Tal (roommate Tal) invited us to her friend’s vineyard for a wine tasting event. They were celebrating the end of the harvest, and opening up some bottles. There would be some live music and “fun surprises” for food. Hunter and I were IN.

We took a small bus for part of the trip before getting picked up by Tal’s friend Alon for the remainder of the trip. Alon and Tal met during their year of service before joining the Army, a year that she mentioned was very special to her, and a year that gave her several of her closest friends.

The Adulam Winery & Vineyard is located in Givat Yeshayahu, about 45 minutes southwest of Jerusalem. The dust storm was making the views less than spectacular, but we were told that it is normally “gorgeous.” Tal said we would come back on a clear day and enjoy the scenery. The vineyard is run by Tal’s friend Ashley and her husband, and for the party they were offering their three red wines: a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Merlot and a blend that was my personal favorite. They have a trip advisor page, and I have a feeling that Hunter and I will be back to visit on a sunnier and clearer day.

The evening was cool and breezy, a welcome respite from the hot and dusty weather in Jerusalem since I arrived. The other guests at the party were very nice and lacked the level of intensity that we found so off putting with other people we had met. We both agreed that it felt like we were in Northern California, and despite the fact that everyone at the party was a stranger, it like we were surrounded by friends.