Beyond Milk and Honey

by Zehorit Heilicher, Tastemaker in Residence

Peanut butter and jelly? Wine and cheese? Familiar pairings, right? But how about Chocolate and wine? The Tishbi Winery, located in Zichron Yaakov across from the beautiful Mediterranean coast in Israel, offers just that. And not just any chocolate, but the wonderful quality and flavors of Valrhona chocolates.

For the cost of 40 Shekels, a little over $10, you can enjoy a couple of leisurely hours of wine and chocolate pairings with caramel notes, dry and smooth or buttery and rich. The high quality chocolates ranges in its cocoa butter percentage and the wines are bottled and aged on location. The combination is wonderful on the palate and the setting and helpful staff is wonderful.

If you have room for some more food or even chocolates, the adjacent restaurant serves delicious breakfast and lunch dishes. The Austrian chef offers dishes based on local ingredients, Mediterranean roots and European refinement, all under the canopy of an ancient grapevine. If you are lucky, you may get a chance to visit with the gracious Nili, who seems to never age. Having been married into the Tishbi family for years, she is a fountain of stories, history and knowledge. 

What more can a visitor ask for? Delicious food and wine, a chocolate finish and stories to linger over. Just perfect for a hot Israeli summer day!