Margalit

Margalit is a family-owned winery founded in 1989 by Dr. Yair Margalit and his son, Asaf. After an unexpected introduction to oenology at UC Davis, he retired from his career in chemistry and began crafting small batches of wine to share with friends and family. Six years of experimentation culminated in the release of Margalit’s first commercial vintage in 1991. The winery began humbly in Kfar Bilo, near Rehovot, producing only 80 cases per year. Growing public interest soon made expansion necessary, prompting a move to Hadera in 1994. The family relocated once more in 2013 to Binyamina on the Carmel Coast, where they now produce approximately 1,600 cases annually. After years of working alongside his father, gaining experience in California, and teaching oenology, Asaf Margalit now serves as the winemaker.

When Margalit Winery was first established, fruit was sourced externally. Yet, in pursuit of uncompromising quality, the family soon recognized the need to cultivate their own vineyards. In the late 1990s, they planted their first two vineyards in the Galilee and Binyamina, followed by a third in Zichron Yaakov in 2011. With water scarcity an ever-growing concern in the Middle East, Dr. Yair Margalit developed an innovative, sustainable approach to viticulture creating a “no-drip irrigation system” that relies entirely on winter rainfall. This pioneering method exemplifies the winery’s blend of scientific ingenuity and deep respect for the land.

Thanks to the hard work of Yair and now Asaf over the last three decades, Margalit now enjoys cult status within Israel’s restaurant community and is widely recognized as one of the pioneering producers of the country.