I received the following email from Jim Veal, Israel’s Director of Trade and Investment Promotion in Houston, late last week. He gave me his permission to re-print an unedited version of his email here for you. Jim was kind enough to pour our wines at the Houston Cellar Classic this past week and he has been instrumental in introducing Texans to great wines from Israel, the birthplace of wine.

Richard,

I believe the events tonight and tomorrow will be incredible. Tonight, your wines will be served in a Reserve Tasting along with such greats as  B.V. George LaTour Cabernet, Milis, Far Niente Cabernet, Two Hands Bull and the Bear, Gaja Surarille Brunello 2000, Gaja Conteisa Barbaresco 2001, Gaja Darmagi Barolo 2001,Gaja Costa Russi Barbaresco 2001, Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Barbaresco 1999, Rubicon Cask, Tenuta di Biserno Coronato 05and others among the finest statements of the winemaking art. Over 700 tickets have been sold to the event for tomorrow! I want to say, I am proud to represent you, and proud to represent Israel and these great wines!

I believe, as I know you do, that wine can be a wonderful Cultural Ambassador for Israel. Israel needs more “feel good” things to be associated with the country. If the world only knew all the contributions to mankind that have come from tiny Israel in its short 61 year history! The list is a long one. For example, if the world only knew that every time a friend or loved one was in the hospital, any hospital, that Israeli technology and medical devices treated them, perhaps healed them or saved their lives. It is a story easily told over a glass of wine. It is a good story of a people that have excelled and that excellence benefits all of us, everywhere.

The beauty of wine, for me, is that it comes from the earth and the sky. Man has no total dominion over the results of the winemaking process. There is a point where nature takes over. Any winemaker will tell you he does what he does as a labor of love, and for the mystery of what the wine will ultimately become. Israeli Wines have come full circle now, through the centuries, and today, Israel makes unique beautiful wine, all over the country. The vineyards of today, and the remnants in the same fields of 4000 year old wine presses. All that history, all the years and the struggles, culminating in something wonderful, that we all can share.

I have said it often, but in my Christian Faith, no less than Jesus said of wine “Drink this, it is my blood” and he said that at a Passover Seder.

How blessed am I to have the opportunity to serve the wonderful land and people of Israel!

As Rabbi Akiva first said, way back in the second century:

L’hayim!

Jim

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