Julia Winery

Julia Winery

Julia Winery is a family business owned by the Arraf family, located in the heart of one of the most beautiful villages in the galilee, Mii’lya village which is located in the edge of Wadi El Qurain national park (Kziv) and the Montfort Castle.

This region is plentiful of traditional ancient wine-presses used for wine making since thousands of years like the Montfort castle on the top of Wadi El Qurain and “Chateau de Rua” – the King’s fortress which was built over the ruins of the 12^th Crusader fortress. George, the founder of the winery is an Agronomist with vast experience in agriculture growing and a person with big passion for traditional creations started the winery initial steps by cultivation a piece of land close to the Arraf’s olive oil plantation to create continuous green plantation which combine between these 2 ancient traditional productions.

Summer time is the season to gather all the Arraf family members from close and abroad to celebrate the harvest of the new season, it’s the moment that mother Julia waits every year!

Julia Winery named after Julia – George’s wife and today producing around 15000 bottles/year of red, white and Rose wines.

Terroir and vineyards:

The Arraf family grows about 2 hectares of vineyards around the village of Miilya in the western Galilee in 3 different sites, elevations between 500-600m above sea level.

The uniqueness of the western Galilee is the combination between high elevations with hot summer days with temperature drop at night and closeness to the Mediterranean sea which bring fresh and cooler air from the sea in the very hot summer days.

Samara Vineyard:

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Located in a moderate slope in a hill ~ 4Km west of Mii’lya village in the heart of the western galilee planted at 2008 with total area of 0.8 hectare.

The vines are growing on a stony terra Rossa soil rich of iron and minerals surrounded by the open view of the Galilee Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea it’s far from water connection, in most years the vines are flourishing due to decent the rainfall water stored in the ground.

Each year balancing is done between

 the rainfalls and the grapes dilution to gain the optimal fruit quality and ripeness uniformity.

The harvest done manually by family members and friends only.

Jwinat vineyards:

Varieties: Viognier, Syrah, Cabernet Frank.

Total area about 1.2 hectare, located in the upper hills of the village of Mi’ilya, the soil mostly limestone in the upper slopes and combination of limestone and terra rossa in the lower slopes.

The vines rows direction planted east-west to maximize the wend flow coming from the sea side which cools down the grapes in the hot summer days.

The harvest done manually by family members and friends only.

About the wine makers:

George had his love to vineyards and winemaking during his 40 years as agronomist working worldwide in vegetation field.

Anan, the oldest son combines between 2 interesting worlds: a chemical engineering with vast knowledge in chemical processes and nature lover with love to hand working.

The common contribution of father and son each in his field contributes drives the quality of Julia’s wines.

About wine and winemaking:

Julia Winery is “goal project” aimed to develop and increase the awareness of wine making as traditional industry in the Galilee region in Palestine, we believe that increasing the grape growers and wine makers circle in this beautiful region will definitely contribute developing the region and increase connection between people.n 2 interesting worlds: a chemical engineering with vast knowledge in chemical processes and nature lover with love to hand working.