Israeli Beer, Wines And More Exported From Israel To USA

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

Beer festivals are held annually in Israel, of which one of the largest is in Jerusalem.  Israeli commercial beers "Goldstar" and "Maccabee" (with bottle labels in English for export), produced by Tempo Beer Industries Ltd.  Tempo Beer Industries is Israel's largest brewer and the country's second-largest beverage company, out of Netanya. 

As of April 6, 2025, there is a 17% tariff on products from Israel, including beer and wine, which is a surprise move given the strong US support for Israel.  Let's hope it doesn't rise any higher !!!

                                 Rosenfeld Winery in Nataf, Israel / Getty 

Most Israeli wines are kosher;, but some small companies cannot afford to do so.  Look at the label.  According to kosher regulations, animal-based additives may not be added to the wine. So although it might not say so on the label, kosher wine is also vegan.  Kosher wine is produced the same way all other wine is made. The only difference is that from the time grapes enter the winery until bottling, grapes and wine can only be handled by a Sabbath-observant (or Orthodox) Jew. A non-Jewish or non-practicing Jewish winemaker can be involved in the process, but they may not handle the wine in barrel or tank.

There are approximately 300 wineries in Israel currently. They range from very small operations that produce a few hundred bottles of wine per year, to large wineries making more than five million bottles. The four largest producers—Barkan, Carmel Winery, Teperberg Winery and Golan Heights Winery—make more than 20 million bottles combined each year.

Other wineries, including Recanati, Binyamina and Tabor, each produce around one million bottles per year. A number of relatively small wineries provide balance, many with an output of around 20,000 to 30,000 bottles annually.

Israel produces 40–45 million bottles of wine per year. Most Israeli wine is consumed within the country, as just 20% is exported each year. The United States is the largest export market for Israeli wine.

Some popular Israeli wines exported to the USA include those from Yarden, Gilgal, Mount Hermon, Recanati, and Dalton, with varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc being common. 

Israel ships a variety of food products to the USA, including snack foods, processed fruits and vegetables, wine, beer, planting seeds, and tree nuts. 

Our Manischewitz wine, so popular in the USA at holiday time, is made in the United States, specifically in Canandaigua, New York. Concord Grape: The wine is known for using Concord grapes, which grow in upstate New York. Kosher Certification: All Manischewitz wines are certified kosher and produced under the supervision of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America.  We won't have to worry about tariff pricing on this !!!

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

  Matzos:  Aviv, Passover Matzos, baked and packed in Benei-Brak, Israel, kosher for Passover, at Safeway.  1 sheet is 120 calories.  

• Snack Foods: Israeli snack foods like "Bissli" (a type of crispy snack) are popular. 
• Processed Fruits and Vegetables: Israel exports processed fruits and vegetables, including fruit juices, and prepared or preserved tomatoes. 
• Wine and Beer: Israeli wines and beers are also exported to the U.S. 
• Planting Seeds: Israel is a significant exporter of planting seeds. 
• Tree Nuts: Tree nuts are another important agricultural export from Israel to the U.S. 
• Other foods:
• Avocados: In 2023, avocado was the leading agricultural export commodity in Israel, in terms of value.  Israel is a significant exporter of avocados, with a substantial portion of its avocado 
• exports going to the United States, though Mexico is the primary supplier of avocados
•  to the US market.  
• Date Fruits: The second most valued agricultural export from the country was date fruits. 
• Citrus: Israel is a producer and exporter of citrus, including oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and a hybrid of a grapefruit and a pomelo, developed in Israel.  In the USA, individuals can find and purchase Israeli oranges, particularly the "Jaffa" brand, at major grocery stores, international markets, and online retailers like Costco and Instacart.  
• Za'atar: A popular spice blend of hyssop and sesame seeds. 
• Tahini Paste: Al Arz Tahini Paste, which was recently voted as the best Tahini in Israel. 
• Olive Oil: Eliad Olive Oil, housed on rich basalt lands in the northern Holy Land. 
• Honey: Honey products are also exported. 
• Teas: Wissotzky teas, such as green tea with lemongrass and ginger, black mint tea, and masala chai. 
• Coffee: Elite instant coffee and mocha coffee. 
• Cookies: Abadi Delicious Middle Eastern Cookies. 
• Other: Gift boxes containing various Israeli food items are also shipped. 
• At a February 2016 JC meeting, Israel had proposed resuming negotiations on a permanent successor agreement to the current United States-Israel Agreement on Trade in Agricultural Products (ATAP). The current ATAP is the second of two temporary ATAPs that the United States and Israel have negotiated due to a disagreement over interpretation of the FTA that arose after the Uruguay Round was concluded. The first ATAP, negotiated in 1996, allowed for limited preferential tariff treatment.
•  Under the 2004 ATAP, Israel provides the United States less advantageous tariff treatment than the United States provides Israel: the United States provides Israel with duty-free access to 90 percent of agricultural tariff lines, while Israel provides the United States with duty-free access to only 72 percent of agricultural tariff lines.                                            
  

A member of the French banking family, Rothschild was a leading proponent of the Zionist movement and, beginning in 1882, provided decisive financial assistance to Jewish settlements such as Rishon LeZion, Zichron Ya’akov and Rosh Pina. He founded wineries and a glass factory managed by Meir Dizengoff and supported the electrification of Palestine.  Electrification refers to the process of replacing fossil fuel technologies with electric technologies, often powered by clean energy sources, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency across various sectors like transportation, heating, and industry. 

Israel has a rich history of winemaking, with evidence suggesting vineyards thrived as early as 5,000 years ago, with wine playing a central role in religious rituals, trade, and daily life. However, the industry faced periods of dormancy and revival, with the modern Israeli wine industry founded by Baron Edmond James de Rothschild in the late 19th century.