Pelter Winery on Kibbutz Ein Zivan was established in 2002 by Tal Pelter, who studied oenology and worked at several wineries in Australia. The winery draws on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Grenache, Merlot and Chardonnay grapes from the Golan, the Upper Galilee and the Jerusalem Mountains. The winery, one of only three in the country to produce a sparkling wine, releases wines in two series, T-Selected and Pelter, and current production is about 35,000 bottles annually.

Far more important than the statistics, Pelter, who is one of the rising stars on the local wine scene, seems to be one of those winemakers who has set out to do things "his way," striving not only for wines that will attain excellence, but that will also reflect his personality and philosophy.

Pelter, Cabernet Franc, T-Selection, 2005: Reflecting its development in new French oak for 14 months with spicy wood and mouth-coating tannins, both integrating nicely. Full-bodied, with a generous array of black fruits opening to reveal overlays of fresh Mediterranean herbs, and finally on the long finish, espresso coffee and dark chocolate and a tantalizing hint of crushed raspberries. Best 2009-2013. NIS 140 Score 92.