The Ofir Farm in Alon HaGalil includes a vineyard and winery, known to wine enthusiasts by its former name the Yiftah’el Winery, and an apiary, known to honey enthusiasts by its former name, the Ofir Apiary. The farm was established by Hadas and Zvika Ofir in Alon HaGalil, which was then an agricultural village in its early days. Zvika grew up with the craft of beekeeping, which he learned from his father Yishai. He received his first hundred bees from him as a gift, and today there are over 800 hives. After the establishment of the apiary, in 1986, Hadas and Zvika decided to deepen their connection Continue Reading
The Ofir Farm in Alon HaGalil includes a vineyard and winery, known to wine enthusiasts by its former name the Yiftah’el Winery, and an apiary, known to honey enthusiasts by its former name, the Ofir Apiary. The farm was established by Hadas and Zvika Ofir in Alon HaGalil, which was then an agricultural village in its early days. Zvika grew up with the craft of beekeeping, which he learned from his father Yishai. He received his first hundred bees from him as a gift, and today there are over 800 hives. After the establishment of the apiary, in 1986, Hadas and Zvika decided to deepen their connection to the land and planted grapevines. For more than a decade, the grapes were sold to large wineries in the country, and in 1999 they began producing their wine.
The main and leading grape varieties in the vineyard since then and to this day are Sangiovese and Petite Sirah. In addition, they also grow Roussanne, Marselan, and Shiraz.
The honey produced by the bees is pure, natural and healthy, and is classified according to the types of blossoms: carob, jujube, clover, citrus, and avocado, and according to different wild blossom areas: Migdal, Shlomi, Alon HaGalil, and Kadarim.
In 2004, Winemaker Kobi Tuch joined the winery as an advisor. Kobi is the founder of Israel’s first boutique winery – Mount Meron Winery. In the same year, the farm’s visitor center was also built with wooden springs brought from the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia, where the farm’s agricultural produce ― honey and wine ― is sold.
The cabin is open every week from Wednesday to Saturday for entertainment. At the cabin you can taste the nine types of honey they produce, the variety of wines alongside fine goat cheese platters, you can also enjoy good coffee and a changing art exhibition on the gallery floor with the children and family.
Hadas and Zvika’s four children take an active part in all the farm’s activities, from working in the apiary, harvesting in the vineyard, filling honey jars and wine bottles to the farm’s many events.
Adva, the eldest daughter, returned to the farm after graduating and together with Hadas, manages and develops the visitors center and the members’ club. Noam, her younger brother joined Zvika and together they lead the farm’s agricultural industries.
Western Galilee Now is a registered non-profit grassroots organization (NGO) promoting awareness and appreciation for the region’s boutique wines, beers, food and produce, along with its cultural diversity, its historic traditions and the area’s scenic routes nestled between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea acting as a Chamber of Commerce to boutique tourism operators in the region.
We expose the visitors to the unique heritage and hospitality through workshops, culinary events, art, music, guides tours, festivals and also through our Tourist Information Center in Akko, owned by JNF USA which we were chosen to operate since Jan. 2016.
Our vision is to develop local and foreign tourism based on close cooperation between all the interested parties in the region.
Come and Taste Experience Discover – the Westen Galilee is NOW!
עברית
