatures, these are wines that get, thanks to the sun, to 14.5, 15 percent alcohol and that's also what we are selling."

17. Wide of winemaker Ilan Assouline walking into 1848 winery booth

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Ilan Assouline, winemaker at 1848:

"We are having 170 years of the winery so we decided to make an outstanding wine so we just pick the best plots in Galilee, choosing the best parcels, making the best wines, the best tanks, the best barrels and picking up each time only the best and we got to 100 bottles of the best wine we could have and we decided, of course it sounds crazy to put 848 shekels (230 US dollars) in a wine but it was somehow our way to say that's what we are able to do and the winery name is 1848, so we decided to use the same numbers of course so that's also something unique."

19. Various of special 1848 wine bottle

20. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Danny Rubin, Wine Portal:

"I tasted the wine, the wine is delicious, regarding the prize we can discuss it for two days but I know that some people are looking for this wine. It's a wine that was released as a collectors item only and will be released to shops in a very, very limited way."

21. Various of visitors sampling wine

22. Tilt down of bottles of wine

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Arie Hochberg, importer of Israeli wine to the US, Israeli Wine Direct:

"So the American market really doesn't know Israeli wines. Most of the wines from Israel in (to) US sold to kosher markets and kosher stores. Most of their wines are sold to religious Jews or non-religious Jews that are buying them for Passover and for Rosh Hashana. We are introducing not kosher Israeli wines like Shevo, like Assaf, Pelter and we're selling them to the most expensive restaurants in New York. So we are trying really to promote Israel as a wine producing country."

24. Various of visitors sampling wine

25. Wide of expo

LEAD IN:

Wine makers in Israel say they will have to change the types of grapes they're growing, because their current varieties will not survive climate change which is warming temperatures.

They say warmer winters are making their vines bud too early, affecting the quality of their product.

STORY-LINE

Again the harvest has come too early for winemakers here in Moshav Segula, but the farmers are making the best out of what they say is another year of very low yields.

Mechanical harvesting takes place at night to ensure the grapes don't ferment under the scorching middle eastern sun.

High temperatures are at the core of a low yield, says Eran Alkavi an agricultural agronomist specialising in grape growing.

Alkavi turned to growing grapes himself in his retirement.

He says an additional problem to the higher summer temperatures, is the warmer winters.

The vines need a period of cold in the winter to enable a timely bud-break in the vineyards, this when vines wake up from their winter dormancy.

Warm winters mean an early bud-break and for the varieties grown in Israel it means a lower yield and a lower quality of wine.

"The most (biggest) problem that we have is that we don't have too much chilling hours in the winter. The winter becomes warm and so the wine (vines) do not wake up so well. Bud-break is very weak and continues sometimes for two long weeks of bud-break and it's not good for the yield. It's not good for the quality and dealing with it, we don't really know what to do," says Alkavi.

Bud-break normally starts early to mid-March and vines flower by the middle of April.

Now warm winters and the warm winds that come from the Arabian Desert in the south east drive temperatures higher, often forcing the vines to close down to survive.

Alkavi now wonders whether he and other can continue to keep producing grapes.

"We are still growing grapes and if it continues like this for five, six years in this city and like the situation, the situation that was this year, I think most of the farmers will close and they're looking for other things to grow, really because this year, the year was very, very low (yield). Most of the farmers I don't know if they'll balance with the with the economic situation. And I think they are not going to do it for a long time if it's going to be like this, yes," he says.

Ofer Torgeman, a grape farmer or viticulturist, in Israel's north says the changes in the weather are obvious.

When Torgeman began tending a vineyard almost 15 years ago he recorded the temperatures and the harvest times for the varieties he grows, which are Cabernet and Syrah (Shiraz).

"The last five years I saw some change that the Cabernet  it's harvested before the Syrah," says Torgeman.

He says the Cabernet was normally harvested in the middle of September until October. But now he says the cabernet is being harvested at least two weeks earlier than normally.

He says the climate is affecting the quality of the wines he and others are able to produce.

