Tzora Vineyards Or
Have you ever done something that you later really deeply regret? There have really been rather a lot of things I’ve regretted doing. However I feel that none were so deeply as felt as the mistake I made to share my half bottle of Tzora Vineyards Or.
Sometimes generosity bites you in the …
We did not try the Or during our visit to Tzora. Had we I think I would have bought more than just the one half bottle! I knew I would like it because I love both Gewürztraminer in all its forms and I love dessert wine. I only bought one of the half bottles (they were not available in full bottle) because even with a 30 kilo weight limit I knew I had to moderate my wine purchases. Especially since Tzora was our first winery of the day.
When I got back to Istanbul I had over two of my best girlfriends to help me drink the Israeli wine and eat the cheese (4 kilos!) I bought. I broke out the Or at the end. After the first sip I was mentally smacking myself. Why did I share this?! Drinking the Tzora Vineyards Or is like holding spicy liquid gold on your tongue. I had only one tiny half bottle and I shared it.
Lesson learned. Be selfish.
Despite being somewhat significantly closer to the equator than are Germany, Austria, and France the grape seems to flourish in Israel. The Or is part of Tzora Vineyards‘ Shoresh line. The Gewürztraminer grapes used for this wine are grown in the Judean Hills at the highest point of the winery’s Shoresh vineyard; 700 meters. Perhaps it’s the elevation that allows the Gewürztraminer to develop so well here.
Although winemaker skill is not to be ignored here either. One key to producing excellent dessert wines is to balance the sweetness level with acid. Winemaker Eran Pick MW has done that brilliantly with the Or. And if you’re wondering how anyone manages to make ice 
wine in a warm country like Israel… The grapes are harvested late but are then artificially frozen before crushing.
Tzora Vineyards Or 2015 Tasting Notes
So how excited was I to arrive in Vegas where my bff, also a Michigangster, had a bottle of St Julian for us to drink?! And not just any bottle. The wine geek in me exploded in delight when she showed me a bottle of St Julian Copper Vine. Amber wine from Michigan of all places! It seems almost fated that the very first Michigan amber wine I drink come from St Julian.
The Copper Vine is a 100% Pinot Gris fermented on the skins to create an intense amber orange. A color that looks very much like Baltic amber stones in fact. Flowers and herbs mingled with a hint of cigar smoke rose from the glass. Sipping revealed lemon rind, lemony thyme, and savory. Medium-bodied with 12% abv, the Copper Vine has the slight rasp of shy tannins and a medium, dry finish.
A very round about homecoming by way of Las Vegas. But a bottle of St Julian will always feel like home to me!