I announced at our Press Conference at Flam winery Wednesday afternoon that Israeli Wine Direct is challenging the best United States wineries to a friendly tasting challenge in 2008, also the 60th anniversary of the (re)birth of Israel.

It’s time to re-orient the wine world back to the birthplace of wine.

Does the US wine market produce amazing wines? YES

Does the eastern Mediterranean of which Israel is a part produce great wines? YES

Also - both regions produce plenty of lousy wines.

I think it’s time to benchmark great Israeli wines against great American wines.

In many ways, Israel is where California was 30-40 years ago…held (unfairly) in low esteem by snooty wine outsiders.

GAME OVER

I asked international food and wine critic Daniel Rogov, based in Tel Aviv, to independently select what he believes to be the Top 10 Israeli wines available today. HE AGREED. (I had an amazing lunch with Daniel in Tel Aviv this past Tuesday after my arrival in Israel.)

Meanwhile, we have invited American critics to participate.

To date, NONE HAVE AGREED. Too busy, too constrained, too whatever.

It’s not surprising, actually. Commentators have noted that Napa is running scared lately…is Wine America freaked out by the fact that Millenials prefer imports over domestic wines? Is Wine America terrified that there might just be some wine gems in the Judean Hills or Upper Galilee that would kick their grape asses?

If you follow my Twitter stream then you know I have just returned from a great trip to Israel, wine’s birthplace.

While there, I met with many of our current winery partners, held a press conference at Flam winery to speak about Direct Marketing, and met with some wineries we would like to have as new clients…in addition to meeting with the leading wine retailer there.

Bottom Line - I am convinced now more than ever that the energy within the Israeli wine scene (200 wineries, if you can believe it!) is REAL. The climate (”terroir”, if we must!) has been known by residents for well over 5,000 years as Prime Grape Real Estate.

I look forward to having some fun with this Wine Challenge - The Future of Wine History (Israel) meets Cocky Oaked-up California.

If none of the critics we have invited step up, I have spoken with Rogov about using Parker and Wine Spectator ratings to create a “best of” list that we’d then pit Rogov’s picks against in a blind tasting.

Either way, let’s play…