Recanati Winery

Recanati Winery is an Israeli wine producer founded in 2000 by Lenny Recanati. The winery is associated with the Upper Galilee and, since 2022, has operated from a purpose-built facility at Ramat Dalton Industrial Park near the vineyards from which it sources much of its fruit. Its production is reported at approximately 900,000 to 1 million bottles annually, placing it among Israel's substantial commercial wineries while retaining a strong regional identity. The winery's sourcing model centers on hand-harvested grapes. Approximately two-thirds of its grapes come from contracted high-altitude vineyards in the Manara area of the Upper Galilee. The balance comes from vineyards in the Jezreel Valley, whose clay-rich soils provide a contrasting growing environment. This geographic combination supports a portfolio that spans accessible young wines, varietal bottlings, and more concentrated reserve offerings. Recanati's portfolio includes young red and white blends sold under the Yasmin label, varietal wines under the Recanati label, reserve wines, and a Special Reserve tier. The brand therefore serves several occasions and price or quality segments within the Israeli wine market, from approachable everyday blends to more premium expressions. The winery's positioning is rooted in Israeli origin, regional vineyard character, and the use of grapes from distinct northern and central Israeli terroirs. Winemaking leadership has included Lewis Pasco, who had previously worked with Chimney Rock and Marimar Torres in California, and Gil Shatsberg, a graduate of the University of California, Davis wine program. Shatsberg previously worked at Amphorae and Carmel wineries before joining Recanati and later replaced Pasco as chief winemaker. The transition reflects the winery's connection to both Israel's developing wine sector and international winemaking practices. In August 2022, after six years of planning and construction, Recanati moved from the Hefer Valley to its new Upper Galilee site. The facility stands on a cliff at an elevation of approximately 850 meters and includes an adjacent visitor center. According to CEO Eli Gidron, the relocation was intended to bring production closer to the vineyards and reinforce the winery's Israeli roots by contributing to the development of the Galilee region. The site overlooks Kerem Ben Zimra, the Hula Valley, the Dishon Plateau, Mount Hermon, and Lebanon. The move represents the brand's clearest recent strategic development: integrating production, regional identity, and visitor experience in the same northern Israeli setting.

Recanati Winery was established in Israel in 2000 by Lenny Recanati. From its beginning, the winery developed a portfolio intended to cover several levels of the market. Its Yasmin label was used for young red and white blends, while the Recanati and Reserve labels were associated with varietal and more premium wines. A Special Reserve tier completed the range. This structure allowed the winery to combine relatively accessible blends with wines intended to express more concentrated or selective production. The winery's identity has been closely connected to Israeli vineyard geography. All of its grapes are hand-harvested, and approximately two-thirds are sourced through contracts with high-altitude vineyards in Manara in the Upper Galilee. The remaining grapes come from vineyards in the Jezreel Valley, an area characterized in the reference material by clay-rich soils. The combination gives Recanati access to different growing conditions and supports a broad range of wine styles. Winemaking leadership has included international and Israeli experience. Lewis Pasco, whose previous professional background included Chimney Rock and Marimar Torres in California, served as a winemaker before being replaced by Gil Shatsberg. Shatsberg studied in the University of California, Davis wine program and had worked at Amphorae and Carmel wineries before joining Recanati. His appointment connected the winery to both established Israeli producers and internationally oriented oenological training. For much of its earlier history, Recanati operated in the Hefer Valley. The winery subsequently undertook a six-year planning and construction project to establish a new production site in the Upper Galilee. In August 2022, it relocated to Ramat Dalton Industrial Park. The new building stands on a cliff at approximately 850 meters above sea level and was planned to bring the winery nearer to its vineyard sources. An adjacent visitor center added a hospitality and educational function to the production site. Eli Gidron, identified as the winery's CEO in connection with the move, described the relocation as serving two purposes: improving proximity to the vineyards and strengthening the winery's Israeli roots through a contribution to the development of the Galilee region. The site's views toward Kerem Ben Zimra, the Hula Valley, the Dishon Plateau, Mount Hermon, and Lebanon reinforce the geographical story used by the winery. The relocation therefore marked more than a change of address; it consolidated Recanati's production, regional branding, and visitor experience in the landscape that supplies much of its fruit. The winery is reported to produce roughly 900,000 to 1 million bottles per year. Its current identity is consequently that of a sizeable Israeli producer with a distinct northern regional base, a multi-tier label architecture, and a sourcing program built around hand-harvested grapes from the Upper Galilee and Jezreel Valley.

• 2022

  Relocation to Ramat Dalton

  [1]Recanati wineryen.wikipedia.org

  After six years of planning and construction, the winery moves from the Hefer Valley to a new facility at Ramat Dalton Industrial Park in the Upper Galilee.

• 2000

  Recanati Winery is founded

  [1]Recanati wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Lenny Recanati establishes Recanati Winery in Israel.

An Israeli winery positioned around Upper Galilee provenance, hand-harvested grapes, high-altitude vineyard sourcing, and a portfolio ranging from accessible blends to reserve and special-reserve wines.

• Young blended wines

  Yasmin

  The Yasmin label covers young red and white blends. It represents Recanati's more accessible end of the portfolio and is designed around approachable blended wines rather than single-varietal or reserve positioning.

• Varietal wines

  Recanati

  The core Recanati label includes varietal wines made from grapes sourced through the winery's Israeli vineyard network, particularly the Upper Galilee and Jezreel Valley. The label is part of the winery's principal branded range.

• Reserve wines

  Reserve

  The Reserve range occupies a more premium tier than the young Yasmin blends. It forms part of Recanati's effort to present more selective or age-worthy expressions within its portfolio.

• Special-reserve wine

  Special Reserve

  Special Reserve is the winery's named top reserve tier in the referenced portfolio description. Specific cuvées, grape varieties, vintages, and release details are not established by the available material.

• 2022

  Move production to the Upper GalileeStrategy

  Background

  The winery spent six years planning and constructing a new facility intended to place production nearer to its principal vineyard sources and deepen its connection with the Galilee.

  Action taken

  Recanati relocated from the Hefer Valley to Ramat Dalton Industrial Park and added a visitor center beside the new winery.

  Aftermath

  The move gave the winery a production base at approximately 850 meters elevation and reinforced its regional positioning around the Upper Galilee.

  Source

• 2022

  Recanati Winery relocates to a new Upper Galilee facility[1]Recanati wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After six years of planning and construction, Recanati Winery moved from the Hefer Valley to a new winery at Ramat Dalton Industrial Park in the Upper Galilee. The site was designed to place production closer to the winery's principal vineyard sources and included a new visitor center.

• 2022

  Recanati presents a vineyard-to-region production model in northern Israel[1]Recanati wineryen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The winery's new location strengthened its association with the Upper Galilee, including high-altitude Manara vineyards and the surrounding Galilee landscape.

1. 1Recanati wineryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Recanati Winery official websiterecanati-winery.com