Beit Shemesh - Mateh Yehuda Tourist Attractions

The Beit Shemesh and Mateh Yehuda region is located in the central part of Israel. It is one of the most beautiful and greenest regions in the country and boasts numerous wonderful tourist attractions previously known only to Israelis. The goal of this section of my site is to share the treasures of our region with the world and help our local businesses to thrive.

The most exciting sites to visit in our region include: wineries, art galleries, ethnic cooks - who serve meals in their homes, cycling trails, archaeological sites, eco-tourism sites, forests and more.

To see more information on ethnic home cooked meals by local cooks click here

The region boasts a wine route including over 25 wineries; both boutique sized and larger wineries that have developed over the past 13 years. The wineries formed a club called the Judean Wineries Club and they host an annual wine festival every year in the fall.

The 2009 Wine Festival will take place starting on October 16th and will continue until October 30th.

The highlights include:
Thursday October 29 starting at 7:00 pm - Friday, October 30 starting at 10:00 am: The main event of wine tasting and live South American music. Each of the wineries will run booths where visitors can taste the delicious selection of wines and purchase them as well.

The event will take place at the Ein Hemed National Park located between Shaar Hagay and Jerusalem (15 minutes from Beit Shemesh).

Not all of the participating wineries are kosher so make sure to ask before trying the wine if this is important to you. The kosher wineries in the Judean wineries club include: Tzora, Mony, Kastel, Tepperberg (Efrat), Katlav, Kela David, Agur, Tzuba and Ella Valley.

Also during the wine festival October 23-24 (starting at 10:00 am) will be an open studio artist event on the moshavim of Tzafririm, Givat Yeshayhu and Srigim where many of the regional artists live. The artists will be opening their studios and items will be for sale including: ceramics, paintings, jewelry, sculpture, woodwork, clothing and more. This event is organized annually by Omanei HaElla - the Ella Valley Artist's Forum which includes over 30 highly talented regional artists. You simply drive to one of these Moshavim and pick up a map. Then you can drive and park and walk from one studio to the next. It's a blast!

This year there will be a "race between the wineries" on Friday, October 30th. This will be a 5 km and 18 km race through the vineyards.

During the festival the wineries will be open for visitors, tastings and various cultural events. To get an English map of the wineries contact us.
Activities include:
Tzuba Winery (located on Kibbutz Tzuba): Friday wine tour and brunch: 10:00 am. Learn about differnt types of wine made during the time of the Tanach, walk through the vinyards and learn the the grapes are grown, meet the vintner and taste the wine of Tzuba winery. After the tour enjoy a quality brunch at Tzuba's hotel ovelooking a beautiful view. Each meal will be served with wine and an explanation from the vintner Paul Dov. Open house: Fridays 10:00 - 12:00. New visistors center open Friday: 10:00 - 4:00 pm. Tel. 02-5347000. www.tzubawinery.co.il -KOSHER

Kastel Winery - located on Kibbutz Ramat Raziel: tel. 02-5342249 - contact them for more information

Tzora Winery (on Kibbutz Tzora) The wineries is open to visitors Sunday through Thursday: 10:00 - 17:00 and Fridays from 9:00 - 2:00 pm. On October 30 will be a workshop in the vinetyer adn in the winery - call to booxk. 92-9908261. KOSHER. www.tzorawines.com

Tepperberg Winery (across from Kibbutz Tzora - off of route 38):
TEffperberg was founded in 1870 as a family vineary that is now a large winery. Will be offering a workshop that will combine a tour in the vineyars and teaching teh methods of growing the wines. THer will be w wine and chocolate working in the vineyars. on October 23 at 10:00 am. The tour will meet at Park Ayalon next to Latrun juction. TO register: 02-9908080 or 054-8004179 KOSHER. www.teperberg1870.co.il

Katlav Winery (Moshav Nes Harim): Wine tasting will be held during the week of the festival - call in advance. ON Fridays at 10:00 until an hour before Shabbat the winery will be open. Tel. 054-7591866, 02-5703575. KOSHER. www.katlav.co.il

Ella Valley Winery (Kibbutz Netiv HaLamed Heh):
A celebration of Merlot will take plae each Friday of the fgestival between 9:00 and 1:00. TOurs and wine tasting of past merlos will take place. Tel. 02-9994885. KOSHER> www.ellavalley.com

Agur Winery (Moshav Agur):
Tours in the vineyards and wine tasting - meet the vintner Shuky Yahsuv. Fridays between 12:00 and 2:00 pm. Tel. 02-9995423. KOSHER.

Kela David Winery (Moshav Givat Yeshayahu): To book a tour during the week call: 02-9994848. KOSHER. www.keladavidwinery.com

Tiyulim with the JNF (Karen Kayemet) during the festival: Fridays at 10:00 am. The tours are for good walkers and will include walking in a hilly area for approximately two hours. Led by a licensed guide and escort. Come with walking shoes, hat, water and flashlight.

Tour of Nachal Katlav area: TOur of the Beit Ittab and Ein Hod areas. Departing from Bar BeHar.

TOur of Emek HaElla area: Departire from Givat Yeshayahu from the JNF center. Tour to Hurvat Etri and Burgin (newly dig archaeological sites) with an empahasis on the ancient wine presses and wine making.

Tour of Mountain areas:
Tour to Sataf. Emphasis on how grapes were grown by ancient agricultural techniques. Deparature from Sataf.

TOURS ARE FREE OF CHARGE. For more info call; Kav L'Yaar: 1-800-350-550.

For more information call Brenda Ganot at Tel. 972-2-991-4143 or click here to email us: contact us