THE 11TH YOAV YEHUDA WINE FESTIVAL

15 October 2009

THE 11TH YOAV YEHUDA WINE FESTIVAL
16 -30 OCTOBER 2009

The 11th Yoav Yehuda Wine Festival takes place this year from 16-30 October, with a full program of events and tastings in the area’s 27 wineries, including the main event at Ein Hemed National Park, just outside Jerusalem, on Thursday and Friday, 29 and 30 October 2009. The region, which has been renowned for wine-making for some 3000 years, is made up of several different wine-growing areas. The Yoav Yehuda Wine Route includes all the area's wineries, including many that have sprung up in the area in the past decade and produce some of the country's finest wines, many of them with kosher certification.

The main event of the festival, which will take place in the Ein Hemed National Park on Thursday, 29 October (from 19:00) and Friday 30 October (from 10:00 – 16:00), will include the opportunity to sample the wines of 25 participating wineries, meet the wine-makers, enjoy local arts and crafts, a food fair and enjoy South American-inspired music. Wineries participating in the festival include, among others, Clos de Gat, Castel, Sorek, Ella Valley, Flam, Tzuba, Tzora, Teperberg, Sea Horse, Latrun, Nachshon and Hamasrek. The 60 NIS entrance fee includes a glass for the tastings.

The first Wine Run will take place on 30 October, taking participants on a 18k run in the Ayalon Valley past vineyards, almond tree orchards and the Nachshon, Clos de Gat and Latrun wineries. The event will commence from the entrance to Kibbutz Nachshon, near Latrun, at 08:00. Participants can also choose shorter routes of 3 and 5 kms. Prizes will be awarded for the two longer runs. Registration (for a fee) at www.shvoong.co.il or tel 972 52 7250865.

Throughout the festival, the wineries of the Yoav Yehuda wine route will be open to the public, each one offering tastings, tours, wine launches and the possibility to meet the people behind the wines.

The public is also invited to visit the studios of the many artists and craftsmen working in the Ella Valley region and participate in workshops (advance reservation necessary) – everything from jewelry and ceramics to shoe-making and sculpture. Many of the villages in the Wine Route are offering concerts and musical events from 17-31 October. Two- hour free guided hikes are also available on Fridays and Saturdays (10:00 and 14:00), with advance registration from the KKL (1-800-350-550).

Yoav Yehuda Tourism Authority: www.touryoav.org.il