Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon

Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon is a 750ml, 14.5% ABV Israeli red wine produced by the Golan Heights Winery from high-altitude volcanic vineyards. A gold medal winner at both the Citadelles du Vin (2022 vintage) and Mundus Vini (2020 vintage), this Galilee appellation Cabernet consistently punches above its weight class among New World reds.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Golan Heights, Galilee, Israel  |  12 Months French Oak  |  Winery: Golan Heights Winery

Production & Heritage

The Golan Heights Winery was founded in 1983 in Katzrin, on the volcanic plateau of the Golan Heights — Israel's coldest and most acclaimed wine region. Vineyards sit between 400 and 1,200 meters above sea level, where rocky volcanic basalt soils and cool-climate conditions create an environment well suited to Bordeaux varietals. The Gamla bottling is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blended with small proportions of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. While the winery's flagship range is Yarden, the Gamla line is produced with the same viticultural rigor, drawing from the same Golan Heights terroir.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe blackcurrant and cherry before moving into darker tones of blackberry and mulberry. Secondary layers reveal tobacco leaf, fresh garden herbs, and a subtle undercurrent of French oak and cocoa.

Taste: The palate enters with juicy plum and cherry fruit, building through a full-bodied mid-palate where herbal complexity and soft tannins develop. Cocoa and dark berry flavors concentrate toward the peak, balanced by bright acidity that prevents the wine from feeling heavy despite its generous body.

Finish: Pleasantly long, with a velvety texture that carries lingering notes of ripe blackberry and dried herb. The French oak influence adds a subtle spice that persists without overwhelming the fruit.

How to Drink Gamla Cabernet

This wine shows well at cellar temperature (around 16–18°C / 60–65°F), poured into a large-bowled glass to let the aromatic layers open. Decanting for 20–30 minutes benefits younger vintages. For cocktails: a Cabernet-based Sangria works well, as the dark fruit and herbal character hold up against citrus and brandy; a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) benefits from the wine's full body and structure; and a New York Sour uses the wine's acidity and berry depth as a dramatic float over bourbon.

Best For

• Introducing someone to high-quality Israeli wine
• Pairing with a home-grilled steak dinner
• Building an affordable collection of international Cabernets
• Bringing a conversation-starting bottle to a dinner party

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Gamla Cabernet taste like? Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a full-bodied profile dominated by ripe cherry, blackcurrant, and plum fruit, layered with tobacco, garden herbs, and a hint of cocoa from 12 months of French oak aging. The texture is velvety with balanced tannins and a long, fruit-driven finish.

How does Gamla Cabernet compare to Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon? Both wines come from the same Golan Heights Winery and share the same high-altitude volcanic terroir. Yarden is the winery's premium flagship bottling with longer oak aging and more complexity, while Gamla delivers much of the same regional character at a more accessible price point.

Is Gamla Cabernet good for sipping neat? Yes — its full body, velvety tannins, and layered aromatics make it a satisfying wine to drink on its own, especially when served slightly below room temperature and given a short decant.

Where is Gamla Cabernet made? Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by the Golan Heights Winery in Katzrin, located on the volcanic Golan Heights plateau in northern Israel within the Galilee (Galil) wine appellation — the country's highest and coldest winemaking region.

What foods pair well with Gamla Cabernet? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's herbal and dark fruit notes. Aged cheddar or Gouda echo the oak-driven richness. Beef short ribs braised with herbs match the wine's full body. Dark chocolate desserts harmonize with the cocoa undertones. Eggplant-based Middle Eastern dishes like baba ganoush bridge the wine's smoky, earthy qualities.

What sizes does Gamla Cabernet come in? Gamla Cabernet Sauvignon is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Gamla Cabernet worth the price? Gamla positions as a mid-value expression that consistently over-delivers for its tier, with gold medals at international competitions and production standards shared with the more expensive Yarden line — making it one of the stronger values in the international Cabernet Sauvignon category.

Why Gamla Cabernet?

What sets this wine apart is its origin: volcanic basalt soils at elevations reaching 1,200 meters, in a region that receives snowfall — a far cry from the hot, arid conditions most people associate with Israeli agriculture. That extreme terroir, combined with the Golan Heights Winery's four decades of experience with Bordeaux varietals, gives Gamla a cool-climate structure and mineral backbone rarely found at this price. Gold medals at Citadelles du Vin and Mundus Vini confirm that international judges take notice. For anyone exploring wines beyond the usual French, American, and Australian suspects, this bottling is a compelling entry point into what the Golan Heights can produce.