Golan Winery To Sell Its Wines In the UAE, Which Does Not Recognize Israel’s Annexation Of Golan

KAZRIN, ISRAEL (VINnews) — In the wake of last months normalization of ties between Irael and the UAE, The Golan winery announced that it has signed a deal to sell it wines in the United Arab Emirates. The distinguished Israeli winery, which has won numerous international prizes for the wines it produces from grapes grown on the Golan Heights, including a silver and bronze medal at the recent Decanter World Wine Awards, will be selling its Yarden, Gamla and Hermon brands via the African and Eastern company(A&E), the largest importer of alcoholic beverages in the UAE.

The wine will first be sold in Dubai and then in the rest of the UAE, this despite the fact that the UAE does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and still describes it as Syrian territory.

When U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan in 2019, the UAE responded by saying that the U.S. move “disrupts all efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.”

The wines will only be available in hotels, restaurants and retail alcohol stores, since the UAE does not allow open sales of alcohol and only non-Muslims are legally allowed to drink.
Kosher wine from South Africa is already sold in the UAE but this will be the first Israeli-made wine in the Gulf state.

The Golan winery is hoping to capitalize on the wave of Israeli and Jewish tourists expected to visit the UAE as well as selling to other tourists and locals who are allowed to consume alcohol.

“This is an historic launch and we expect a successful and long-term collaboration with the Golan Heights Winery,” A&E CEO Jason Dixon said in the statement. Golan Heights Winery CEO Yair Shapira added that the UAE was a market “with interesting and unique potential.”

He said his firm would “open the gate” and introduce UAE residents and guests to the Israeli wine industry.

Meanwhile Israelis visiting the UAE have initiated other cultural acquaintances with the local population, as evident in the Kumzitz (fireside meeting) pictured below:

טרנד חדש: קומזיצים בסימן דו קיום בדובאי pic.twitter.com/yIwBCFpu2D

— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) October 28, 2020