A NEW STAR IS BORN IN THE WINE WORLD- THE “STAR OF BETHLEHEM” A WHITE WINE FROM THE CREMISAN WINERY, NEAR JERUSALEM. A SOCIAL PROJECT IN THE HOLY LAND WITH THE COLLABORATION OF THE WINE EXPERT RICCARDO COTARELLA

Audio contribution by winenews.tv:

There’s a new star in the wine world, “The Star of Bethlehem”. The new white wine from the Cremisan winery. A social project with the collaboration of the wine expert Riccardo Cotarella, as told by Emanuela Chiang (Vis).




There is a new star in the wine world, “the Star of Bethlehem”; the new white wine is a product of the Cremisan winery in the Holy Land, near Jerusalem. This wine is the fruit of a project with the collaboration of one of the most important wine experts in Italy, Riccardo Cotarella who worked together with Palestinian and Italian youth. The wine made its official debut in the conference held in Riccardo Cotarella’s studio: “The project started in 2008,” Emanuela Chiang of Vis, Volunteer International Development told WineNews, “and now we have officially presented the first new wine. But two other white grape varieties are on their way and then we will also present a red wine. The project aims to support, with proceeds from
the winery, the Salesian missions in the Middle East, focused on helping young people from families affected by war and the separation wall, as well as unemployment and discrimination. Sales of wine will produce revenue that will support social activities. We are taking the first steps into the world of Italian wine. We expect some success, which will be possible with the help of partners and with the testimonials of Italian producers and distributors.”



Focus - The Cremisan winery project at Vinitaly 8 to 12 April 2010

The Salesian House of Cremisan

The Salesian house of Cremisan stands 850 meters above sea level, very near the border between Israel and the West Bank and the village of Beit Jala. It was built in 1885 on the ruins of a Seventh century Byzantine monastery. The Salesian House is located between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, in an area considered one of the oldest agricultural-craft settlements, dating back to the Bronze Age in Palestine. Ancient terraces, primitive wine presses and olive pressing equipment were discovered here.



The dividing wall between Israel and Palestine on Cremisan grounds

In an area immersed for such a long time in conflict and where peace is still far from reality, the work of the Salesians, with their 5 houses in the Holy Land is an example of peaceful tolerance. In an area wounded by wars, difficult religious coexistence, the closure of territories, cultural issues (the Islamic religion, which does not allow the consumption of wine, but only table grapes), the heirs of Don Bosco have managed to maintain a Christian presence in the Holy Land. They have been able to provide training and, as in the winery project, work with the weakest sectors of the local population. “Safety fence” as the Israelis call it, or “fence of shame” as, instead, the Palestinians define it, and the wall that separates the two lands also crosses through this area.



Wine: a challenge for reunification

The vineyards will be divided between Palestine and Israel, but will produce different qualities of wine under one label: Cremisan. Wine, therefore, an important symbol for both the Jewish and the Christian religions, represents an attempt at dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians. This will be the commitment of the Salesians and the Volunteer International Development (VIS), who are working together on this project. Farming culture, typical of this region, where wine is an important source of employment, could be the instrument for dialogue in the lay and political conflicts that are injuring this country.



The Cremisan Winery

The project aims to study and improve native grape varieties. For the new wine production, the focus was on vines called Hamdani-Jandal, Daboùki and Balad. Thanks to the presence of a winemaker, Andrea Bonini, an Italian agronomist, Roberto Paglierini, and the collaboration of the Hebron University and the Istituto Agrario S. Michele Adige, these and other species will be studied in depth. The winery produces and sells seven quality table wines - Blanc de Blancs, Chardonnay, Old Hock, Cotes de Cremisan, David’s Tower, and Cabernet Sauvignon Old Red - as well as Marsala, Messa and Port, dessert wines. The range of Cremisan is now complete with the famous Cremisan brandy, olive oil, vinegar and grape juice.

The harvest period lasts about two months, from late July – with the first white grapes from the Salesian House of Beit Gemal - until end of September when the grapes ripen in the indigenous zone, Shaffa. The products are marketed directly at the farm shop and also indirectly by five distributors that deliver to restaurateurs, hoteliers and shopkeepers in the relevant territories of Amman Governorate of Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Galilee and Ramallah. In total, about 250 activities are served. A more limited amount of product, but extremely significant from a symbolic point of view, is distributed to local religious communities.

Before the Second Intifadah, volume sales reached more than 400,000 bottles a year. The peak sales occurred in 1999 with 439,466 bottles. On average, 80 cartons per day were put on the market. The deterioration of the political situation has made it extremely difficult for all stages of production, from sourcing grapes to marketing. Sales have fallen sharply, registering a record low of 138,073 bottles in 2001. Starting from 2004 there has been a slow but gradual recovery: in 2006 the 200,000 bottles sold target was surpassed.



The partners

The partners in the redevelopment of the Cremisan winery: The VIS project for Development was able to obtain the partnership and professionalism of Riccardo Cotarella, one of the most popular and respected International wine experts; Stephen Cimicchi, former Mayor of Orvieto and now President of the Umbria Tourist Promotion and Professor Melissano, former lecturer at the University of Trieste. The Autonomous Province of Trento and the Valtenesi and Lugana wineries of the Civielle Consortium also support the project. The goals of the project are the rehabilitation of the land and the winery, preserving the native vine species and guaranteeing jobs for the local population, with the final aim of producing revenue to support the many social and training activities directed by the Salesians in the Holy Land.



The workers in Cremisan

In the 125 years of its history, the Salesian House and Cremisan winery have become a veritable point of reference, directly or indirectly, for many Palestinian families. Cremisan has constantly provided full time work to about 15 people from the neighboring villages of Beit Jala and Al Walajeh as well as to seasonal workers, artisans and traders involved in related activities. And thanks to the proceeds from the sales of wine, each year 1,650 young people participate in educational and training activities at the Salesian Institute in the Holy Land.



An investment in new generations for the future of Cremisan
The project has taken into account training the local population. Among the workers in the Salesian winery, there are also Muslim workers. In order to manage the winery from a technical point of view, however, it was decided to give two young Arab Christians the opportunity to study for three years at the University of St. Michele Adige Trento. Laith Kokaly, from Beit Sahour, born in 1986, a graduate, was chosen because his age is a guarantee of maturity. In addition to a good, solid education, he developed a keen interest in the wine world through numerous visits to Cremisan and he also has an absolutely charming personality. Fadi Batarseh is from Beit Hanina, which is a suburb on the outskirts of Jerusalem, inhabited by a predominantly Arab population. He is a young student with excellent academic results. A boy, like many, with an identity card that states “permanent resident” of Jerusalem ... a “non-citizen” with the privilege (in Palestine) to move freely in Israel as well as in the Palestinian Territories.