Kosher wine news, education and advocacy for kosher wine consumers
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!
Flipbook link here, web site here: Kudos Elizabeth Kratz and judges and writers.
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."
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.
https://dmag.washingtonjewishweek.com/February-27-2025/index.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=Delivra&utm_campaign=022725
My Feb 13, 2025 article in the Washington Jewish Week focused on Pontet Canet, the wine some think is the best kosher wine ever made - the 2003 vintage that is. Link to the article here, page 23 if it doesnt take you there directly. Copy below:
I had a blast meeting winemakers, seeing friends and tasting wines at KFWE NY this week. Kenny Friedman has a great write up here, check it out.
I will add some of my takeaways soon - the event is currently open only to the trade.
Biggest NY wine event in 2025 that is open to the public.
VIP room this year... Feb 6 in Brooklyn.
Kosher Wine Unfiltered - Avi tastes and reviews some interesting new Portuguese kosher wines.
