The Golan Heights Winery in Katzrin has won a prestigious award from Wine Enthusiast’s Magazine - a first for an Israeli winery.

The winery was awarded the 2012 Wine Star in the New World Winery of the Year category and will be honoured at a ceremony in New York in January next year.

Anat Levi, chief executive of the Golan Heights Winery , said: “This recognition gives us added motivation to continue our efforts to exploit fully the vast potential of our wonderful winegrowing area. We are excited to be a leading player in the renewal of winegrowing in Israel, and to receive this award as a leading new world winery.”

This achievement follows previous accolades including the first winery from Israel to rank in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year, the 2011 World Wine Cup from VinItaly and the 2011 Special Prize of Distinction in Les Citadelles du Vin in Bordeaux.