Page 30 - Holyland Magazine - 2025 Edition

T he Negev Desert seemed an Merage Foundation Israel, allows travelers of history, culture, and innovation. Nicole
unlikely cradle for winemaking. to visit boutique wineries, experience Hod Stroh, CEO of the Merage Foundation
Its arid landscapes, scarce rainfall, authentic desert hospitality, and enjoy Israel, highlighted the importance of their
and extreme temperatures breathtaking landscapes. Visitors can tour work in the Negev’s development: "Our
painted a picture of a barren historical sites, stay in luxury desert lodges, vision is to transform the Negev into a
expanse. Yet, against all odds, the Negev and taste fresh desert wines. global tourism destination, showcasing the
has emerged as a flourishing wine incredible potential of this region. We are
region, reviving ancient traditions and The global recognition of Negev wines creating a unique wine route that connects
redefining the boundaries of viticulture. reached a milestone in March 2025, when ancient wine roads with modern innovation.
This transformation was led by the Merage they made their European debut in Madrid. The Negev’s vineyards are a testament to
Foundation Israel, which worked to turn the At an exclusive conference, 100 of Spain’s overcoming climate challenges in creative
region into a global wine and agritourism top culinary experts—chefs, sommeliers, ways, like growing grapes on desert sands.
destination. Through this initiative, the and wine industry leaders—gathered to By establishing a wine consortium in this
foundation seeks to promote economic witness the miracle of desert winemaking. extraordinary region, we aim to invite the
and demographic growth in the region, Hosted by the Merage Foundation Israel world to experience firsthand how the
strengthen agriculture, and deepen the and the Hispanic-Jewish Foundation, the Negev is redefining what is possible in
connection to the land. event celebrated the unique confluence viticulture and tourism."

Over two millennia ago, the Nabataeans, FROM DESERT
the master traders of the desert, carved SANDS TO WINE
an empire from sand and stone. They
cultivated vineyards along the Incense
Route, a network of trade roads connecting
Arabia to the Mediterranean. Their
ingenuity in water conservation—diverting
floodwater into terraces and underground
cisterns—allowed them to grow vines in
a seemingly inhospitable climate. Later,
under Byzantine rule, winemaking reached
its peak, with large-scale production of fine
wines exported across the Roman world.
The remnants of these wineries, scattered
throughout the Negev, bear testament to a
lost golden age.

For centuries, the vines fell silent, and the GLASSES
desert reclaimed its dominance. It wasn’t
until the late 20th century that a bold vision The remarkable revival of
emerged: to bring wine back to the Negev. Negev winemaking
Inspired by the region’s history and potential,
the Merage Foundation Israel launched an
initiative to create the world’s first desert
wine region. The foundation played a crucial
role in supporting local winemakers and
developing the infrastructure needed to
make winemaking a sustainable industry in
the region. The renewal of winemaking in the
Negev was not just a revival of an industry
but the fulfillment of a prophecy, showing
that even the most barren landscapes could
yield abundance.

This revival has also positioned the Negev
as an emerging wine tourism destination,
offering visitors the unique opportunity
to explore a region where history, faith,
and agriculture are intertwined. The
Negev Wine Route, established by the

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