Avivim Winery Reduced to Ashes
A Story of Hope Amid Hezbollah’s Devastation
A family-owned winery, nestled on the border with Hezbollah, was devastated by four missiles during the war. My Tree in Israel has pledged to help rebuild the winery and bring hope back to their vineyard by selling their remaining bottles that survived the fire!
The Heartwarming Story of Avivim Winery
Avivim Winery’s story began in Morocco, where Shaul, the family patriarch, founded the winery with love and passion. When Shaul immigrated to Israel in 1953, he brought his dream with him, establishing the winery in Moshav Avivim, near the Lebanese border.
Over time, Shaul’s son, Solomon, carried on the family legacy, dedicating himself to the winery until he was tragically injured and lost his sight. It was then that Solomon’s son, Meir, stepped up, transforming the winery from a small family operation into a thriving commercial enterprise renowned worldwide. Under Meir’s leadership, Avivim Winery won gold medals in international wine competitions and became a symbol of resilience and excellence.
The winery wasn’t just a place where grapes became wine—it was where generations of dreams blossomed. Every part of the wine-making process took place on-site: cultivating the grapes, harvesting, fermenting in stainless steel and oak barrels, and producing award-winning wines.
Legacy faced devastation when the war began
Moshav Avivim was declared a closed military zone, and its residents were evacuated. The winery’s operations came to a complete halt—no grapes were harvested, no prestigious reserve wines were produced, and the vibrant life of the winery froze in time.
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Tragically, Avivim Winery lies just 250 meters from the Hezbollah stronghold in Maroun al-Ras. During the war, four missiles were fired from the village, and the last anti-tank missile struck the winery, igniting a massive fire. Firefighters were unable to reach the area, leaving the winery to burn to the ground. Thousands of aging wine barrels, ready-to-market bottles, and years of hard work were reduced to ashes.
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All that remains of Avivim Winery today are a few thousand bottles stored outside the moshav. This small glimmer of hope is what the family and community are holding onto as they look toward rebuilding.
My Tree in Israel has pledged to support Avivim Winery, standing by Israeli farmers in their time of need. But we need your help to bring this dream back to life.
In December 2024, we stood amidst the charred remains of what was once the heart of Avivim Winery. The sight was almost unbearable: broken bottles heaped in piles of ash, the magnificent visitors' center—once alive with the laughter of guests and the aroma of award-winning wine—reduced to dust. The production hall, once home to world-leading equipment and generations of hard work, stood in ruins. Everything had burned to the ground.
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Tears flowed freely as we took in the devastation. It was not just a loss of property—it was a loss of dreams, heritage, and the labor of countless hands. But in that moment, despair gave way to determination. My Tree vowed to bring Avivim Winery into our family of farmers, confident that our community of adopters would stand with us.​​
​Now, we turn to you, our extended family. We invite you to join us in rebuilding Avivim Winery by purchasing from the remaining wine stock. Each bottle carries a special label that reads:
“I helped rebuild Avivim Winery.”
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This is more than a bottle of wine—it’s a symbol of resilience, hope, and the power of community. It’s a step toward turning ashes into renewal, despair into possibility. Together, we can help Avivim Winery rise again, stronger than ever.
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The winery dreams of reopening in three years. With your help, that dream can become a reality.
Will you stand with us? Let’s rebuild what was lost. Let’s create a brighter future for Avivim Winery—together.
Choose Your Bottles
Your bottles will arrive in April for Passover
