DAY 11 Wednesday, 21 FebruaryBreakfast at our Hotel. Visit the city of Safed, one of the four holy cities in Israel, together with Jerusalem, Hebron and Tiberias. The old part of town consists of narrow cobblestone alleys revealing artists' galleries, medieval synagogues, private homes and small guesthouses. Dalton Winery is a small boutique winery located in the Upper Galilee of Israel that produces quality kosher wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Lunch at Galil Winery. Galil Mountain Winery is a joint venture between Golan Heights Winery and Kibbutz Yiron. The winery is an enterprise that combines the unique features of the Upper Galilee Mountains with the expertise of the Golan Heights Winery in producing top quality wines. Then visit Miles Winery and Tabor Winery, overlooking the village of Kfar Tabor. Overnight: Galei Kinneret Tiberias.
DAY 12 Thursday, 22 FebruaryBreakfast at our Hotel. Begin winery visits: Starting at Mt Carmel, Saslove Winery, a family operated boutique winery. Barry Saslove, owner and wine maker, is one of the pioneers of the rejuvenated Israeli wine industry who has taught wine appreciation and winemaking to thousands of Israelis. Barry's wines are elegant, soft, rich, and complex. Visit Margalit Winery, a pioneer of the boutique-wineries in Israel, Margalit has evolved to be almost a legendary wine very much sought after by the public. Visit and lunch at Amphorae Winery situated on the Makura ranch in the heart of the Carmel Mountains where the Maharal River gently winds. The Amphorae Vineyard is located precisely where the river crosses the Shirr Valley. A serene Mediterranean view surrounds the winery, creating the right ambience to make wine. Continue to Flam Winery - the Flam bros. certainly marked a significant milestone in defining the potential of the Cabernet-Sauvignon - Merlot blend in a country still looking for it's future champion grape variety. Then, to Mony Winery located in Dir-Rif at and owned by the Artul family, an Arab- Christian family from the Galilee town of Mghar. They moved to Dir-Rif at a planned Arab town that has yet to be built to produce wine and olive oil. The vineyard is located near a beautiful church, where "peace" is written on the structure's ceiling in 340 languages, including Arabic. Before entering Jerusalem and if time permits, stop at the Arab village of Abu Gosh. Overnight The David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem (http://www.tdchotel.com/)
DAY 13 Friday, 23 FebruaryBreakfast at our Hotel. Depart via the Judean Hills and Ein Gedi to the Dead Sea, lowest spot of earth to Masada. Climb by cable car and visit the site where 960 Jewish defenders took their own lives rather than become slaves to the Romans. Our guide will take us on a fascinating tour of the mountaintop fortress. Proceed via Arad to Beer Sheva area and visit the Yatir Winery for a tour and lunch. Return to Jerusalem. Overnight The David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem (www.tdchotel.com)
DAY 14 Saturday, 24 FebruaryBreakfast at our Hotel. Today we begin sightseeing of Jerusalem: Starting at the Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives for magnificent panoramic views of the Old City. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Enter the Old City of Jerusalem and enjoy a walk along the ancient ramparts. Visit the Western Wall and view the Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount. Stroll through the Arab Market and enjoy the sights, sounds and colors that prevail (there will be time to stop and shop). Lunch en route. Stop at Haas Promenade for a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the southern side. After lunch proceed to view the New City. Drive via the Knesset (Parliament), Mt Herzl, and visit the picturesque village of Ein Karem. Overnight The David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem (http://www.tdchotel.com/)
DAY 15 Sunday, 25 FebruaryBreakfast at our Hotel. Today we will begin winery visits to, first, Barkan Wine Cellars one of the leading producers of quality wines and spirits in Israel. Barkan Wine Cellars are renowned locally as well as worldwide for the extraordinary care with which their growers attend to the vineyards, their winemakers who take the finest care of the grapes and vines, and their use of the most advanced technologies. Continue to Tzora Winery, owned by Kibbutz Tzora. This boutique winery produces about 4200 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat Alexandroni. Proceed to Domain du Castel Winery, a small winery that began production in the Judean Hills, 10 miles west of Jerusalem, in 1992. Ellah Winery, located on the Kibbutz Netiv Halamed Hey in the Jerusalem Mountains, the winery released its first wines from the 2002 vintage. Proceed to Moshav Tal Shachar, where the Soreq Winery was established in 1994 by the Shacham Family. Time permitting, visit Mini Israel, a new miniature park in the Latrun area. Evening: Farewell dinner at the famous Arcadia restaurant in Jerusalem. Set in an exquisitely renovated old building in which the dining area is divided into intimate areas by stone arches. Chef-Owner Ezra Kedem maintains one of the very best and one of the most exciting restaurants in the country with contemporary and light cuisine that relies in equal parts on French style and local ingredients, highlighting the freshness and beauty of products from throughout the area. Overnight The David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem (http://www.tdchotel.com/)
DAY 16 Monday, 26 FebruaryEarly AM Transfer to airport for flight at 6 AM via Athens to the New York. Arrive at JFK Airport at 4:05 PM
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