Being a sommelier is more of a hobby than a job for Jessy Bodec, one of Israel’s most well-known and acclaimed sommeliers. This career path allows Jessy to share his passions and deep rooted love for wine with people all around the world.
Not surprising, Jessy’s life has revolved around the concept of wine ever since his early days in Paris, France. After learning about wine and mastering the skills of becoming a sommelier, Jessy started off strong by becoming the sommelier for several five-star restaurants in Israel, winning the top prize in prestigious sommelier contests, and becoming the CEO of his start-up business Wine Space.
Jessy’s career soared after being rated the “Best Sommelier of Israel in 2005” and winning the “Golden Grapes: Israel’s Annual Wine Competition in 2005.” Winning these competitions opened the door to so many more opportunities and allowed him to receive accolades from those near and far. He soon became a sommelier and a wine consultant for many private collectors, financial organizations, wineries and restaurants, all of which he continues to do to this day.
In 2019, Jessy opened up several vineyards throughout Israel. At these vineyards he produces his own wine called Cave Bialik. He currently produces four types of wine under his personal brand, which include ultra-mineral Colombard and Chardonnay, floral Cabernet and Merlot, Terra Cabernet Sauvignon, and Boreal Cabernet Sauvignon-Mourvedre. All of his wines are unique to his style with local influences that cannot be found in other wines. All four of his wines are produced in wine barrels at his vineyard with home grown grapes, then they are bottled and distributed.
From our intimate conversation with Jessy, we learned that he does not only use his expertise for his job, but he also enjoys helping and educating others about the complexities of wines. While his business is small, he is able to teach others about his passions in a fun and meaningful way. As he shared with us “my favorite thing about being a sommelier is not only teaching others about wine, but meeting interesting and talented people along the way.”
Jessy is known for his boutique winery, producing around 5,000-9,000 bottles a year. These bottles are sold throughout Israel, as well as France, and he is planning to broaden his business to North America. Jessy also imports high-end oak barrels from France and has partnered with other wineries to distribute local wine to producers and sellers.
You can find his wines in Israel at Adom Restaurant, Burek Restaurant, Moon Sushi, Puaa Cafe, Rama Kitchen, and Shifra Deli, as well as mini-sized (perfect for picnic!) bottles at May 6 Cafe. Not only is Jessy a wine consultant and sommelier, but he also offers guided wine tastings and tours through his vineyards and throughout Tel Aviv.
Through Delicious Israel’s wine tasting experiences, you can also have the opportunity to meet and learn more about wine from Jessy Bodec.
To connect with Jessy and tune in to what he is doing, it is best to follow him on Instagram @jessybodecsommelier, Facebook @Winespace by Jessy Bodec, and stay up to date with his website at https://cavebialik.co.il/.
Want to learn more about local wineries in Israel, check out these blog posts to dive deeper in the realm of wine:
