The TERRA UMA association operates personal and emotional development programs in the worlds of wine, with the aim of reawakening the sense of value, capabilities and hope among those facing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the background of combat experiences, and strengthening their resilience and optimal ability to integrate into society.
A wine journey - A toast to life
The wine journey 'Raising Life' is an emotional and experiential process that takes place in wineries and vineyards in which the contestants strengthen abilities and skills that have been eroded by the prolonged rehabilitation, on their way to a renewed and optimal integration into society. We believe that productive, creative and attractive manual labor with a direct connection to the earth has the power to make significant positive changes to the consequences of physical and mental injury.
The vineyard of unlimited possibilities
In June 2023, together with the members of the first cohort, we planted the first vineyard plot of TERRA UMA in Bat Shlomo. In this vineyard we will grow the grapes for the following journeys. Working in the vineyard is an important component of the process that the participants of the program go through, as it enables direct contact with the earth, staying deeply "in this moment" (mindfulness), opening the heart, observing the cycles of nature and discharging emotional energy. In our vision, this vineyard will be physically and emotionally accessible to all the injured.
The Orchard of TERRA UMA
The orchard is a natural area adjacent to the vineyard that is used by the participants of the program and the members of the association for educational, productive, balancing and calming activities, based on methodologies from the worlds of 'nature-based therapy'. The orchard is the home of the TERRA UMA community.
Head winemaker - Barkan Segal wineries
Ido Lewinson MW
Head Winemaker, Barkan Segal Wineries
In 2020, Ido received the prestigious and most significant title in the wine world, Master of Wine, becoming the second MW in Israel and one of 409 Masters of Wine (MW) worldwide. He is a graduate of Viticulture and Enology from the University of Milan. He interned in Tuscany at the prestigious Sassicaia winery and worked as a winemaker in the Rhône Valley and Languedoc regions of France, as well as in Tasmania, Australia, and Israel. He currently consults for wineries and is a tasting instructor.
Head winemaker - Tulip-Maya Winery
Dana Bani
Head Winemaker, Tulip-Maya Winery
Dana's experience with wine began during childhood in the home of her Italian parents, who were both wine enthusiasts. To her, the combination of art and science in wine creation is the fascinating beauty of the wine world. Dana holds a degree in Viticulture and Enology from the University of Florence in Italy. During her studies, she came to Israel to work the harvest at the Recanati Winery. After completing her degree, she worked for a period with Amphora Winery in California, as well as a harvest in South Africa, before returning to Israel and becoming head winemaker at Tulip-Maya Winery.
Head winemaker - Margalit Winery
Asaf Margalit
Head Winemaker, Margalit Winery
Asaf started producing wine as a child together with his father in their backyard and was immediately captivated by the world of wine. He studied at the Faculty of Agriculture in Rehovot and traveled to California to work at Jekel Vineyard to learn their secrets for producing a diverse array of wines. He also toured over a hundred wineries in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, known for being the leading regions of the new world wine industry. Upon returning to Israel, he gradually replaced his father as the winemaker of Margalit Winery.
Head winemaker - Dalton Winery
Guy Eshel
Head Winemaker, Dalton Winery
Guy entered the wine world while working at a wine shop that introduced him to a whole new universe of flavors, food, culture, and history. He now holds a degree in Enology from the University of California, Davis, and has worked as a winemaker in various wineries abroad, including in the USA, France, and Australia.
Head winemaker - Tabor Winery
Or Nadbach
Head Winemaker, Tabor Winery
Or began his journey as a bartender where he encountered numerous wineries and wine instructors. After returning from a trip to Argentina following the end of his military service, he wanted to combine his love for agriculture with a curiosity about wine. In 2009 he completed his B.Sc. in Agriculture and joined Tabor Winery for two harvest seasons, later traveling to California to complete a M.Sc. in Enology at UC Davis. Just before deciding whether to stay in California or return to Israel, he received a phone call from Tabor Winery with an offer to become the secondhand to winemaker Arie Nesher. Or currently serves as head winemaker for Tabor Winery.
Head winemaker - Amphora Winery
Meiram Harel
Head Winemaker, Amphora Winery
Meiram began his journey while traveling in Europe, where he visited numerous wineries, working in exchange for room and board. The happiness of this journey led him to study at Ohalo College (Katzrin) where he learned French, and later completed courses at the Terroir Approach Center in Burgundy, earning a B.Sc. in Viticulture and Enology with a specialization in Vitopathology.
Head winemaker - Underdog Winery
Dror Engelstein
Head Winemaker, Underdog Winery
Dror loves making people happy and connecting them to the world of wine in a simple, unpretentious way. According to Dror, he entered the world of wine quite literally from the bottom, cleaning and scrubbing the tanks. In 2012, he traveled to Milan for a degree program in Viticulture and Enology and later worked at Masi Winery, the renowned Amarone producer. Since 2019 he has been producing wines under his own name, utilizing a personal approach to making accessible, interesting, and uniquely Israeli wines.
Maytal Damari-Kol
Carmel Winery
Maytal Damari Kol studied winemaking and viticulture in 2009 - 2012 in Florence, Italy. In the winter of 2013 Maytal worked in the harvest at Saint Clair Winery in Marlborough, New Zealand, and in the summer of 2013 she joined the summer harvest in Israel. After three years of working at the 'Midbar' Winery, she joined in October 2015 the team of Carmel Wineries. Maytal brings with her knowledge of the worlds of wine and vineyards, familiarity with the wide product world of Carmel Wineries and tools to the table of decision makers at the winery.
Head winemaker - Hayogev 8 Winery
Yonatan Koren
Head Winemaker, Hayogev 8 Winery
Yonatan is a graduate of Wine Science from Ohalo College in Katzrin. After being discharged from military service, he decided to study winemaking and specialize in organic wine. Among his other skills, Yonatan is also a talented chef and is responsible for the culinary side of Hayogev 8 Winery.
Therapist
Sheli Calacuda
Therapist
Sheli combines the worlds of art, therapy, and wine, which serve as a unique opportunity to engage in connection, creation, and culture. She holds an M.A. in Art Therapy from the University of Haifa and a B.DES in Jewelry Design from Shenkar. In the wine world, Sheli holds a level 2 certificate from the WSET.
The professional staff
The association's activities are accompanied by a professional team of senior winemakers and emotional guides, on a full volunteer basis
During the wine journey, the participants are accompanied by winemakers from the top of the wine industry in Israel, and a team of emotional therapists who wrap their private process in the world of wine, which receives a unique expression and fingerprint in each and every one's personal brand of wine. Each bottle contains a message of hope and ability, growth and life.