In November 2025, a team of BOSTAN TREE researchers visited the newly established Shikmim heritage vineyard that was planted in context of the project.
The experimental vineyard features a mixture of Dabouki and Syriki grape seedlings, that went into the ground in September. The seedlings were propagated from two distinct landrace ‘mother’ cultivars that we found growing nearby and subsequently identified and verified through DNA analysis.

What makes the Shikmim vineyard exceptional is its focus on cultivating endemic grapevines within their native environmental setting. Our research suggests that deep roots were one of the secrets for how grapes were able to survive only on rainwater in this semi-arid area; they complemented their meagre above-ground water supply by tapping into subterranean sources.

The vineyard is divided into 2 sections and has 42 Syriki and 42 Dabouki cultivars under varying planting routines. The Syriki section contains 14 specimens that received equal measures (100 liters) of perlite and compost; another 14 plants received 50 liters of perlite and 100 of compost; the remaining 14 received only compost. The Dabouki section was divided in the same manner.

To help them establish robust root systems and so increase their ability to survive in an otherwise unabated state, the grapes will receive ample irrigation for their first two years to ‘train’ their root systems to tunnel deep below the ground and tap into what are relatively elevated natural aquifers. Starting in the third year, we plan to significantly reduce or eliminate piped irrigation and closely observe how the vines adapt to their drier conditions.  Will they respond by extending their roots even deeper in search of water? We believe so—and expect their inherent resilience to reveal itself when put to the challenge.