Gat Shomron Winery: A Hidden Gem in the Shomron

Karnei Shomron, Samaria · Boutique Winery · ~35,000 bottles/year

Arriving at an industrial zone in Karnei Shomron, you would never guess what waits on the other side of a pair of wooden gates.

Step through them, and the noise of the surrounding area falls away. You find yourself looking out over the rolling green landscape of Wadi Kana, wine glass in hand, in one of the more unexpectedly peaceful settings in the Shomron. This is Gat Shomron Winery - a hidden gem well worth seeking out.

From electronics engineer to winemaker

Gat Shomron was founded in 2002 by Lior Nachum, a Karnei Shomron resident of over 40 years whose first career was in hi-tech. He had no winemaking background and no family connection to viticulture. What he had was curiosity - and a palate that, once awakened, refused to stay quiet.

In his early twenties, a series of exceptional wines set him on a new path. He attended every wine festival and trade fair he could find across Israel, devoured the writing of wine critic Michael Ben-Joseph, and began visiting vineyards throughout northern Israel and Samaria - tasting grapes directly from the vine and imagining what they might become.

What started as a weekend hobby gradually outgrew itself. The home winery became a real business. Lior eventually left hi-tech behind entirely, and the operation moved into its current home in Karnei Shomron's industrial area - behind those unassuming wooden gates. Today, production stands at approximately 35,000 bottles per year, sourced from vineyards in Shiloh, the broader Shomron, the Galilee, and the Ella Valley.

"What would be the point of copying what other wineries are already making? I need to be unique."

A philosophy of difference

Talking with Lior, it becomes clear that the philosophy driving Gat Shomron is not about following trends but about building something distinct. He draws inspiration from celebrated wine styles — Amarone, ice wine, natural fermentation — and develops his own interpretations rather than simply replicating them.

One telling example: after experimenting with wild yeast fermentation and comparing the results against conventional inoculated wines, he found himself consistently preferring the wild-yeast bottlings. The complexity and character they contributed to the wine won him over completely.

After hearing about the winery's history, it was time to taste.

Lior first poured me his Blanc de Noir 2023. What makes this wine particularly interesting is that it is produced from red grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, yet emerges as a white wine.

He explained that the secret lies in the pressing process. By pressing the grapes extremely gently, only the clear juice is extracted from the grapes before significant color from the skins enters the wine. As pressure increases, the juice gradually turns pink and eventually red. The result is a refreshing white wine that is smooth, elegant, and perfectly suited for Israel's warm summers.

Next, I tasted the Petit Verdot 2019. Rich, concentrated, and expressive, it showcased the grape's naturally bold character and structure.

Then came the highlight of the visit.

Because I was writing about the winery, Lior shared a wine that is not normally poured for visitors. It was a Petit Verdot that had been aged for an incredible 84 months and reached 17.5% alcohol.

The aroma immediately reminded me of Port, with deep, concentrated notes rising from the glass. On the palate, however, it remained unmistakably Petit Verdot—only amplified. The wine delivered an even richer and more intense expression of the grape than I had ever experienced before. It was one of the most memorable wines I tasted all year.

Before leaving, I purchased a bottle of the winery's popular 24K Ice Wine. Produced through a process involving freezing and gentle pressing, this dessert wine is rich, concentrated, and wonderfully sweet without being cloying. The current release is the 2016 vintage and sells for around 150 shekels.

Another standout wine is the winery's award-winning Red Diamond, a late-harvest wine from the 2012 vintage that retails for approximately 295 shekels. Like many of Gat Shomron's wines, it reflects Lior's commitment to creating something distinctive rather than following conventional paths.

For visitors, the winery offers a welcoming visitor center where guests can relax outdoors overlooking Wadi Kana while enjoying local cheeses, pastries, and a selection of the winery's wines.

Gat Shomron is not a large commercial winery. It is a boutique operation built around one man's passion, curiosity, and willingness to experiment. Combined with the peaceful setting and unique wines, it makes for an enjoyable wine experience in the heart of the Shomron and is well worth a visit for anyone exploring the region.