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Golan Heights Winery recently earned the Gran Vinitaly Special Award as the best wine producer at the 19th International Vinitaly 2011 Wine Competition, which was held from March 28 to April 1, 2011, in Verona, Italy. In winning the top award at this prestigious competition, the Winery beat out over 1,000 wine producers from 30 countries including traditional wine-producing powerhouses such as France, Italy and Spain.

Golan Heights Winery earned the Gran Vinitaly Special Award as the wine producer achieving the best results calculated as the sum of the highest scores for two wines that took medals in two different categories. The Winery earned two Grand Gold Medals – the highest awards granted to individual wines at Vinitaly – for the 2009 Yarden Chardonnay Odem Organic Vineyard and the 2008 Yarden HeightsWine. Only 16 Grand Gold Medals in total were awarded at the competition.

“Winning the Gran Vinitaly Award is yet another sign of respect that places the developing Israeli wine industry, in general, and Golan Heights Winery, in particular, at the center of the international wine world,” said Anat Levi, CEO of Golan Heights Winery. “As shown by this historic achievement, our wines are competing successfully with the world’s top-quality wines, and representing us with honor.”

Vinitaly 2011 confirmed its reputation as one of the world’s most selective competitions, awarding only 71 total medals for over 3,700 wines produced by more than 1,000 wineries. A panel of 105 judges, chosen from among the world’s leading winemakers and wine journalists, selected the winning wines in carefully supervised blind tastings that ensured the anonymity of each wine.

“We are extremely proud of being the first Israeli winery to be named the best wine producer at Vinitaly – the top award at one of the world’s most prominent wine competitions,” added Levi. “I am confident that Golan Heights Winery will continue to create remarkable wines and bring the taste of quality Israeli wines to discerning wine enthusiasts in Israel and across the globe.”

About Golan Heights Winery

Golan Heights Winery is the leading premium wine producer in Israel. Since its founding in 1983, Golan Heights Winery has marketed its wines under the renowned Yarden, Gamla and Golan brands. Today, the Winery is considered Israel’s foremost producer when it comes to wine quality, technological innovation and varietal development. Golan Heights Winery has led the way in nurturing Israel’s wine culture and placing Israel firmly on the world’s wine map.