A Day at Tishbi Winery

Living in Israel has its perks; we’ve got beautiful peaks and valleys; gorgeous flora and fauna; and of course…wineries! Parts of Israel are perfect for vineyards, and the perfect arid soil dates back to Biblical Times, boasting of vast vineyards dripping with grapes. Having access to specialty boutique wineries is something I definitely never take for granted.

My parents (and sister!) visit me once a year in this beautiful country, and our trip to Tishbi winery was very memorable. As I recall from growing up, my parents weren’t big wine drinkers, or alcohol drinkers in general. I preferred grape juice to wine, when offered a choice. I finally learned the benefits and delicious tastes of wine from my dad’s friend from college, Dr. Lynn White. She taught me ways to taste wine, how to pair wine with foods, and how to get the “nose” on the wine. (I think that’s what it’s called. I’m definitely not an expert.)

So - imagine 2014. Pre-COVID times. My hair was past shoulder-length. I had just finished graduate school and was living in Jerusalem. Probably other stuff was going on in the world. (I avoid the news). My parents came in the summer and towed my little sister around to various touristy places. One such day I had the day off and was able to join them at Tishbi Winery.

Tishbi winery is located in Northern Israel right by the city Zichron Yaakov, of which I know very little about but am just telling you so you can know how to get there when you visit. Not only does this winery do tastings, it also has pairings of chocolate alongside the wine. Um, hello my absolute dream!

Of my family, I would say my oldest sister is the foodie among us. I’m not sure eating chocolate and drinking wine really challenged my palate and changed the way I tasted wine, but I definitely was shocked at how the tastes of both the wine and the chocolate changed in combination. A really bitter, high percentage cocoa chocolate really tasted sweet and complex when paired with a sweet wine. I was having a blast and getting tipsy.

After the tastings, we were led on a tour around the vineyards and winery itself. So, before we headed out, we were milling around in the entrance with a bunch of other tourists, I see a young man head straight to my dad, all smiles. He enthusiastically shakes my dad’s hand and introduces himself. They have a short conversation and then my dad returned to us, smiling and laughing.

“What were you talking about?” my mom asked.

“He complimented the wine and wanted to introduce me to his tour group that he was leading. He said it was such an honor to meet me,” my dad said. “…I think he thought I was Mr. Tishbi.”

And indeed, on every wine bottle in the winery, it has a picture of the two founders — one woman with short hair on the left, and her husband with a cap and beard on the right — and my dad was wearing the very same hat as the guy on the bottle.

“I think you just made his day!” I said.