Hi there!
As I wrote previously, a new event is taking place this year in the Gezer Regional County, one of the central wine regions in Israel, called the "Half Marathon Beaujolais" within the framework of the events of the "Havaya B'Kerem" Festival. For those who are unfamiliar with the concept, the Beaujolais marathon is characterized by having the race courses designed around wineries where the young Beaujolais wines are harvested. The runners come attired in costumes in line with the festive atmosphere and run from one winery to another. In light of the special event, I am happy to share with you a few locations that are inviting you to visit them while in the region from a trip that I took courtesy of the Ministry of Tourism and the Gezer Regional Council. I have also included the list of events taking place during the festival.
Trip Itinerary
Breakfast at "Meshek Levi Teamim Mehaeva", Moshav Yashresh
Bravdo Winery, Karmei Yosef
Bazak Winery, Karmei Yosef
Lunch at Kibbutz Shaalabim
Paz Farm, Kfar Shmuel
Beaujolais Half Marathon Event Schedule
Above: Rotem Yadlin, Mayor of Gezer Regional County extending an invitation to visit Gezer.
Trip Details
Breakfast at Meshek Levi Teamim Mehateva "Meshek" means farm. The Levi family's farm owns mainly field crops and chicken coops. The family loves to host and because of this they decided to set up a visitors center selling fresh eggs and products made from their produce and from the neighboring farms. The center, which is more like a café, hosts groups during the week and offers bruch buffets on Fridays. The place is kosher.
Above: Efrat Levi one of the owners
Bravdo Winery, Karmei Yosef The winery is located on Route 44 near the Karmei Yosef settlement and is the only winery in the country located within the vineyards. The world-renowned viticulture scientists and winemakers Prof. Ben-Ami Bravdo and Prof. Oded Shoseyov, members of the academic staff of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, decided in 1999 to apply their vast knowledge on grapes and wine production and established the Karmei Yosef Winery, that produces the Bravdo wines.
The winery's visitors' center also conducts several types of events from wine tasting to corporate consolidation day challenges, executive meetings, toast events, social events, wine tours and more. The winery is kosher. The participants of the beaujolais half marathon, will be able to stop at the winery as part of the 12 or 21 km courses. The winery will offer light refreshments, music and of course the wine tasting. At the end of the course, the runners will meet the winery again at the Barkan Winery where its wines will be sold at a special discount to the race participants.
Above: With Zory Arkin, Owner, CEO and Export Manager of Karmei Yosef Winery
Bazak Winery, Karmei Yosef At their home in Karmei Yosef, Hanan and his family host wine tastings accompanied by regional cheeses and olives with olive oil also produced on their farm, in front of a breathtaking view. The winery is open to the public throughout the week, by prior arrangement only. Vineyard tours can also be booked. The management of the winery and its related events have been taken over by the son Amos, who is leading it with great success. The winery is kosher. The participants of the beaujolais half marathon, will be able to stop at the winery as part of the 12 or 21 km courses. The winery will offer light refreshments accompanied by a DJ with dancing and of course wine tasting. At the end of the course, the runners will meet the winery again at the Barkan Winery where its wines will be sold at a special discount to the race participants.
Clockwise from top left: Amos Bazak, Hanan Bazak and I at the Bazak winery
Lunch at Kibbutz Shaalabim Kibbutz Shaalabim is a religious cooperative kibbutz, with a dining room and catering company called "Sdot Ayalon". The kosher catering offers high-quality homestyle dishes. The catering is located in Kibbutz Shaalabim near the Latrun and Modi'in intersection. On Friday, Oct 4th, the day of the race, a food sales fair will be held for the participants in the kibbutz dining room to enable them to purchase food for Shabbat.
Clockwise from top left: Zehava, Cook and Zvika, CEO
Paz Farm at Kfar Shmuel Paz Farm at Kfar Shmuel in the Ayalon Valley is a veteran farm that is home to a fourth generation of the Paz family. The farm specializes in producing olive oil made from several varieties of olives at excellent extra virgin quality. The average acidity level is 0.25 and the oil is kept in advanced storage conditions to maintain its quality. The farm's products will be offered at fairs that will be held as part of the "Havaya B'Kerem" Festival and "Beaujolais Half Marathon".
Above: Shimon Paz describing the olive oil making process
Beaujolais Half Marathon Event Schedule Thursday - Oct 3rd, 2019 at 20:00 - A Pasta Dinner and Festival Opening Event at the Barkan Vineyard Visitors' Center with singing groups "Hora Gezer", "Musically Band" and music performances by Efraim Shamir and Alon Olearchic hosted by Mazi Cohen. The event is for ages 18+. Tickets: 30 NIS. Purchasing on the Gezer Municipality Website alone.
Friday - Oct 4th, 2019 05.00 Expo and event area opening 6:30 Start of 21 km, half marathon. 7:00 Start of 12 km race. 7:30 Start of 5 km race. 08.00 Farmer's Market at the finish line 9.45pm Award ceremony with prizes for overall race costume competition winners. 11.00 Final Beaujolais French Party
My Timeline The Gezer region is within half an hour's drive from Tel-Aviv. We left at 7:30 and returned at 15:30.
This is what it looks like on the map:
Best, Talma
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