Along Israel’s southern coastal plain, remnants of old vineyards reveal a striking natural phenomenon: grapevines that have climbed into the tops of sycamore, tamarisk, and other trees, creating a tangled canopy of green and purple clusters high above the ground. These relic vines, some aged between 70 and 80 years, continue to thrive without irrigation or human cultivation, producing notably sweet grapes despite the region’s hot, dry conditions.
The phenomenon can be traced back to the period before 1948, when the area was extensively planted with grapevines. According to Yair Farjun, an educator and naturalist based in Nitzan, these surviving grapevines are essentially “refugees” of former cultivated vineyards. After cultivation ceased and traditional trellises collapsed, many vines perished in the intense heat. However, those growing near trees found shelter by climbing their branches, which functioned as natural “air conditioners” and helped them withstand high ground temperatures measured at 70 degrees Celsius (158 Fahrenheit) during dry heat waves.
These heirloom vines have attracted attention from researchers involved in the European Union-funded Bostan Tree Project, which focuses on local heritage fruit trees. The project, along with community naturalists, is documenting these old grapevines and the surrounding orchard remains, analyzing their ecological and cultural legacy.
Among the grape species identified is the Dabouki, once the dominant white grape cultivated across roughly 90,000 dunams (22,500 acres) of vineyards in Palestine by the end of the British Mandate period. Prof. Yuval Ben-Bassat, a historian at the University of Haifa and co-author of a recent study on the Dabouki, notes that this grape was widely grown by Arab fellahin and used both as fresh fruit and for raisin and grape honey production. Although native to the region and linked through DNA analysis to ancient grape seeds found in Negev caves, Dabouki cultivation declined after 1948 when Israeli agricultural preferences shifted toward European grape varieties and modern farming techniques.
Following the establishment of Israel, many Arab vineyards were transferred to kibbutzim and moshavim, with some areas managed by a state company that exported grapes abroad. Nonetheless, by the 1960s, the Dabouki vineyards were largely uprooted, replaced with other fruit trees better suited to intensive cultivation. State subsidies in the 1990s encouraged the removal of the last commercial Dabouki groves.
In recent years, the Dabouki grape has experienced a revival as several Israeli and Palestinian wineries have begun producing wine from this traditional variety, aiming to highlight the region’s distinctive terroir. However, opinions vary among wine experts regarding its suitability for quality wine production.
Researchers emphasize that, beyond viticulture, these ancient vines offer valuable insights into plant resilience amid climate challenges. The ability of the Dabouki vines to adapt to extreme heat and aridity without human intervention over decades may hold lessons for coping with global warming’s impact on agriculture.
The intertwined relationship between grapevines and sycamore trees, which are featured in ancient texts, has also sparked studies into the biology and history of the sycamores themselves. Unlike many trees, their age cannot be precisely determined through growth rings. Biblical writers ascribed mythic ages to sycamores, but modern efforts rely on historical records and aerial photos to estimate their longevity. The sycamores found in Israel were propagated by cuttings, due to the absence of native fig wasps needed for pollination.
Once forming vast boulevards along the coastline from Gaza to Tel Aviv, few sycamore trees remain today. Researchers aim to protect these remnants not only for their ecological importance but also for their cultural and historical significance, reflecting the intertwined heritage of the peoples who have inhabited the region for centuries.