Torgeman explains: "But we see that your wines it's not very it's not balanced and you don't have a good quality in your wine and you must to make, fix the must and the wine after you bring the grapes to your winery. As usual, I want that the the maturing will be excellent in the vineyard. And if I want that the maturity the meaning of it is that  that the level of the sugar, the level of the acidity and the aroma and taste of the wine will be balanced and will be at a good time. Now I see that (the) I must to fix my my must (young wine) in the winery. The meaning that the grapes it's not come into full quality."

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981.

There are over 300 wineries in Israel.

The industry is worth over US $ 40 million with a harvest of 60,000 tons of grapes, producing over 40 million bottles of wine, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The vineyards stretch from the coastal plains to mountains in central Israel, and from the Golan Heights down to the Negev desert.

Over 55 percent of the exports are bound for North America, 35 percent goes to Europe and the rest to the Far East, according to official data.

The winemaking areas also include the occupied West Bank, which Israel captured in the 1967 war, territories the Palestinians want for their future state.

In November 2019, the European Court of Justice ruled that European countries must label products originating in the settlements.

Growing vines is not an easy task, Israel has a chronic lack of water, worsened by drought in the last five years.

The normally rainy season is now dry and many farmers compensate the lack of water with drip feed irrigation.

The most frequent grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Merlot, Shiraz also known as Syrah, Colombard and Muscat of Alexandria.

But, both Alkavi and Torgeman agree if warmer winters persist viticulturists may need to look to other varieties or completely change their produce to match the new weather conditions.

"If the temperature will be more high, I must to change my work in the vineyard, The meaning it is to take species that they have a good quality in the warm, warm weather. For example, maybe in more 10 years from today, maybe I can't to grow Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, and then I must take a species that is give you a good quality in the warm, warm weather, for example Grenache or Carignan or some species like this. So, I must to change it, I must to take the Cabernet out and put a new variety in my place, Okay? And this is a meaning for the future of the warm weather," says Torgeman.

++NIGHTSHOTS++

Moshav Segula, south-central Israel - 21 August, 2021

1. Various of machinery harvesting grapes at night-time

2. Various of Eran Alkavi with friends and family inspecting grapes and tasting wine

++DAYSHOTS++

Moshav Segula, south-central Israel – 30 August, 2021

3. Mid of Eran Alkavi, retired Agriculture Ministry agronomist, Grape farmer

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eran Alkavi, retired Agriculture Ministry agronomist:

"The most (biggest) problem that we have is that we don't have too much chilling hours in the winter. The winter becomes warm and so the wine (vines) do not wake up so well. Bud-break is very weak and continues sometimes for two long weeks of bud-break and it's not good for the yield. It's not good for the quality and dealing with it, we don't really know what to do."

Moshav Kanaf, Golan Heights – 25 August

5. Wide of vineyard

Moshav Segula, south-central Israel – 30 August, 2021

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eran Alkavi, former Agriculture Ministry agronomist, Grape farmer (viticulturist)

"We are still growing grapes and if it continues like this for five, six years in this city and like the situation, the situation that was this year, I think most of the farmers will close and they're looking for other things to grow, really because this year, the year was very, very low (yield). Most of the farmers I don't know if they'll balance with the with the economic situation. And I think they are not going to do it for a long time if it's going to be like this, yes."

Moshav Kanaf, Golan Heights – 25 August

7. Various of vineyard and grapes ready for harvesting

8. Close set up of Ofer Torgeman owner of vineyard in the Golan Heights

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ofer Torgeman, Grape farmer (viticulturist)

"When they begin to harvest my vineyard, for the first time is the Syrah, for example, was harvested before the Cabernet, and at the last five years I saw some change that the Cabernet  it's harvested before the Syrah, the meaning that some something it's influenced of my Cabernet and my Syrah. The cabernet was harvested in the middle of September until October. And at the last year I saw that the Cabernet is harvest at the beginning of September. The meaning is that it's a harvested two weeks before which was in the past."

