The Gush Etzion Winery story embodies the renewal of ancient Jewish traditions of agriculture and wine-making in the hills of Judea; its purpose is to turn the region into one of the most important and abundant wine regions in Israel and the world. Shraga and Tamar Rozenberg started making wine from blackberries as a hobby not long after they moved to Efrat in 1986. They soon moved on to grapes, and the hobby transformed into a very serious passion. In 1995 the Rozenbergs drew up plans to create a winery at The Gush Etzion junction, partnering with local Kibbutzim to plant vineyards. The first grapes were harvested a year later and today, over 600 dunams of vineyards are planted throughout Gush Etzion with the Winery proudly standing at its center, still run by the Rozenberg family. Meanwhile, the winery has expanded to include a restaurant, a garden and more including an archaeological exhibit which teaches about ancient winemaking and its continuities with modern processes.