Overview
Samaria, also known as Shomron, runs along Israel's northern coastal plain and adjacent hills from the southern slopes of Mount Carmel toward the Sharon Plain. It is the country's largest and most traditional wine region, with the densest concentration of vineyards in the valleys around Zichron Ya'akov and Binyamina. Baron Edmond de Rothschild first planted vines here in the 1880s, laying the foundation of modern Israeli winemaking.
The region benefits from a mild Mediterranean climate, cooling sea breezes, and soils of calcareous clay, limestone, chalk, and terra rossa. While historically known for volume, Samaria has reinvented itself through old-vine Carignan, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and increasingly refined Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Carmel Winery, Tishbi, and Binyamina are among the well-known producers based here.
Key Varietals
- CarignanAn old-vine Mediterranean red that yields concentrated, spicy wines from Samaria's warm valley sites.
- Cabernet SauvignonA classic red that produces ripe, approachable wines in the region's sheltered, lime-rich valleys.
- ChardonnayA white variety that thrives in the mild coastal climate, giving medium-bodied wines with tropical and citrus notes.
- Petite SirahA deep, tannic red that adds color and power to blends and stands alone in rich, inky expressions.