Ramot Naftali combines a local connection to wine in the moshav with historic sites and landscape destinations nearby. When choosing accommodation, a clear geographical distinction is helpful: the wineries are in Ramot Naftali, while the lookout point, memorial site and marked field path are nearby destinations. Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo belong to the wider travel destination of the Northern District. Keeping these local and regional highlights distinct can help you decide what to explore during your stay.
Wineries and Family History
The Amram family winery is located in the moshav of Ramot Naftali; its wines are made from grapes grown in the Kedesh Valley. The Na'aman winery, also family-run, has its own founding story: Rami and Bettina Na'aman founded it in 2004 in the Upper Galilee and moved to Ramot Naftali. At Amram, the focus is on the origin of the grapes, while at Na'aman visitors can also learn about the founders' story.
The Na'aman winery complex includes an old stone Galilean house and Bettina's underground cave-style art studio. At the visitor center, visitors can learn more about the wine-making process and the family's history, as well as taste the winery's wines. If you plan a visit, check in advance what visiting options are available.
Fortress, Memorial and Local Orientation
Ramot Naftali Fortress was built by the British in 1945 as part of the northern defense system. A memorial at the fortress commemorates 23 fighters, including members of the moshav and defenders of the fortress, who fell in the Israeli War of Independence. Three stone plaques are set into the fortress wall, with a seating area beside them.
The memorial is located on a military base south of the entrance to the moshav of Ramot Naftali, on Route 886. Access to the base requires authorization; check the access requirements before visiting. This helps distinguish the memorial site from two other nearby landmarks: Mauer Lookout is on Route 886, just north of the entrance. About 1.5 kilometers south of the entrance, a green-marked field path leads to a prominent hill on the Naftali Ridge. Check current local guidance before walking the path.
Archaeological Highlights in the Wider Travel Destination of the Northern District
The wider Northern District includes a distinct archaeological focus, with Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo. Tel Hazor is a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with the Bible; visits focus on the upper city. There stands Solomon's Gate, dating to the 10th century BCE, with six chambers and two towers. A Canaanite palace was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The Late Bronze Age palace is considered the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most significant in the Levant.
Tel Hazor's water system also demonstrates the scale of the site: the excavated shaft is 45 meters deep, with three-meter-wide steps cut into the walls of the vertical shaft. The underground water collection system is considered an ingenious engineering achievement, adapted to the geographic conditions for water storage. Tel Hazor's fortifications are regarded as the best example of their kind in the area from southern Turkey to the northern Negev. The national park can be reached from the north and south via Route 90 toward Ayelet Hashahar; check your navigation before setting out.
Tel Megiddo is also a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with the Bible, and is one of three tells closely linked to events in the Bible. The Early Bronze Age temple complex stands out for the number of its temples, the continuity of its cultic activity and its documented ritual practices. The Iron Age orthogonal city plan has few parallels in the Levant. These archaeological highlights of the Northern District complement Ramot Naftali's local wine, remembrance and landscape attractions.
Discover more destinations: Ramat Tzvi, Nahalal, Vered Hagalil, Ilaniya, Metulla, Almog, HaZore‘im, Sharona
For the wider travel overview: Israel.