10. Cutaway of tasting grapes

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ofer Torgeman, Grape farmer (viticulturist)

"But we see that your wines it's not very it's not balanced and you don't have a good quality in your wine and you must to make, fix the must and the wine after you bring the grapes to your winery. As usual, I want that the the maturing will be excellent in the vineyard. And if I want that the maturity the meaning of it is that that the level of the sugar, the level of the acidity and the aroma and taste of the wine will be balanced and will be at a good time. Now I see that (the) I must to fix my must (young wine) in the winery. The meaning that the grapes it's not come into full quality."

12. Various of harvested grapes placed in carton on truck

13. Various of machinery mashing grapes

14. Zoom into jug filled for quality testing

15. Various of machinery processing grapes

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Ofer Torgeman, Grape farmer (viticulturist)

"If the temperature will be more high, I must to change my work in the vineyard, The meaning it is to take species that they have a good quality in the warm, warm weather. For example, maybe in more 10 years from today, maybe I can't to grow Cabernet Sauvignon, for example, and then I must take a species that is give you a good quality in the warm, warm weather, for example Grenache or Carignan or some species like this. So, I must to change it, I must to take the Cabernet out and put a new variety in my place, Okay? And this is a meaning for the future of the warm weather."

17. Close of grapes

18. Close of meteorological station

LEAD IN:

The Psagot winery, located in an Israeli settlement near Jerusalem, was put on the map last year when a top U.S. diplomat visited it.

With a new president in the White House, people in the winery are worried they will not be getting the same treatment.

STORY-LINE:

After unprecedented support provided to Israel from former President Donald Trump, Jewish vintner Yaakov Berg is worried about what President Joe Biden will bring.

Berg is the CEO of the Psagot winery, located in a settlement near Jerusalem.

In November, then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo became the first top American diplomat to visit an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.

He visited the Psagot winery around the same time that the State Department in a major policy shift announced that products from the settlements can be labeled "Made in Israel."

But Berg is concerned about what Biden's administration will bring, especially since Biden served as vice president under former president Barack Obama.

"I think we have a good reason to be worried," he says

"Everybody knows today, history says that Obama made all the mistakes possible," Berg added.

Under Trump, the U.S. abandoned a longstanding U.S. policy of opposing settlements.

Moves such as Pompeo's visit reflected the Trump administration's acceptance of Israeli settlements.

"Everybody must admit that (former President Donald) Trump did all the right things in order to get to achieve good results," Berg says.

The Palestinians and most of the international community view settlements as a violation of international law and a major obstacle to peace.

Biden has pledged a more even-handed approach to the Middle East conflict in which he will restore aid to the Palestinians and work to revive peace negotiations.

In the meantime, Berg's business is growing under the changes brought on by Trump.

Israel established ties with the United Arab Emirates in September, in a U.S.-brokered deal.

Since then, Israel and United Emirates have established direct flights and exchanged numerous trade delegations.

Berg's winery, which produces 600,000 kosher wine bottles each year, is in negotiations with UAE businesses.

"I believe that in a few weeks we are going to send our first wine bottles to the UAE, I think it is really close," he says.

The UAE was the first of four Arab countries to establish or renew ties with Israel under a series of agreements brokered by the Trump administration.

Sha'ar Binyamin, West Bank - 26 January 2021

1. Exterior of Psagot winery

2. Garden at winery's visiting centre

3. Various of wine barrels

4. Set-up shot of Yaakov Berg, CEO of Psagot winery

5. Berg's hands

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Yaakov Berg, CEO of Psagot winery:

"I think we have a good reason to be worried. You know, it is difficult not to mention that the new president used to be the vice president of (former President Barack) Obama. And I think Obama made all the mistakes, I mean, I don't think, everybody knows today, history says that Obama made all the mistakes possible, here in our - lets call it region and everything. I think everybody must admit that (former President Donald) Trump did all the right things in order to get, to achieve good results, to achieve peace agreements, to achieve good atmosphere to everybody."

