Winery Becomes Military Base Post-Oct 7, Now Reopens

A week after the October 7th Hamas attacks, the Lorian Winery, owned by the Sayada family, was repurposed as a military base. The family, who received the keys to the new winery just seven days prior to the attack, saw their business serve the IDF. Now, they are working to reopen to visitors and support Israeli agriculture.

Gidi Sayada recounted how, in the immediate aftermath of the attack, he was nearly alone but refused to give up. He rallied friends from his 1972 paratrooper unit to help harvest the grapes, ensuring not a single cluster was wasted. This effort, he stated, was his personal victory, mirroring the resilience of other local farmers facing seemingly insurmountable odds. The winery and visitor center reopened with the first ceasefire, though operations have since been dictated by the security situation in northern Israel.

Leading up to the Jewish High Holidays, the winery was busy with grape harvesting and preparing gift packages. They also launched new wines, including Petit Verdot, Petit Sirah, and an Ice Wine. Omer Sayada noted a decrease in demand for Israeli agricultural products compared to the previous year, attributing it to a return to routine and a less emotionally driven purchasing behavior among some consumers.

Joseph Sayada, the patriarch, shared his family's long history in agriculture, originating from Tunisia. He transitioned from fruit orchards to winemaking, lamenting the decline of farming in Israel. Gidi emphasized the emotional fulfillment derived from winemaking, contrasting it with the financial rewards of other industries. Omer expressed his deep satisfaction in the wine business, calling it true happiness and enjoying the positive feedback from top restaurants.

The Sayada family acknowledges the increasing challenges in agriculture, with Joseph noting a significant reduction in farmers in his community. They advocate for government incentives and land availability to encourage young people to enter the field, highlighting farmers' role in guarding the land. Gidi mentioned a friend with a master's degree in agriculture who moved to high-tech for financial stability, despite his passion for farming. Omer suggested providing land to released combat soldiers to revitalize agriculture, warning that without support, they will likely pursue careers in the more lucrative high-tech sector.