Get help from an expert like Brad
Flam Winery: Family, Wine & Excellence
- Jun 21, 2020
By Gregory Aubrey
In the heart of Judean Hills region lies one of Israel’s most gorgeous and well-known prestigious wineries; Flam. Established in 1998, this family-run winery prides itself on its heritage, producing wines of the highest quality, and doing so with the utmost professionalism and passion.
Arguably one of the finest boutique wineries, the Flam family brings the European style aspect of a family wine estate to Israel, using their own vineyards and controlling everything from the planting of the grapes to bottling, with attention to detail in every aspect of the winemaking process.
Perhaps the true secret behind Flam’s success is that family is everything; each member plays an important role in contributing their own know-how in various aspects of the wine business, combining it into one giant recipe for success in crafting world-class, cellar-worthy wines that continually impress wine lovers and critics alike, year after year.
A Family Affair
Achieving perfection in winemaking takes time, knowledge, and of course passion. Golan Flam, one of two brothers who helped co-found the winery and current winemaker at Flam, spent years in Tuscany and Australia learning and perfecting the skills of winemaking.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way - and it couldn’t hold more true than what Golan and his brother Gilad, who is behind the winery’s commercial success, have strived to do and continue to do: bring the same craftsmanship, care, quality and know-how to their homeland: Israel. Their father, Israel Flam, is no stranger to the wine world. Having spent over 40 years in the industry, his experience as chief winemaker of Carmel and his studies in Oenology at UC Davis in California have been instrumental in advising and helping his sons with the winery - albeit in more of a consulting role. Gefen Flam, the sister of Gilad and Golan, heads the winery’s PR and marketing, making sure the quality and uniqueness of the wines are reflected both on and off the bottle. Last but not least, the matriarch Kami Flam is who holds the family together, handling business operations and helping the winery’s development not only in Israel but on a global scale.
It’s incredible to see what Flam has been able to achieve in only 20 years, but it’s without a doubt due to every family member’s constant devotion, effort, and desire to continuously improve and learn that have made this winery what it is today: an outstanding and premier family-run boutique winery crafting some of the best and award-winning wines in Israel.
Winemaking As A Passion & The Pursuit Of Excellence
Working and caring for the land is second nature to the Flam family. The winery’s primary focus is always quality, but it’s also the constant desire to never settle and to always improve, learn, and be better. The pursuit of making great wine all begins with its vineyards - and it comes as no surprise that the reason why the wine is of such great quality is through carefully tending to each and every vineyard with attention to detail and love, and of course the vineyard’s climate and location.
Contrary to many Israeli wineries who experiment with a variety of grapes that aren’t always representative of the terroir, Flam sticks to doing what they do best: consistently making top-notch wines that represent their heritage, savoir-faire and the Mediterranean region.
While most of them are in the Judean Hills, Flam also sources its grapes from vineyards in the Upper Galilee. Each wine growing region gives the wines their distinctive character and taste, which Golan makes sure to carefully locate, select, and cultivate in order to produce the best wine possible. Located in the Judean Hills, the Mata and Yeashayahu vineyards are home to the more entry-level wines like the Classico, Blanc, and Rosé - where grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc grow, to name a few. Sourced from the Dishon and Ben Zimra vineyards in the Upper Galilee, these grapes are used in producing some of the more high-end wines like the Syrah Reserve and Merlot Reserve.
Israel is a hot climate country, so cooler nights and warm days as well as the soil where they grow definitely impact the quality and taste of the wines, like their acidity. Now that we’ve talked about the vineyards and some of the wines, let’s take a look at the Flam portfolio and why they should be on your to-buy list.
Flam Wines
The Reds
This Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Malbec shows elegant layers of dark, ripe fruits and hints of vanilla and spice. Matured in French and American oak barrels for 10 months, the wine has beautifully balanced tannins and structure, followed by a long, velvety and spicy finish. While this may be enjoyed now, it may also be cellared for up to 7 years.
Sourced from vineyards in the Upper Galilee, the Syrah Reserve is bursting with plum and soft ripe fruits on the nose and palate, with delicate notes of vanilla, tobacco, and spice. Full-bodied and complex, the wine shows well-rounded tannins and a delicious finish which is long, elegant, and silky, making it a great choice to pair with your meal. Can be aged up to 10 years.
Aged in a mix of old and new French oak barrels, the Merlot is a subtle melange of dark fruit and floral, nutty aromas on the nose, complemented beautifully by the elegant and complex, well-balanced, delicate fruit-forward and vanilla notes on the palate. The tannins are well rounded and the finish is deliciously long and spicy. An incredible wine that will benefit from 8 to 10 years in the cellar.
An excellent full-bodied wine that is bold, complex, and bursting with dark fruit flavors. Subtle notes of oak, tobacco, and leather, with a long and enjoyable finish that just keeps on lingering. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months, this wine can be enjoyed now or put away for 10 to 15 years.
Inspired by one of Italy’s most famous wines, Vino Nobile de Montepulciano, the Flam Noble is perhaps one of the best premium wines coming out of Israel. This elegant blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot is everything you’d ever want in a refined, elegant and powerful wine. Showing beautiful and complex dark berry notes with hints of spice and vanilla, well-rounded velvety tannins, and a long, intense sophisticated finish. Bravo to the Flam family on crafting a wine that is truly remarkable in every way. Drink now and put the rest in the cellar as you watch this wine continue to improve over the next 15 years.
The White
The Blanc from Flam is a beautiful blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Chardonnay. The aromatic notes from the Sauvignon Blanc complement the fruity complex notes of green apple, red grapefruit, and the buttery feel from the Chardonnay, with a finish that is pleasantly long and crisp. This unoaked and refreshing white wine is a must for the warm summer days.
The Rosé
If you don’t believe in love at first sight, then maybe you’ll believe in love at first sip. This refreshing and crisp rosé from Flam is full of fruity aromas with subtle hints of strawberry and citrus on the tongue, pleasant acidity, and impressive minerality. This well rounded and balanced wine is the perfect choice to drink with a light summer meal.
Taste The Greatness
The Flam Winery is truly remarkable and we are honored to carry such an extensive portfolio of their premium, quality wines. As you’ve seen, every detail has been thought of in the winemaking process and we invite you to try these wines for yourself to see how exquisite they really are. If Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, and Wine Enthusiast gave their wines 90+, we are sure you’ll love them as well!
