The Gush Etzion winery sits at the Gush Etzion Junction, a testament to the power of dreams and hard work.

Shraga Rozenberg began his journey as a winemaker in a very humble way. He took advantage of a blackberry bush in his garden that was giving an abundance of fruit. His blackberry wine was a hit, and he decided to try his hand at making wine from grapes.

Many years went by where he harvested grapes from Tel Arad and brewed wine at home. Year by year, he learned the intricacies of coaxing the best flavor from the grapes and as his skill grew, so did his desire to open a winery in Judea.

It was important to Shraga and his wife Tamar, of blessed memory, that they establish their winery in Judea.  According to the Bible, when the patriarch Jacob blessed his sons, he blessed Judah with the following words, “will wash his robe in wine, and his clothing in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine and his teeth whiter than milk.”  – Genesis 49: 11-12 The blessing of the land of Judah was the manufacture of wine.

The Judean hills have become renowned throughout Israel for the ideal environment they provide for the grapes. Due to the altitude, the grapes are on the vine longer than anywhere else in Israel, giving them added time to develop their sun-warmed flavor and sweetness.

The Rosenbergs established their winery in 1995 at the Gush Etzion Junction, and in their first year, they produced 5000 bottles of wine. They have added a visitors center, a venue for events, and a restaurant from that time.

Following the establishment of the Gush Etzion Winery, many area farms began growing grapes that have given life to the vibrant wine industry. Gush Etzion is a leader in presenting fine Israeli boutique wines. Shraga and his son Asaf are at the winery every day, working the land and creating exceptional wines.