7. Various of worker bottling wine

8. Wine bottles

9. Various of workers

10. Various of wine bottles on display

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Yaakov Berg, CEO of Psagot winery:

"We negotiate already doing business and sending our wines there (to the United Arab Emirates) of course. I believe that in a few weeks we are going to send our first wine bottles to the UAE, of course, I think it is really close. I think, because the Emirates today - it is a centre to, it is not just one country, it has become a centre maybe to the Arab world, its a centre not only to the Arab world but also to the Far East, to many (locations). And you know, they are very, very good business people and they are interested in development. So, I think it is going to be really interesting. I think it is not just to sell a few more wine bottles to the Emirates, no, no. I think we can do much more than that."

12. Set-up shot of Israel Ganz, head of Binyamin regional council

13. Ganz's hands

14. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Israel Ganz, head of Binyamin regional council:

"I think the agreements (Abraham Accords) are dramatic. There's a change, instead of speaking of division (of land) and borders and what is between you and me, the conversation now is on what is common between us. And there are plenty of things that are common. There is common history, common tourism and businesses and interests, and this opens a new world."

15. Various of Palestinian village of Mukhmas as seen from Psagot winery

16. SOUNDBITE  (Hebrew) Israel Ganz, head of Binyamin regional council:  

"We congratulate President-elect (Joe) Biden, we wish him luck. We think that if someone wants to discuss something he needs to be seen on the ground, must come and know (the area). It is a special place, there is plenty to see, and good things that come from this place. And of course we will be happy and respectful, anyone who will come here, we will be honoured."

17. Psagot wine bottles on display

The Quraan family once planted their plot of land in the West Bank with grapes, but for years, they say, that land has been inaccessible to them, covered instead by the grapes of an Israeli winery.

The Psagot winery, established in part on land the family says was stolen from local residents, is part of a sprawling network of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that most of the international community view as a violation of international law and a major obstacle to peace.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's expected tour of the West Bank winery this week will be the first time a top U.S. diplomat has visited an Israeli settlement, a parting gift from an administration that has taken unprecedented steps to support Israel's claims to war-won territory.

Kainat and Karema Quraan, two sisters from Al-Bireh, said they have documents showing they own a plot of land on which some of the vineyards and a winery building were established.

The award-winning winery, which offers tours and event spaces, is a focus of Israel's efforts to promote tourism in the occupied territory and a potent symbol of its fight against campaigns to boycott or label products from the settlements.

The Psagot winery produces 600,000 bottles a year and exports 70% of them.

The Palestinians said many of the settlements, including Psagot and its winery, were built on land stolen from private Palestinian owners.

Yaakov Berg, the owner of the winery, did not respond to requests for comment.

The winery had challenged a European Court of Justice ruling that European countries must label products originating in the settlements, a decision eventually made last November.

A week after the ruling, Pompeo announced that the U.S. no longer considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be a violation of international law, reversing four decades of American policy.

To express its gratitude, Psagot released a new wine called "Pompeo," a blend of cabernet sauvignon, syrah and merlot.

Muneef Traish, an Al-Bireh city council member who has U.S. citizenship, has led a legal campaign for years on behalf of the community seeking the return of the confiscated lands.

He said the settlers seized a total of 1,000 dunams (250 acres), 400 of which are being used by the winery. Traish and other residents plan to protest Pompeo's visit to the settlement.

The visit to the winery is another gift to Israel in the final weeks of U.S. President Trump's presidency.

The visit could burnish Pompeo's credentials with evangelical Christians and other supporters of Israel, should he pursue a post-Trump political career.

Al-Bireh, West Bank - 16 November 2020

1. Wide of municipality council member, Muneef Traish showing sisters, Kainat and Karema Quraan detailed map of the land and Psagot settlement buildings

2. Close of Karema Quraan

3. Wide of Muneef Traish and his sisters, Kainat and Karema Quraan

4. Close of Traish's finger on map

5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Kainat Quraan, owner of private land who says her land was confiscated by Jewish settlers of Psagot:

"I feel pain and sadness for the loss of our land that we used to plant and harvest it with my father, so it hurts to see that your own land, your property, is taken like this and you can't do anything."

