Wine labels and packaging are playing a role in a longstanding political and geographic dispute.

The Golan Heights, a small, rocky plateau that borders Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, is a place of historical significance and discourse. As a geopolitical region, the Golan Heights is the area captured from Syria and occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War, which took place in 1967. Israel effectively annexed the territory in 1981 – including the western two-thirds of the geological Golan Heights, as well as the Israeli-occupied part of Mount Hermon. However, the annexation has never been recognized under international law. Southern Syria and its capital city of Damascus located 40 miles to the north, are clearly visible from the top of the Heights, giving Israel an excellent vantage point for monitoring Syrian movements. The topography also provides a natural buffer against potential aggression.

The area is also a key source of water for an arid region. Rainwater from the Golan’s catchment feeds into the Jordan River. The area provides a third of Israel’s water supply. The land is fertile, with the volcanic soil being used to cultivate vineyards, thus helping to fuel a budding industry.

“There are approximately 30 Jewish settlements in the heights, with an estimated 20,000 settlers. There are also around 20,000 Syrians in the area. Golan Heights’ volcanic soil is heavily planted with vines and the region is home to a growing boutique wine industry,” notes Darren Smith, of The Drinks Business.

Recently, the European Union set new guidelines regarding the labeling of products originating from territories captured by Israel in the Six-Day War. The EU contends that these areas are not part of the internationally recognized borders of Israel, so, as such, “goods from such territories cannot be labeled ‘Made in Israel’ and should instead be labeled as coming from settlements,” Smith says.

In the run-up to the EU decision, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu appealed to the EU, arguing that the new guidelines were a form of discrimination and would encourage those factions that wished to “eliminate” Israel. “There is no doubt that the main purpose of the measure is to exert political pressure upon Israel,” a foreign ministry spokesperson told The Jerusalem Post.

Bazelet HaGolan Winery is located in the Golan Heights, and the boutique winery has openly defied the new EU guidelines on the labeling of settlement products. The winery is printing the Israeli flag on the caps of bottles destined for export. In defiance of EU guidelines, Bazelet HaGolan Winery has chosen to advertise its Israeli identity on bottles for export.

“The boutique Bazelet HaGolan Winery announced its plans to print the blue-and-white flag of the Jewish state on the caps of Chardonnay bottles destined for export to countries in the EU,” explains Smith. “The winery’s move came a day after the EU published its long-deliberated new guidelines on the labeling of what it described as ‘Israeli settlement products.’

Following the move to print the Israel flag on its bottle caps, Bazelet HaGolan Winery owner Yoav Levy called on Jews around the world to exclusively purchase “blue and white” products in support of Israel, adding that Europeans would lose out from the EU’s new guidelines. “We are proud of our national flag and hope that other wineries will follow our example and bear the Israeli flag on wine bottles destined for export to Europe,” Levy told The Jerusalem Post.

According to Wines Israel, the country’s wine industry produces around 28 million bottles per year, with a revenue of $200 million (£131m). Total production in Golan Heights is around 5.5 million bottles per year. Around 55% of Israeli wine exports are to the US, with France and the UK the next biggest importers, according to The Drinks Business.