What's Red and White and Sipped All Over Israel?
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ISRAEL schmoozing with the vintners about how they entered the profession, their grapes’ source and variety, and their fermentation durations. “I wish I knew more. Wine is so personal- 51 ized. You might like something totally differ- ent than I like,” said Courtney, who appreci- ates that Israeli winegrowers will “sit down and talk with you. The majority I try to go to are the smaller, family-run ones.” Both Courtney and Stu favor rosé. Their winery destinations include those nearby and further afield, boutique and behemoths, yummy and meh. After enjoying a bottle, the Douglasses might head to its source for a tour and a tasting. They’ve compiled recommen- dations from Israeli friends and teammates as well as from online recommendations. They’ve visited some vineyards on multiple occasions. Tishbi, in Zichron Yaakov, isn’t an imbibing favorite. Still, its Friday afternoon barbecues and live music have drawn them five times, Stu said from Indianapolis as he Stu and Courtney Boylan Douglass sip it up at Israel’s Tishbi winery. and Courtney drove home from separate workouts on a July morning. “Home” might be where the heart is (the wine bottles, too), but the Douglasses don’t What’s red and white and yet have one. Each spring following the Israe- li hoops season, Stu resides with his parents in Indianapolis, since his off-season trainer lives there, and Courtney stays with her folks sipped all over Israel? in Minnesota, where she works at basketball camps. She also teaches basketball in Israel By HILLEL KUTTLER have opened a window onto the Galilee, the Go- with an American company, PeacePlayers lan Heights, and other wine-growing regions. International, which utilizes sports to bring “It really got me out of my comfort zone in together children of nationalities in conflict. DURING THE 2017–18 SEASON, Stu Douglass Israel,” said Courtney. “Sometimes, people get Stu’s time on the court in Nahariya was a averaged 5.5 points a game and shot 50.6 percent trapped in their little bubble.” mixed bag. Nahariya finished 13–19 and didn’t from the field and 39.5 percent from three-point The couple, both 28, weren’t wine con- qualify for the playoffs, after reaching the range as a backup guard for the Israeli profes- noisseurs in 2013, when Stu left the Spanish semifinals in 2016–17. His playing time also sional basketball team Ironi Nahariya. team Planata for Hapoel Gilboa Galil, the first decreased dramatically. When not playing or practicing with the of four teams for which he played during his But like any competitor worth his salt, Stu is club, the Indianapolis native went about first five seasons in Israel. Stu favored beer, spending the off-season working on improv- compiling some other key numbers in Israel. and Courtney didn’t drink much of anything. ing his skills: ball-handling and creating his He and his wife, Courtney Boylan Douglass, But while attending a friend’s wedding in own shot. Extending one’s range is key off the a fellow guard whom he met when both at- northern California, the Douglasses visited court, too. Come September, Stu and Court- tended the University of Michigan, visited wineries in Napa and Sonoma Valleys. ney plan to visit vineyards in the Judaean 20 wineries, six breweries, and one distillery “It piques your interest,” Stu said. “We got Hills and the Negev. during their two seasons of living in Nahariya, to Israel and learned our first year that there “I like wine, but the wine isn’t the biggest a northern Israeli town of 65,000 along the are hundreds of wineries.” reason we do it, because if I’m going to have Mediterranean coast. Early on, the couple kept busy seeing, not a drink, I’m probably going to have a beer,” They plan to continue the vine-centric tour tasting, Israeli tourist spots. That changed liv- Stu said. during the basketball season that’ll begin in ing in Nahariya, close to so many wineries. “Wine is part of Israel,” he said. “We’re al- September. Courtney will be playing for the “With Israel, it’s endless in terms of wine ways trying to find new experiences. We kind Holon women’s team, near Tel Aviv. Stu has and food. It’s become part of our routine: ‘Oh, of just go with the flow.” n signed with Hapoel Tel Aviv. it’s an off-day; let’s do this,’ ” Stu said. Their day and half-day trips, taken in leased “It’s daunting sometimes, but it’s also part of Hillel Kuttler is a freelance writer and editor cars the team provides under terms of Stu’s con- the fun—to uncover a gem that no one visits.” living in Israel. He can be reached at hk@hil- tract (a standard benefit for foreign players), The Douglasses learn on each visit by lelthescribecommunications.com. JUF News, September 2018 51.