Tuesday, July 8, 2025
The Mid-Atlantic Kosher Wine Scene
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Good list of free wine courses here
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Deep interview with Napa's Hagafen winemaker and founder
Josh London does what he does so well- extensive thorough discussion with Ernie Weir of Hagafen - Jewish Link Wine Guide cover story.
"For over 50 years, Ernie Weir has been a quiet force in Napa Valley winemaking. Now, as he approaches his 52nd vintage in the Napa Valley, his influence remains as strong as ever. As the founder and winemaker of the award-winning Hagafen Cellars, he helped redefine kosher wine, proving that it can be world-class. But beyond the labels and accolades, Weir is a man with a deep love for viticulture, a connection to Israel, and a perspective shaped by decades in the industry." Read more:
And do subscribe to Josh's substack - check that out here:
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Exciting Maryland Kosher wine news!
Family permeates everything at Loew Vineyards near Libertytown.
Rachel Loew Lipman is a fifth-generation winemaker and meadmaker who oversees the operation.
She said she hopes to pay tribute to the vineyard that bears her grandparents’ name by becoming the first certified kosher — in line with Jewish law — winery in the state of Maryland
read more:
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Kenny goes deep on Kleinrerer
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Negev Wineries Map
Cool map, mentioned in article by Adam Montefiore and online at Negevwine.co.il, a good site for information about wineries of the south of Israel.
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Seder Wine recommendations Kosher Wine Unfiltered
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Kosher Wine Podcast has a great interview with Gabriel Geller
Kosher Wine Podcast has a great interview with Gabriel Geller, mentor to so many in the kosher world of wine.
Who knew that one of Gabe's early jobs was working for Netofa? Fascinating details about the sale of Israeli wines in the broader non-kosher market. Lots more!
Annual Jewish Link Wine Guide 2025 is out!
Flipbook link here, web site here: Kudos Elizabeth Kratz and judges and writers.
Indigenous Israeli Grapes
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Gulping Down Seder Wine
South Africa's Essa Wine Co gets some top scores.
South Africa's Essa Wine Co gets some top scores and a nice profile of Josh Rynderman, winemaker.
"In a Business Day feature on 5 February 2025, leading wine critic Michael Fridjhon gave five kosher wines from ESSA Wine Co. the highest scores in a blind taste test. Headlined “Kosher wines hold their own among SA peers”, the article detailed how ESSA wines stood out against their non-kosher contemporaries....
As they operate on a small scale, ESSA makes high-end, non-mevushal wines. American-born, Western Cape based winemaker, Joshua Rynderman, the owner and winemaker at ESSA, says his winemaking journey began in an unexpected way. Seated next to renowned kosher winemaker, Benyamin Cantz of Four Gates Winery in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains at a Sukkot celebration in 2014, Rynderman found himself offering to assist in his winery. A psychology student at the time, Rynderman was intrigued by his wine discussion with Cantz, but otherwise knew absolutely nothing about wine."
Check it out in the South Africa Jewish Report.
https://www.sajr.co.za/sa-kosher-wine-grows-up-gets-noticed/?
And see the actual review here from the wine critic Fridjhon, a lead SA authority.
"Given the abuse to which most kosher wine is subjected, I never imagined I might ever seriously be tasting premium high-quality Cape wines that also happened to be compliant with the requirements of the Beth Din."....
"Two of the five wines I sampled bagged the highest scores in that week’s tasting. The Blanc Fumé (94 points) is exceptional. Fragrant and nuanced, with mown hay aromas, whiffs of lime blossom and hints of tropical fruit, it’s fairly priced at R500. The highest-scoring red (93 points) was the cabernet franc. It’s savoury and textured, with instantly accessible tannins — unusual for the variety — and succulent perfumed red fruit notes."
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Kleinlerer Wines Now Kosher (initially the Cinsault and Rose Cinsault only)
Covenant Winery Managing Director Sagie Kleinlerer has been making wines himself for his own line at the Covenant Winery, but they havent been kosher. The DipWSET is now producing two of these wines under kosher supervision. Looking forward to trying them and others that get supervision.
Look for the kashrut information at the Dancing Sophie Red and the Cuvee Sasha and Nitza Rose at his web site.
Here is the announcement I received (after a tip from Liz Kratz). Sagie says that kosher Pinot and Chenin Blanc are coming later this year.
2024 CUVÉE SACHA & NITZA
ROSÉ OF CINSAULT
Please also chill the wine!
Cuvée Sacha & Nitza Rosé of Cinsault was the wine that flew off the shelves last year. Bright, acidic, and refreshing, this Rosé is an incredible food wine. It's also a fantastic sipping wine. Offered by-the-glass on wine lists in a number of San Francisco and Los Angeles restaurants, this Rosé is popular with everyone.
I love this wine so much and am proud to name it in memory of my parents, Sacha & Nitza. They loved to cook and this wine is the PERFECT food wine. It pairs with everything from light salads and crudité, to pastas, chicken, and fish.
With only 45 cases produced, this wine will not last!
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Kosher Drappier by Josh London
The Mid-Atlantic Kosher Wine Scene
Not quite Napa, but we got some exciting stuff going on https://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/kosher-wine-buzz-in-the-mid-atlantic/