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Mt. Carmel & Shfeya Valley

Our story / Carmel & Shfeya

Mt. Carmel

Mt. Carmel is a mountain range and the northwestern tip of the Shomron that ends at Haifa Bay, which rises to a maximum of 546 meters above sea level. Some see the source of the name as a region rich in vineyards and fruit gardens. The Carmel is characterized by steep slopes and rocky, cracked land, mostly composed of sedimentary rocks (limestone). Of all the mountains of Israel, Mount Carmel is the closest to the Mediterranean Sea. The flora that stems from the high amount of precipitation gave him the nickname "The Green Mountain".

Shfeya valley

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Location

The Shfeya Valley is one of the volcanic tuff valleys of Mount Carmel. It is the border between Mt. Carmel and Menashe heights. The valley is located between Zichron Ya'akov in the west, Mt. Horshan in the south, Bat Shlomo in the east, and Meir Shfeya in the north. The valley is very close to the Mediterranean Sea, only 2 miles, and it is divided along it by the Dalia stream, which flows along Route 70 to the sea.

Geology

The Shfeya volcano stretched in the area where the Shfeya Valley is today. After the volcano died, it was covered with chalk rocks, harder than the volcanic tuff. The exposure of the volcanic tuff rocks from the covering of the sedimentary rocks enabled rapid erosion of the tuff rocks and the creation of  Shfeya valley. Due to this unique formation, a rich variety of rocks and minerals can be found in the valley soil. This variety creates rich flavors and aromas in wines produced from Shfeya valley grapes.

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Climate

The micro climate in Shfeya valley is very suitable for organic growing of quality wine grapes. In the daytime the valley is ventilated by western wind from the sea and during the night the cold air drains into the valley and the temperature drops rapidly. The winds during the day preserve the health of the vines and the large temperature differences between day and night create ideal conditions for grape ripening in the summer. Due to proximity to the sea, the annual rainfall is relatively high compared to Israel, about 600mm on average, and allows the growing of vines without irrigation.

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