The Negev wine-growing region is situated in the most southerly part of Israel, and it is also one of the warmest and driest regions in the world. The region was a very popular area for growing vines back in ancient times, and now it is increasingly difficult due to the desert-like landscape and the need for irrigation. Most of the vineyards are planted at 600 meters above sea level, where there is a marked difference between day and night temperatures. Nevertheless, its unlikely macro climate, the Negev has been a vine-growing area since ancient times, and it may well have been one of the world's very first wine regions if an area could be seen as such, 6000 years ago. In the more recent history, the region has been enjoying something of a minor renaissance since the 1980s, though it accounts for less than 5% of Israel's total vineyard area. The soil types are sand and loam predominantly of the semi-arid north-eastern Negev, which are proving increasingly popular among Israeli winemakers. Popular grape varieties of the Negev region are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Chardonnay, Carignan, Muscat and Pinot Noir. Nowadays, thanks to the modern computer-controlled irrigation available there is a necessity, and water usage is understandably a major issue and is one factor why the wines of the region must reach a quality level to justify premium prices.