Adam Montefiore

Adam S. Montefiore is a wine trade veteran and a winery insider turned wine writer, who has written his Wine Talk column for the Jerusalem Post since 2010. For over thirty-five years he has contributed to the advance of Israeli wine and has been referred to as "the English voice of Israeli wine." Born in London, brought up in England, he initially worked in the English wine trade. When he made Aliyah, he devoted himself to Israeli wine, working for many years for the Yarden-Golan Heights Winery, Carmel Winery and Yatir Winery. He was a founding member of ‘The Academy of Wine Service’ (UK) and founder of ‘Handcrafted Wines of Israel’.  Montefiore is a member of ‘The Circle of Wine Writers’, based in the UK. He is author of: ‘Domaine du Castel: The Biography’, ‘Golan Heights Winery: Forty Years…’, ‘The Wine Route of Israel’, and ‘Wines of Israel’.  He is also a contributor to Jancis Robinson MW’s ‘The Oxford Companion To Wine’, ‘The World Atlas of Wine’, ‘Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book’ and ‘The Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia.’ Other than writing about wine, he divides his time between ‘The Israel Wine Experience’, which educates about Israeli wine and advances wine tourism, and ‘Adam Montefiore Wine Consultancy’, which advises wineries, hotels, restaurants, retailers and private individuals.  He is the fifth generation after Sir Moses Montefiore and the first from the family to make Aliyah. His brothers include historian Simon Sebag Montefiore (author of ‘Jerusalem: The Biography’) and writer Hugh Sebag Montefiore. He lives in Ra’anana, north of Tel Aviv. His wife passed away in 2015 and he has three children and six grandchildren. In 2024, he was presented with the prestigious Terravino Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of his contribution to Israeli wine.

THOUGH WHITES are the norm, choose red if that is what you prefer

Wine talk: Celebrating Shavuot in white and pink

 MORDECHAI COHEN (R), the legendary ‘masgiach’ of Carmel’s Zichron Ya’acov Cellars.

Wine talk: Separation, not division

 Karas wine, a popular wine brand from Armenia.

Hail to the ancient world: A look at the rich wine tradition of Armenia


Passover 2025: This is the year to support and buy Israeli wines

Why is this year different from all other years? This year you should support Israel without question.

 Castel wines are seen on a Passover Seder table.

From garage to greatness: The rise of Israel's Lewinsohn Winery

Lewinsohn Winery has changed from a rather shy, bashful, secretive winery into one of the most active, sought-after wine venues, producing 40,000 to 50,000 bottles a year – but it is still 'family'.

 IDO LEWINSOHN, Master of Wine, owner-winemaker of Lewinsohn Winery.

Terra Uma: The Israeli start-up treating PTSD through therapeutic wine-making

Tomer Weinberg discovered that when he was around wine, anxiety, fear, and tension dissipated as if by a miracle. And if the winemaking process could help him, it could also help others.

 Participants in Terra Uma's vinotherapy for PTSD are seen making their own wine and placing their own personal artwork on the barrels.

Wine Talk: Be happy, drink hearty

Purim is a wine-drinking festival; it is the one day of the year when we are encouraged to get drunk.

 Purim celebrates the grape in a nod to the Persian wine parties.

Valentine's Day: Israeli sparkling wines to drink on this day of love

Some recommendations for Valentine’s Day are as follows.

 A SPARKLE in a glass brings people together.

Tu Bishvat: New year for vines

Tu Bishvat is a time to appreciate the world around us. Whatever is happening around the world, life in nature and the vineyard continues as before. This is the beginning of a new growing cycle. 

 THE GOLAN HEIGHTS is most well known for its wine and vineyards.

Wine Talk: 'Sweet' is not a dirty word

A family gathering highlights the overlooked demand for sweet wines and Hanni’s “sweet vinotype.”

BARTENURA BY the beach: Bartenura Moscato represents quality and authenticity, being made in Italy’s Asti region

Wine tourism: Visit the historic wineries of the Galilee in Israel's North

Whilst you enjoy the Galilee and sample its riches, never forget that the Galilee of Israel today is a mere moment in a long ancient history.

 Vineyards in Israel's Galilee.

Vitkin Winery: Leading Israel's revolution against Cabernet and Chardonnay

Vitkin Winery forged a new path and took many of the Israeli wine producers with them. They created change and still inspire their peers with their innovative winemaking.

 SIBLING PARTNERS in Vitkin: Assaf Paz, the winemaker; and Sharona Belogolovsky, the CEO.

The Jerusalem wine story: An in-depth look at the Holy City's history with the grape

Wine expert Adam Montefiore takes an in-depth look at the Holy City of Jerusalem's history with the grape.

 A glass of Jerusalem wine with the Montefiore Windmill logo.