The Story Behind the Initiative

The Ben Barak Wine Initiative was founded five years ago at the intersection of heritage, craft, and social responsibility. What began as a personal connection to wine — rooted in a family legacy of winemaking — has grown into a foundation that uses wine as a medium for meaningful impact.

My father, Yossi, built a winery at the foot of the Naftali Horn — a mountain overlooking the Hula Valley, the Golan Heights, and the Hermon. He called his blend Keren Naftali, named after that peak. When he passed, I carried that name and that love of wine forward, producing my first batch — a Petit Verdo and Cabernet Sauvignon — as a tribute to him, and donated the proceeds to cancer research.

We believe that wine carries memory. It marks moments, honors people, and brings communities together. That belief is at the heart of everything we do.

Yossi Ben Barak in the vineyard Yossi Ben Barak tending his vines
Yossi and Einat Ben Barak

Yossi and Einat Ben Barak — at the heart of the story.

Two Sides, One Purpose

The Initiative operates through two connected arms: social projects that raise funds for causes like cancer research and the memory of fallen soldiers, and a wine curation service that supports private and corporate clients. Both are united by the same commitment to quality, intention, and impact.