What is Pelter Winery known for?

Its unusual dual-label model: the founders kept Pelter non-kosher and built a separate kosher winery, Matar, alongside it rather than converting the existing one. It's also known for its high-altitude Golan terroir (~1,000 m, volcanic soil), tastings among the barrels, and its own distillery (since 2013) making gin, vermouth, brandy/arak and whisky.

Pelter Winery

Golan

Pelter Winery was founded in 2002 by brothers Tal and Nir Pelter, starting in the yard of the family home in Moshav Tzofit with about 4,000 bottles. In 2005 it moved to Kibbutz Ein Zivan in the northern Golan Heights, where it sits at roughly 1,000 m on volcanic basaltic soil, surrounded by its own vineyards. Winemaker Tal Pelter trained in oenology and viticulture in Australia and built the winery around the idea of "quality wines at an accessible price"; the late critic Daniel Rogov rated Pelter among Israel's top wineries. Pelter has an unusual dual-label model. The main Pelter label was deliberately kept non-kosher so Tal could work the wines hands-on, and in 2012 the brothers created a separate kosher sister label, Matar by Pelter, made with the help of observant workers. The wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a méthode-traditionnelle Chardonnay sparkling wine; the kosher Matar range offers Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc–Semillon, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Petit Verdot and a "CB" blend. Since 2013 an on-site distillery makes gin, vermouth, brandy/arak and single-malt whisky from grapes, Pink Lady apples and Medjool dates. The tasting room is set right inside the working production hall — among the fermentation tanks and barrels. Here they pour Pelter wines, the kosher Matar wines and the distillery spirits, by the glass or bottle to enjoy on-site. Food is a platter of locally produced goat cheeses with bread and olive oil, plus local delicatessen items; guest-chef menus run on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays (confirm dates with the winery). The venue is wheelchair accessible, with a wine shop on-site and online. Important: because the room pours both the non-kosher Pelter and the kosher Matar, a kosher visitor should specifically ask for the Matar wines.

Wineries nearby

Start

Haifa

Drive

96 min · 105 km

Where

Ein Zivan

After

Back to events

Visiting info

Where: Kibbutz Ein Zivan, Golan Heights (~1,000 m, volcanic basaltic soil). About ~105 km / ~96 min from Haifa.
Hours: Per the official site: Sunday–Thursday 10:00–17:00, Friday 10:00–16:00, Saturday 10:00–17:00. Confirm before visiting, especially around holidays and on guest-chef days.
Booking: Walk-ins welcome. For groups of 8+, tour guides and organized groups, contact ahead; seating is subject to availability. Reserve ahead for guest-chef/chef-dinner days.
What to try: Pelter wines, the kosher Matar wines and distillery spirits. Notable: the méthode-traditionnelle Chardonnay sparkling wine, reds Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, whites Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling; from Matar, the kosher "CB" blend.
Kosher: The main Pelter label is non-kosher — and that is deliberate. The kosher wine is a separate label, Matar by Pelter (launched 2012), sold as certified kosher and reported as non-mevushal. The exact certifying agency is stated inconsistently across sources (OU, OK and a Rabbinate are variously mentioned) — confirm the current hechsher and mevushal status with the winery or on the bottle label. The room pours both labels, so ask specifically for Matar.
Restaurant: No full restaurant. The tasting room serves cheese, bread and olive-oil platters, with guest-chef menus on weekends and holidays.

Frequently asked questions

How far is the winery from Haifa?+

Pelter Winery in Kibbutz Ein Zivan, on the Golan Heights, is about 105 km from Haifa — roughly a 96-minute drive.

Do I need to book ahead?+

No, walk-ins are welcome. But for groups of 8 or more, tour guides and organized groups, and on guest-chef days, it's best to contact ahead — seating is subject to availability.

Is this a kosher winery?+

The main Pelter label is deliberately non-kosher. The kosher wine here is a separate sister label, Matar by Pelter (since 2012), sold as certified kosher (reported non-mevushal). The exact hechsher is stated inconsistently across sources, so confirm with the winery or on the label; in the tasting room, ask specifically for the Matar wines.

What does a visit include?+

A tasting right inside the working production hall among the tanks and barrels: Pelter wines, the kosher Matar wines and distillery spirits by the glass or bottle. Alongside them, a platter of local goat cheeses with bread and olive oil, and guest-chef menus on weekends and holidays.