April 2008 2004 Yarden Katzrin Chardonnay of Golan Heights Winery Only Israeli Wine to Win Gold Medal at Prestigious Chardonnay du Monde 2008 Competition Bestowing great honor on the Israeli wine industry in general and Golan Heights Winery in particular, 2004 Yarden Katzrin Chardonnay was selected as one of the world's top 60 Chardonnay wines of 2008 at the prestigious Chardonnay du Monde competition. 2004 Yarden Katzrin Chardonnay is considered one of the most esteemed wines in Israel and is sold in many countries worldwide. At the Chardonnay du Monde competition held March 12-15 in the Burgundy region of France, leading judges from around the world tasted some 953 wines from 39 countries including France, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and the United States. The competing wines underwent numerous and strict wine-tasting sessions that examined all relevant criteria such as astringency, color, growing region and more. In the end, the judges ranked the wines and awarded gold, silver and bronze medals. 2004 Yarden Katzrin Chardonnay of Golan Heights Winery was the only Israeli wine to earn a gold medal, and one of only 60 gold-medal wines in the entire competition. 2004 Yarden Katzrin Chardonnay is a white wine produced entirely from Chardonnay grapes grown in vineyards in the northern Golan Heights. The aromatically complex wine shows layers of lemon, minerals and pear with hints of tropical fruit, fresh flowers and spices, alongside a rich background of oak. While ready to drink upon release, the wine will continue to improve in the bottle for five years following the harvest, and will remain at its best up to a decade. The wine goes well with rich foods such as chicken breast in a sauce of preserved lemons and fresh herbs, osso buco from selected veal shanks, or hard sharp cheeses. Recommended to serve chilled.