Clos de Gat
Key Terms Pronounced
A 19-hectare estate in the Judean Hills where a 3,000-year-old winepress meets unirrigated, natural-yeast winemaking.
Clos de Gat is a boutique estate winery in the Judean Hills, Israel, founded in 1998 by owner-winemaker Eyal Rotem. Set on 19 hectares near Kibbutz Harel, the property houses an ancient stone winepress predating the Roman period. Rotem produces age-worthy reds and Burgundian-style Chardonnay using natural yeasts, no irrigation, and unfiltered bottling.
- Founded in 1998 by Eyal Rotem, who studied winemaking in Australia
- Located near Kibbutz Harel in the Judean Hills appellation
- Estate covers 19 hectares (47 acres) on limestone soils with Terra Rossa clay
- A 3,000-year-old Gat (Hebrew for winepress) sits on the property, predating the Roman period
- Does not irrigate, unlike most wineries in the region
- Wines are fermented with natural yeasts and bottled unfiltered
- Produces approximately 5,000 kg per hectare, considered very low yields
Location and Terroir
Clos de Gat sits in the Judean Hills of Israel, near Kibbutz Harel, at elevations within the foothills of the Judean Mountains. The region spans a 400 to 1,000 metre elevation range, delivering a Mediterranean climate with warm days and notably cool nights. Diurnal temperature variation of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius is key to retaining acidity and aromatic complexity in the wines.
- Soils are thin topsoil over limestone bedrock, with Terra Rossa clay over limestone
- Mediterranean climate with significant day-to-night temperature swings of 15-20°C
- Elevation within the Judean Mountain foothills moderates summer heat
- No irrigation used, stressing vines and concentrating fruit
History and Heritage
Winemaking on the Clos de Gat property extends back thousands of years. A stone Gat, the Hebrew word for winepress, estimated at 3,000 years old sits on the estate and predates the Roman period. The modern winery was established in 1998 by Eyal Rotem, who drew on winemaking experience gained in Australia to shape the estate's philosophy.
- Ancient 3,000-year-old winepress on the property predates Roman occupation
- Modern winery founded in 1998 by Eyal Rotem
- Rotem trained as a winemaker in Australia before returning to Israel
- The name Clos de Gat references both the French concept of a walled estate and the Hebrew word for winepress
Grapes and Wine Styles
Clos de Gat grows a broad range of varieties across its 19 hectares, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Mourvedre forming the red portfolio, and Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier, and Muscat planted for whites. The winery is known for Bordeaux-style red blends and a Burgundian-influenced Chardonnay, with wines described as age-worthy.
- Red varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Mourvedre
- White varieties include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier, and Muscat
- Styles range from Bordeaux-inspired blends to Burgundian-style Chardonnay
- Wines are built for aging, with low yields supporting concentration
Drinking something from this region?
Look up any wine by name or label photo -- get tasting notes, food pairings, and a drinking window.
Open Wine Lookup →Winemaking Philosophy
Rotem takes a minimal-intervention approach throughout the cellar. Fermentation is conducted with natural yeasts, no irrigation is used in the vineyard, and all wines are bottled unfiltered. Yields are held to approximately 5,000 kg per hectare, low by regional standards. The estate operates its own bottling facility.
- Natural yeast fermentation across all wines
- Unfiltered bottling preserves texture and complexity
- Very low yields of approximately 5,000 kg per hectare
- Own on-site bottling facility used for all production
Wine Series
Clos de Gat produces four distinct wine series: Chanson, Harel, Clos de Gat, and Sycra. The Sycra range is produced only in exceptional vintage years, making it the most selective tier. Each series reflects a different level of selection and winemaking intent within the estate.
- Four series: Chanson, Harel, Clos de Gat, and Sycra
- Sycra wines are made only in outstanding vintages
- The Clos de Gat series represents the core estate range
- Chanson and Harel series offer entry points into the portfolio
Reds show dark fruit, earthy minerality, and structured tannins with good aging potential. The Chardonnay leans toward a restrained, Burgundian style with mineral tension from the limestone soils. Diurnal temperature variation preserves freshness and acidity across all wines.
- Clos de Gat Chanson Red$18-22Entry-level estate series; Bordeaux-style blend from unirrigated Judean Hills vines with natural yeast fermentation.Find →
- Clos de Gat Harel Red$30-40Mid-tier estate red showcasing limestone terroir and low-yield concentration from Kabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.Find →
- Clos de Gat Clos de Gat Red$40-55Flagship estate blend; unfiltered, naturally fermented, built for aging on 3,000-year-old viticultural land.Find →
- Clos de Gat Sycra$70-90Produced only in exceptional vintages; top-selection, unfiltered, natural-yeast wine from the Judean Hills estate.Find →
- Clos de Gat is a private estate winery, not an appellation; it falls within the Judean Hills appellation of Israel
- Founded 1998 by Eyal Rotem; winemaker trained in Australia
- Soils are thin topsoil and Terra Rossa clay over limestone bedrock, at Judean Mountain foothills elevations
- Distinguishing practices: no irrigation, natural yeast fermentation, unfiltered bottling, yields around 5,000 kg/ha
- Sycra is the top-tier series, produced only in exceptional vintage years; four total series: Chanson, Harel, Clos de Gat, Sycra