Winemaker
Victor Schoenfeld
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Katzrin, Israel
i. Biography
Victor Schoenfeld has spent more than three decades shaping the house style at Golan Heights Winery in Katzrin, Israel, and since 1992 he has served as head winemaker there. In a wine region where modern practice has been built in public, his work sits in the center of that development: exacting, forward-looking, and tied to place rather than pose. Before Golan Heights became his long-term base, his training and early work moved through Robert Mondavi and Champagne Jacquesson & Fils, giving the line of his career a clear technical grounding.
The Path
Technical training at University of California, Davis set the frame for Victor Schoenfeld’s approach, with its emphasis on rigor and on the mechanics that allow wine to hold shape over time. From there, work at Robert Mondavi, Chateau St. Jean, and Champagne Jacquesson & Fils added experience across different cellar cultures and expectations. Those influences found a lasting home at Golan Heights Winery. Victor Schoenfeld is head winemaker of Golan Heights Winery (since 1992) and winemaker of Yarden / Golan Heights Winery, placing him at the center of the winery’s identity in Katzrin. The career is built by accumulation, with each stop adding another layer to a style that has helped define modern winemaking in Israel.
The Work Today
Since 1992, he has served as head winemaker at Golan Heights Winery. The role calls for modern winemaking in Israel, which in practice means working with technical discipline while staying responsive to the realities of the site. The work is not framed as preservation for its own sake; it is part of an ongoing adjustment between inherited method, local conditions, and the demands of a contemporary cellar.
Signature
Victor's signature dishes include Yarden Cru Elite and Yarden Syrah 2019. Taken together, they indicate range within the Yarden / Golan Heights Winery portfolio: one name leaning toward refinement, the other anchored to a specific vintage. They serve as representative expressions of the style and standards associated with his tenure.
In Their Words “It is an amazing place to make wine.”
Acclaim
"It is an amazing place to make wine."
Profile updated August 2026
FAQ
Asked of Victor
What is Victor Schoenfeld's current role?
As of 2026, Victor Schoenfeld is Head Winemaker.
Where did Victor Schoenfeld train or study?
Victor Schoenfeld trained at University of California, Davis.
What is Victor Schoenfeld known for?
Modern winemaking in Israel.
