Tulip Winery

Tulip Winery (יקב טוליפ) is an Israeli boutique winery founded in 2003 by the Yitzhaki family. It is located on a hillside in Kfar Tikva, a small pastoral community for people with special needs near Kiryat Tivon in the Jezreel Valley. The winery was established out of a love for wine and a love for people, and its founding vision combined quality winemaking with a strong social contribution. It is described as the first social winery of its kind in the world, built on an employment model that integrates members of the Kfar Tikva community into the wine industry, giving them a platform to participate in the labor market as equals. The winery produces a range of wines from vineyards spread across Israel, primarily in the Upper Galilee and the Judean Hills, including an organic vineyard in Zivon. Annual production is around 300,000 bottles, sold in Israel and exported worldwide. Key markets include North America and Europe, with exports also reaching China, Singapore, Ireland and other countries. In 2011 the winery became kosher, which led to a sharp increase in its production capacity. By 2013 it produced about 220,000 bottles, 25% of which were destined for export. Ownership was fully held by the Yitzhaki family until 2014, when Dudi Vaisman joined Roy Yitzhaki as an equal partner. This partnership contributed greatly to the winery's growth and expanded activity. Following Vaisman's entry, the Maya wine brand was also established, operating within Tulip Winery's structure and produced under its winemaker, but focusing on different wines — from grape selection to a more delicate style, producing lighter wines better suited to Israel's hot climate. The winery took consulting services from Greek winemaker Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, and after this change Tulip's wines also shifted style, with a significant reduction in heaviness and sweetness. The current winemaker is Dana Bani, who began her career in 2013 and has worked in boutique wineries in Israel, France, California and South Africa. She closely oversees vineyard growth, is responsible for all production stages and creates the winery's blends. The winery's vineyards include Gilad (Upper Galilee), Alma/Ben Zimra (Dalton Plateau), Zivon (organic, Mount Meron slopes), Tzuba (east of Jerusalem) and Mata (Judean Hills). Tulip wines have won awards in competitions including the Golden Cluster, Best Value and Terra Vino in Israel, as well as in San Francisco, Finger Lakes Indy International Wine Competition, the International Wine and Spirit Competition in England, Emozioni Dal Mondo in Italy and Citadelles du Vin in France, and have received ratings from wine critic Robert Parker.

Tulip Winery was founded in 2003 when the Yitzhaki family decided to establish a boutique winery. The family chose to locate it in Kfar Tikva, a community near their home in Kiryat Tivon, built on a special model where people with disabilities and special needs can develop and realize their abilities. Tulip is a social winery, the first of its kind in the world, based on an employment model integrating people with special needs into the wine industry, in line with Kfar Tikva's vision of providing employment to community members who take an active part in the wine industry. In 2011 the winery became kosher, and there was a sharp increase in its production capabilities. By 2013 it produced about 220,000 bottles, 25% of which were intended for export. Its main markets abroad are in North America and Europe, but the wine also reaches China, Singapore, Ireland and more. Previously the winery was fully owned by the Yitzhaki family, and from 2014 it has been jointly owned by Roy Yitzhaki and Dudi Vaisman. After Vaisman joined the winery, the Maya wine brand was also established, operating within Tulip Winery's structure and produced under the hand of Tulip's winemaker David Bar-Ilan, but engaged in producing wines different from those of Tulip Winery: from grape selection to a more delicate style, leading to the production of lighter wines better suited to Israel's hot climate. For the style change, the winery took consulting services from Greek winemaker Yiannis Paraskevopoulos, who came to Israel accompanied by an agronomist. After this change, Tulip's wines also underwent a style change that included a significant reduction in heaviness and sweetness. The winery's vineyards are spread throughout Israel, mainly in the Upper Galilee and the Judean Hills, including an organic vineyard in Zivon. The winery produces several series, including White Tulip (white wines), Just (Merlot and Cabernet), Mostly (Cabernet Franc and Shiraz), Reserve (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah) and Black Tulip. Its vineyards include Gilad (in Kfar Yuval in the Upper Galilee at the foot of the Ramim Ridge, growing Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewürztraminer), Alma/Ben Zimra (on the Dalton Plateau in the Upper Galilee, growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc), Zivon (an organic dynamic vineyard on the northern slopes of Mount Meron at 750 meters above sea level, growing Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc), Tzuba (east of Jerusalem at 750 meters above sea level, growing Merlot) and Mata (in the Judean Hills opposite Moshav Mata near Jerusalem, growing Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot). The winery's wines have won several awards, including the Golden Cluster competition, Best Value competition and Terra Vino competition in Israel. Around the world, the winery's wines have won in competitions in San Francisco, Finger Lakes Indy International Wine Competition, The International Wine and Spirit Competition in England, Emozioni Dal Mondo in Italy and Citadelles du Vin in France. They have also received ratings from wine critic Robert Parker.

• 2014

  Dudi Vaisman joined as equal partner; Maya wine brand established.

• 2013

  Produced about 220,000 bottles, 25% for export.

• 2012

  David Bar-Ilan became winemaker.

• 2011

  Winery became kosher, leading to a sharp increase in production capacity.

• 2003

  Tulip Winery founded by the Yitzhaki family in Kfar Tikva.

Social boutique winery combining quality winemaking with community contribution; produces bold, innovative wines and employs people with special needs.

• Black Tulip 2022

  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blend.

• Syrah Reserve 2022

  Syrah with 14 months aging.

• Espero Red 2022

  Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend.

• White Frank 2023

  Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc blend.

• White Tulip

  White wine series.

• Just

  Merlot and Cabernet series.

• Mostly

  Cabernet Franc and Shiraz series.

• Reserve

  Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah series.

1. 1דף הבית - יינות יקב טוליפ עד הבית | הזמינו מאתר יקב טוליפtulip-winery.co.il
2. 2אודות - יינות יקב טוליפ עד הבית | הזמינו מאתר יקב טוליפtulip-winery.co.il
3. 3Tulip Winery - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4יקב טוליפ - Wikipediahe.wikipedia.org