Ramot Naftali: Wine and History

Ramot Naftali brings together wine culture in the moshav with history and landscapes in the surrounding area. The family wineries Amram and Na'aman offer different ways to explore wine; a memorial south of the entrance commemorates those who fell at Ramot Naftali Fortress. North of the entrance, the Wall lookout is on Route 886, while a green-marked dirt trail farther south leads to a hill on the Naftali Ridge. When choosing a vacation rental, you can shape your stay around these interests: wineries, remembrance, and a trail through the landscape.

Wineries, Family Histories, and Architecture

The Amram family winery is located in Moshav Ramot Naftali. Its wines are made from grapes grown in the Kedesh Valley. The Na'aman family winery has a different story: Rami and Bettina Na'aman founded it in 2004 in Upper Galilee; the founders moved to Ramot Naftali. At the visitor center, you can learn more about winemaking and the family's history and taste the winery's wines. The grapes' origin and winemaking on the one hand, and family history and tasting on the other, give wine two different points of focus.

The Na'aman winery complex includes an old stone Galilean house and Bettina's underground, cave-style art studio. The house and cave-like studio provide distinct architectural features within the complex. This adds an artistic dimension to the family and wine history, so a visit need not focus on wine alone.

The Fortress and Memorial Nearby

Ramot Naftali Fortress was built by the British in 1945 as part of the defense system in the north. The memorial is located at the military base south of the entrance to Moshav Ramot Naftali on Route 886. Three stone plaques are set into the fortress wall, with a seating area beside them. The memorial commemorates 23 fighters, including moshav members and defenders of the fortress, who fell in the Israeli War of Independence. Permission is required to enter the military base. Confirm the access requirements before planning your visit.

Lookout and Dirt Trail

The Wall lookout is on Route 886, just north of the entrance to the moshav. About 1.5 km south of the entrance, a green-marked dirt trail leads to a prominent hill on the Naftali Ridge. Their different locations give you two reference points for exploring the surrounding area: the lookout to the north and the trail to the hill south of the entrance. If you plan to take the trail, check current local guidance before your visit.

When choosing your vacation rental in Ramot Naftali, you can tailor your trip to these interests: wine and tastings in the moshav, or history and nearby sites. Remember that permission is required to visit the memorial.

Archaeology in the Wider Destination of Northern District

In the wider destination of Northern District, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo offer different archaeological highlights. Tel Hazor is a biblical tell with significant remains of a city linked to the Bible; visits focus on the upper city. Tel Hazor includes Solomon's Gate, with six chambers and two towers dating to the 10th century BCE. In the water system, steps three meters wide are cut into the walls of the vertical shaft. The underground water-collection system is an elaborate engineering achievement adapted to the geography; an excavated shaft at Tel Hazor is 45 meters deep.

The Canaanite palace at Tel Hazor offers another historical focus: the kings of Hazor used it in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The Late Bronze Age palace is considered the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most significant in the Levant. Tel Megiddo, in turn, is one of three tells that preserve significant remains of cities linked to the Bible and are closely associated with biblical events. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is exceptional for the number of temples, the continuity of worship, and documented ritual activities. The orthogonal Iron Age city plan has few parallels in the Levant. Thus, in Northern District, palaces, water engineering, worship, and urban planning offer different ways to explore archaeology.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Eli Ad, Hila, Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, Gevulot, Beit Hanania, Hosen, Ein Harod, Ma'ale Gamla

Return to the wider travel overview: Israel.