Ramat Negev Wines

n 1997, we, Nira and Alon Tzdok, a pioneer couple from the founders of Moshav Kadesh in Barnea (Nitsani Sinai), decided to establish a pioneering enterprise that is different and unique, a winery for the production of wine that will be based only on the harvest of grapes from our vineyards. Looking back, in a brave and unusual step, the first 10 dunams of Cabernet Sauvignon were planted on the Negev land in the agricultural area we own near the Moshav Kadesh in Barnea. Needless to say, many of the wine experts raised an eyebrow following this step, arguing that it would not be possible to produce quality grapes in the desert region. However, with our characteristic stubbornness, as visionaries we decided to listen only to the murmurs of our hearts and ignore all the chattering in their tongues.
When the vines arrived at Parkan we purchased several barrels, plastic containers and basic equipment for wine production. In 2000 we created the first desert wine in a limited edition of 3000 bottles while the rest of the produce was sold to one of the leading wineries in Israel. The small amount of wine sold out 4 months later when most of the buyers were friends and family. Following the enthusiastic responses we decided to plant 10 more acres of Merlot and at the same time we started producing 5000 bottles which again sold out before the next harvest.

In 2003, when the people of the leading winery who bought the Rab grapes from us found out that Elon was making wine at home, they resented it and presented us with an ultimatum that was going to change the world of desert wine. They demanded that Alon stop private production in his small winery, and demanded that he sell them the entire crop. Alon is not a man who gives in to pressure and with infinite faith he decided to plant an additional 10 dunams of Cabernet Sauvignon, and began producing wine from the entire existing vineyard, 15,000 bottles. Alon realized the commercial potential inherent in kosher and began producing kosher wine for the first time this year.

We quickly realized that producing wine is the simpler part of the equation, on the other hand, marketing it is a completely different story. At the same time Alon partnered with a small marketing company and Kadesh Winery wines in Barnea were marketed by the company that specialized in boutique wines, the company failed in marketing the wines and then we decided to do something - to recruit all the family members for the purpose of building our business without depending on others and thus the first family boutique winery in the Negev was established : Kadesh Winery in Barnea

Yogev, the eldest son, was sent to learn the secrets of wine production with the greatest experts - the Italians. He moved to Italy where he began studying wine technology at the University of Florence. Studies in a foreign language lasting about three years. Yogev graduated with honors and returned to Israel to provide the winery with the professional knowledge he had acquired. At the same time, we left the marketing company and added Gilad, the inexperienced younger son, as the winery's exclusive marketer. Nira, the mother of the family, took command of the operational management of the winery, and we all started on the road to fulfilling the dream - producing quality wine from Negev grapes.
In 2006 our small winery already produced 25,000 bottles when it sells all its production each year. Over time, another marketing channel was opened and thanks to kosher, the winery sold about thirty percent of its production to the USA, with the main consumers being American Jews. The rest of the produce was sold at the winery, restaurants and leading wine shops.