Tom Winery: Faith, Family, and Vineyards in the Heart of the Shomron

Every once in a while, you stumble upon a place that feels like it was waiting for you. That's exactly how we found Tom Winery. What began as a simple scenic drive through the Shomron quickly turned into one of the most memorable wine experiences I've had, the kind you don't plan, but end up grateful for.

Tucked away on Givat Arnon, a hilltop near the yishuv Itamar, Tom Winery sits amid rolling hills, rugged dirt roads, and quiet vineyards. I live in the area and, with countless wineries practically in my backyard, finding a spot that genuinely surprises me is rare.

A Warm Welcome — And Hundreds of Sheep

The first thing we saw wasn't a tasting room, but hundreds of sheep, clustered near the winery and tended lovingly by the family. To my kids, this was a dream. For me, it was the beginning of a visit unlike any other.

The owner, Tomer Pnini, greeted us himself and immediately took the kids to meet the flock. He spoke to them with warmth and patience, giving them a personal tour that made them feel right at home.

Fair warning: Tom Winery is not easy to reach. You'll need a 4x4 to navigate the mountain roads that lead here. But once you arrive, you'll understand why it's worth the drive. Tomer's land spans 80 dunams of hillside, covered with vineyards and grazing animals, a full world he built with his own hands.

A Winery Built on Emunah

We headed to the wine cellar, and there on the wall was a pasuk painted in bold letters:

עוֹד תִּטְּעִי כְרָמִים בְּהָרֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן
"Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria"

Tomer explained that while the simple meaning refers to the future return of vineyards, "od" can also be read as ongoing, implying that the Shomron will continue to sprout more and more vineyards. Standing there, surrounded by rows of barrels and bottles, it felt deeply real, the prophecy happening right in front of us.

Another fascinating detail: every wine cellar on his land began as a succah. As his winery grew, each succah was enclosed to create a cellar, and a new succah was built outside. Wine and mitzvah literally growing together.

One of the cellars proudly displays awards from the Terravino International Wine & Spirit Challenge, recognizing Tom Winery as one of the best small boutique wineries.

Seventeen Years of Faith and Hard Work

Tomer shared how he started 17 years ago with just 14 dunams, now expanded to 80 dunams of vineyards. The early years were challenging, he worked as a laborer in someone else's vineyard while building his own after hours, sometimes sleeping only a few hours at night.

When I asked how he survived those first difficult years, he smiled and gave me a one-word answer: Emunah.

He's hands-on with every aspect of the vineyard: planting, tending, harvesting, and overseeing production. The family is deeply involved, too, with 10 children, each contributes, even doing nightly patrols to protect the sheep.

The Wines: Aroma Blend & Halvanon

Before stepping outside to taste wine, I picked up two bottles:

Aroma Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, and Cabernet Franc. Rich, smooth, and well-balanced. Like all his wines, it's tied to a pasuk:

תֹּם וָיֹשֶׁר יִצְּרוּנִי, כִּי קִוִּיתִיךָ

Hence the name Tom Winery.

Halvanon

A white semi-dry blend: Chardonnay, Viognier, Roussanne, and Sauvignon Blanc. Tomer named it Halvanon for two reasons:

1. His last milu'im was in Lebanon
2. The pasuk: אֶעְבְּרָה־נָּא וְאֶרְאֶה… הָהָר הַטּוֹב הַזֶּה וְהַלְּבָנוֹן

Chazal say "Halvanon" refers to the Beit HaMikdash.

"That's the entire purpose of these vineyards," he told me. "To bring life back to the land so the Beit HaMikdash can be rebuilt."

The wine itself had a beautiful aroma and a gently sweet, fruity balance.

A Winemaker With a Free-Spirited Look and a Tanach-Centered Mind

With all the pesukim and Torah references, you might picture someone who looks like a rabbi. Instead, Tomer has a laid-back, free-spirited style - T-shirt, long hair - but every conversation circles back to Hashem, the land, and Tanach.

It's a beautiful contrast that somehow captures the essence of this place perfectly.

Mount Sartaba and a Mishnah Comes to Life

As we walked to his newest succah, now used as outdoor seating, he pointed to the mountain across from us: Sartaba.

"That's the mountain mentioned in Mishnayot Rosh Hashanah," he said. "Where they waved the torches to announce Rosh Chodesh from Yerushalayim all the way to Bavel."

He explained how the practice stopped when the Tzadokim - the Shomronim, the Samaritans - began sending up false torches to confuse the people.

I'd heard this many times before, but standing there, seeing Sartaba with my own eyes, and understanding exactly where the Samaritans live today - it suddenly became real.

Tasting the Latest Cabernet Sauvignon

His newest Cabernet Sauvignon had a royal, full-bodied presence - exactly what you expect from a strong cab, with depth and richness.

A Story of Flowers and Yirmiyahu's Nevuah

Then he shared an incredible story.

Early on, he planted flowers which became so popular that he shipped them as far as Holland. As he watered the land, something unexpected happened: The soil started sprouting olive trees, grapevines, pomegranates, and fig trees on its own.

He said this fulfilled the nevuah of Yirmiyahu, that when the Jewish people return, the land will once again respond and give fruit.

Before Tomer came, this land was barren for years. Now it's alive.

A Family-Run Vineyard Rooted in Emunah

Tom Winery produces about 6,000 bottles a year, sold only directly through the winery. He also sells meat from his sheep.

The entire family is involved, with ten children, each taking part in the work of the land. At night, they take shifts walking the property to protect the sheep from theft by nearby villages.

And through all this, Tomer continues to serve in milu'im.

Wine with Soul

Tom Winery is more than a boutique winery, it's a living expression of Emunah, Tanach, and the rebirth of the Shomron.

A place where ancient pesukim come alive. Where vineyards rise from mountains that were once empty. Where a simple drive becomes the highlight of the journey.

If you want wine with soul, wine rooted in land, history, and belief, this is the place.

Plan Your Visit

Tom Winery
Givat Arnon, near Itamar, Shomron

Production: ~6,000 bottles annually
Purchase: Available only at the winery
Pro tip: Bring a 4×4 for the mountain roads
Contact: Call ahead for visiting hours and appointments

Most bottles are priced around 120 shekels — a fair price for boutique wines grown and produced entirely by hand.