Judean Hills
Situated to the north of Jerusalem, down through Gush Etzion to the Yatir Forest, south of Hebron, the Judean Hills has the largest number of quality boutique wineries in Israel. Though still largely an underdeveloped wine region, vines thrive in the stony, limestone rich terroir. The main grape varieties grown in this region include, Carignan, Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Semillon, Chenin Blanc and Muscat of Alexandria. However, more recently, varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay (used for sparkling as well as still wines) have also been planted by some winegrowers. The wineries of Domaine du Castel, Gush Etzion and Ramat Hebron & Sea Horse are situated in this region.