Situated in the foothills of the Judean Mountains, Clos de Gat borders Israel’s biblical Ayalon Valley, where Joshua defeated the Five Kings. Clos de Gat is a well-established winery and is considered as one of the finest in the country. Owner and winemaker Eyal Rotem began planting his vineyard back in 1998, building a winery on the land surrounding his house and carefully building a long-imagined dream into a reality. Apart from its renowned biblical heritage, the surroundings also host a distinct historical reference to Israel’s winemaking--an ancient “Gat” (Hebrew for wine press) which predates the Roman period by a thousand years, is located in the heart of the vineyards, which cover an area of 19 hectares (47 acres).

 

The vineyards are uniquely supported by this historical lineage, whose region’s rolling hills and valleys have been the backdrop for grapevine cultivation over thousands of years. The ageless combination of a thin layer of topsoil on a bedrock of limestone along with this area’s unique microclimate mean that the Clos de Gat offerings are a celebration of the historical lineage of grape-growing in the region that benefit from near-perfect conditions. The outstanding selection of grapes from this winery include the following varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Chardonnay, along with a select offering of Semillon and Viognier. Trimmed to approximately 5000 kg per hectare, Clos de Gat is dedicated to investing in the longevity of its vines, producing exceptional quality from such a low yield. Across the vineyards, sub-soils, elevations and microclimates were carefully considered, and each plot was planted with the variety that was most likely to produce the highest quality of each fruit on a consistent basis. Clos de Gat uses its own bottling facility as part of ensuring quality control during the maturation process.

 

Clos de Gat utilizes the vineyard’s natural yeasts to support the spontaneous fermentation process without the addition of synthetics, which aids in providing even greater complexity and enhance the expression and uniqueness of the “terroir” of Clos de Gat. Each offering is consistently exceptional, and it is no surprise that Eyal Rotem’s wines have been quickly accumulating prestigious international awards.