Yacov Morad

Yacov Morad is a winemaker, author, and the founder of Morad Winery in Israel. At just 10 years old, he watched his father make wine on a small plot of land outside their home, and by the age of 12, he was crafting wine on his own. After 30 years of experience, he decided—along with the love of his life, his wife Ester—to turn his lifelong hobby into a full-time profession. In 1999, Morad Winery opened its doors to rave reviews, capturing the attention of the international press, who were fascinated by a small Israeli winery producing wine from unconventional ingredients like parsley, sweet potatoes, and sage.

Morad Winery quickly became a household name. Yacov appeared on numerous popular TV shows and news broadcasts and welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world to his boutique winery’s visitor center.

Morad Winery was the first commercial winery in Israel to make wine from almost anything but grapes. Now, more than 20 years later, Yacov and Ester are retired. Today, Yacov spends most of his time teaching students the secrets of crafting mouth-watering wines and liqueurs from unexpected ingredients—all from the comfort of their own homes.