6. Close of map of the confiscated land and Psagot settlement buildings

Psagot, West Bank - 12 November 2019

7. Zoom out from Ramallah outskirts to winery

8. Wine bottles on table

9. Close of label on bottle reading (English) "Product of Israel"

10. Various of winery

11. Wine bottles on display

12. Various of frames certificate reading (English) "Best wine producer, Israel" and ''Psagot winery, Israel''

Al-Bireh, West Bank - 16 November 2020

13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Kainat Quraan, owner of private land who says her land was confiscated by Jewish settlers of Psagot:

"My father used to cultivate the confiscated land with grapes, wheat, barley and figs, and my mother and I were harvesting it. Literally we were making our full living from this land, there was no other income source for my family other than it."

14. Mid of sisters Kainat and Karema Quraan

15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Muneef Traish, Al-Bireh Municipality Council Member:

"We see Pompeo's visit as a step to legitimize settlement activity, because he is coming to visit lands owned by Palestinian citizen who hold American citizenship and instead of asking Israel to return the land to its American citizens you are here to celebrate the occupation of this land and dedicate the presence of these settlers."

16. Traish showing map to his sisters

Palestinians demonstrated in the West Bank city of Al-Bireh on Wednesday against U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's expected tour of a West Bank winery in an Israeli settlement this week.

It will be the first time a top American diplomat has visited an Israeli settlement, a parting gift from an administration that has taken unprecedented steps to support Israel's claims to war-won territory.

The Psagot winery, established in part on land the Palestinians say was stolen from local residents, is part of a sprawling network of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Pompeo's expected visit, reported by Israeli media but not officially confirmed, would mark a radical departure from past administrations, which frequently scolded Israel over settlement construction — to little effect.

President Donald Trump has already broken with his predecessors by recognising contested Jerusalem as Israel's capital and repudiating the decades-old U.S. position that settlements are inconsistent with international law.

Trump's Mideast plan, which overwhelmingly favored Israel and was immediately rejected by the Palestinians, would have allowed Israel to annex nearly a third of the West Bank, including all of its settlements.

Al-Bireh, West Bank - 18 November 2020

1. Palestinian demonstrators marching against U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's expected tour of winery in Israeli settlement

2. Palestinian officials and activists holding Palestinian flag

3. Various of demonstrators marching

4. Demonstrators burning tires, with Psagot settlement in background

5. Demonstrators near burning tire

6. Smoke rising, Psagot settlement in background

7. Demonstrators holding balloons

8. Balloons

9. Demonstrators launching balloons into air

10. Balloons in air

11. Press conference organised by a group of Al-Bireh residents, many of whom are American citizens, who say the settlement has gobbled up their land

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Muneef Traish, Al-Bireh Municipality Council Member:

"We urge you to pass this message to the American people, to the people all over the world because of what Mr. Pompeo is trying to do, he is trying to get legitimacy to the settlement activities in the West Bank against all rules and resolutions passed by the United Nations and by all international organisations."

13. Press conference

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Sam Bahour, Palestinian-American businessman:

"This settlement is one of a hundred or so settlements throughout the West Bank - all of them are illegal no matter who visits them or who does not. Lastly I would say, before I came to this press conference and this demonstration, I contacted my lawyer in Ramallah and we are currently seeking a way to issue a warrant for the arrest of Pompeo for trespassing on Palestinian private lands. This is an illegal act, it is an act of a failed administration (of President Donald Trump), trying to make himself relevant when he is one month away from being a nobody."

15. Various of demonstrators holding signs against Pompeo's visit

16. Sign reading (English): "Trump and Pompeo, Americans have voted you out - concede"

17. Protesters holding sign

18. Demonstrators holding Palestinian flags, Psagot settlement background

19. Smoke rising from burned tire, settlement in background