Yarden Muscat, Golan Heights Winery 2013, 500ml, Galilee, Israel

The Galilee (or Galil) is the most northern, and generally considered the best, appellation in Israel. The highest quality area within the appellation is the Golan Heights (or simply the Golan), the coldest region in Israel. The vineyards on this volcanic plateau rise from 400 meters (1,300 feet) above sea level to 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) and receive snowfall in the winter. Yarden Muscat is a fortified wine made by adding oak-aged brandy early in the fermentation of Muscat of Alexandria grapes. The wine is produced exclusively from grapes grown in the single Muscat of Alexandria vineyard on the southern Golan Heights. The 2013 Yarden Muscat presents aromatic orange blossom, floral and spice characters, along with attractive notes of tropical fruits, citrus and tangerine peel. This fortified dessert wine is sweet yet enjoyably drinkable.