Philokalia is a Bethlehem-based wine project that focuses on the native grape varieties of Palestine.

Philokalia, an ancient Greek word, translates to “the love of the beautiful/the good”, a name that reflects the intention behind this winemaking effort that began in 2015. Philokalia appreciates working with bare hands and the charm it brings about to produce exquisite products, without the unnecessary interventions of machinery, chemicals and preservatives; all while maintaining and being familiar with international and quality-oriented winemaking standards.

It was a meeting between Sari Khoury, the founder of Philokalia, and Nasser Soumi, a Palestinian artist and wine connoisseur and researcher in 2005, that first sparked Sari’s interest and fascination with the history of winemaking in Palestine. Since then, he has traveled through some of the best “old-world” European wineries to discover that it’s always the perseverance of growers and application of ancient knowledge and techniques together with pure dedication that makes the best wines. As Sari would eloquently explain, for every local wine there should be a relationship with the local climate and cuisine. 

At Philokalia, custom-made clay jars help preserve a distinct form and taste which complements the spicy and rich cuisine of the region. Sari works with old, non-grafted and non-irrigated native grapevines in the Bethlehem area. An architect by profession, Sari loves to share how his journey of discovering the intricacies of winemaking was one of soul-searching, and discovery of deeper connections to the land and its more colourful past. Currently Philokalia is a two-person team, as Vicky Sahagian joined in 2016. Vicky and Sari continue to develop the wine by applying practical knowledge and experiments in winemaking, combined with meticulous research, investigation and an appreciation of local farmers’ knowledge and expertise.

Philokalia, in its 4th vintage since 2018, produced about 5,000 bottles of wine and spirits. It strives to grow by adding new wines and continue to refine the blend of varieties used, while maintaining the ancient methods and the distinct terroir of Palestine. The wines and spirits are available in select locations in the Bethlehem area, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nazareth and Haifa.