Philokalia

Items

Philokalia 2021 'Anima Syriana' Red, Bethlehem	Login	—	In Stock
Philokalia 2023 'Stubborn Saints' Red, Bethlehem	Login	—	In Stock
Philokalia 2021 'Grapes of Wrath' Amber, Bethlehem	Login	—	In Stock

Founded in 2015 by architect-turned-winemaker Sari Khoury, Philokalia is a boutique natural winery in Bethlehem, Palestine. The name “Philokalia,” derived from Greek, means “love of the beautiful, the good”—a reflection of the winery’s dedication to beauty, heritage, and authenticity. With deep respect for Palestine’s ancient viticultural traditions, Khoury produces handcrafted wines that are soulful, singular and deeply rooted in place and history.

Terroir
Sari Khoury is committed to reviving and preserving indigenous Palestinian grape varieties. He works closely with small-scale farmers to protect and sustain Palestine’s viticultural heritage. In 2022, Philokalia released its first cuvée made entirely from grapes grown on its own estate vineyard. To safeguard his groundbreaking work with native varieties, Khoury chooses not to disclose the specific grapes used.

The dry-farmed, ungrafted bush vines—some between 60 and 105 years old—are planted in limestone-clay (argilo-calcaire) soils in the southwestern hills of the Bethlehem Governorate in the West Bank. Located at elevations between 870 and 940 meters, and receiving 450–550mm of annual rainfall, this terroir nurtures deep-rooted vines that yield grapes of exceptional character and complexity.

Winemaking
Working from the garage of his Bethlehem home, Sari Khoury produces approximately 5,000 bottles of wine per year. He employs natural methods, eschewing chemical additives to allow the pure expression of terroir. Fermentations are spontaneous, and the wines are aged in a combination of stainless steel and custom-made clay vessels—an intentional nod to ancient winemaking traditions.

His winemaking is rooted in mindfulness, treating the process as a meditative, sensory practice that honors both the land and its heritage. He was inspired to return home and explore Palestine’s winemaking legacy by Nasser Soumi, a Palestinian artist and wine researcher. As Sari writes, “He spoke to me about Palestine’s rich wine history: the domestication of the grapevine and olive tree by the Natufians in the 7th millennium BC, the wine jars found in the tombs of the Pharaohs originating from Palestine, Gaza wine merchants in Bordeaux in the 7th century A.D., and I wondered why our colorful history is covered by the greyness of the present moment.”

Media Links
Wineanorak.com: Philokalia, a natural winery from Bethlehem, Palestine
Wine Enthusiast: Making Fine Wine in Palestine, Despite It All