There are few things I enjoy more than driving through those parts of the world where wine is made. First of all, the countryside where grape vines grow are among the most beautiful of any country and the roads that wind through the vineyards are as scenic and idyllic as one could want. More important, however, is the fact that the people you will meet as you stop to ask directions or to ask about the grapes they are growing tend to be a warm and friendly lot, many of whom will patiently take time to explain which grapes they are growing, how long a wine takes to mature or simply how to find a good place to eat.

Best of all, one need not be a wine expert to make the best of such outings. Whether in France or in South Africa, in Italy or in Israel, the plains and hillsides that are patterned with vines are a delight for those with an eye for landscape. They are also marvelous areas for hiking or bicycling and, for those with a love of nature, there is a fascinating variety of wildlifeand plant life to observe.

If it is wine itself that fascinates, as well it might with its 9,000 year local social and cultural history, one of the ideal ways to broaden one's knowledge is by visiting those wineries that gladly open their doors to visitors, and one of the nicest things about this is that no one is trying to sell you anything. What they want to do is to share their love of wine.

Happily, there is no need to travel abroad to visit wine country or the wineries in which wine is made. Among the country's larger wineries, those of Carmel Mizrachi, the Golan Heights Winery and Binyamina are especially well equipped to greet visitors. So popular is the activity that more than 100,000 tourists now visit the Carmel winery in Rishon le-Tsion every year. Carmel, which invested $1.2 million to reconstruct their old cellars, build old-style tasting rooms, train guides and remodel the buildings originally built by Baron Edmond de Rothschild 115 years ago, has ensured that tours of their wineries will be at least as pleasing as those that one might take in France or California.

Tours start off in an well designed reception hall, continue to the cellars where visitors can see brandies and wines aging in oak casks, and then go on to a tasting. Multi-media audio-visual displays trace the history of the winery and the wine-making process and guides are equipped to answer other questions and each group of visitors is treated to a guided wine tasting session. Time is also allowed for those who wish to purchase wines. Tours at Rishon le Tsion, for which a symbolic fee is charged are conducted during the daytime hours children are conducted during the daytime hours and in the evenings groups or individuals may also visit the winery's popular wine and singing club. For further information and reservations telephone 03: 9668379.

The Golan Heights Winery, located at the town of Katzrin on the Golan Heights, also has excellent facilities for visitors. Tours of the winery start at the comfortable Visitor's Reception Center with a welcoming talk and an audio-visual display. The tours continue with a stroll through the ultra-modern facilities, following the entire wine making process and conclude with a tasting and the opportunty to make purchases. During the spring, summer and early autumn tours are conducted on a regular basic from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and during the winter months, until 4 p.m. A nominal charge is made for the tours and the winery suggests phoning in advance of one's visit to 06: 6968420.

Located in the charmingly rural area of Binyamina, the visitors center of Binyamina Wineries is also worth a visit. Located in a fully remodelled country-style building, the program here includes a stroll around the winery, a brief talk by one's guide, an audio-visual explanation of the wine making process, and a wine and cheese tasting. Of special interest is a room within the center that houses an exhibit relating to the 6,000 year old relationship between wine and Judaisim. A symbolic charge is made for the tour, which is available from 8a.m. - 5 p.m. During the evenings, wine courses are offered by the winery's winemaker, and the center is available for private events and tastings. For reservations or further information phone the winery at 06: 6388643.

Three boutique wineries, Tzora, Soreq and Saslove, also offer opportunities for visitors. These wineries have small delicatessens attached and in addition to guided tours of their mini-wineries, also have picnic facilities. All offer tastings and some offer wine courses. For information phone Tzora at 02: 9908261 and Soreq at 08: 9340542 and Saslove at 09 7492697.

© Daniel Rogov