Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Subscribe
There are many major wine events that take place at this time of year, but Monday night, I attended one in New York that while possibly more under-the-radar than most, was extremely eye-opening: the Royal Wine Corp. Kosher Food and Wine Experience. Over 700 people attended and tasted wines poured from France, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and beyond, including the sought-after To Kalon vineyard in Napa Valley. Among those present were Israel’s premier wine critic, Daniel Rogov and Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV. Of course, every bottle was kosher.
As an attendee of the event, I felt the excitement of the kosher wine revolution taking place. Serious noting of kosher wines really started when Israeli wines began receiving 90-point ratings. Our 2008 Top 100 Best Buys list this year even includes a kosher wine (Golan Heights 2007 Moscato, Galilee). Sure there are some kosher clunkers, but there are some really impressive examples as well. Whether kosher wine is personally relevant to you or not, as a savvy wine drinker, you owe it to yourself to be aware of this emerging trend.
Recent circumstances in my life have forced me to pay attention to these wines and with Monday’s event, it’s clear that I’m not the only one. Here are 10 favorite kosher wines that hail from all over the world, and I promise will wow you.
Covenant Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Napa Valley ($100) Lush, fruit-forward Cabernet from single vineyards of Napa Valley, produced by contributing editor of the magazine, Jeff Morgan and Leslie Rudd of Rudd Winery.
Chateau Giscours, Margaux 2001, Kosher ($65) From a classified 3rd growth estate that makes non-kosher wine as well that are typically rated in the 90’s. It’s elegant with berry notes and soft tannins. The kosher version is produced every other year.
Flechas de Los Andes Gran Reserva Malbec 2007, Uco Valley, Argentina ($35) A joint venture between Baron Benjamin de Rothschild and Laurent Dassault, located on the foothills of the Andes. It’s a rich, smooch Malbec with a lingering finish.
Hai, The Patriots 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Judean Hills, Israel ($15) Juicy Cabernet Sauvignon with dark berry aromas.
Domaine Du Castel Grand Vin 2005, Judean Hills ($65) A left-bank Bordeaux blend of predominately Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Petit Verdot. Produced near Jerusalem by a family estate. It has a profound nose of plum and cherry with a round, full body and a lingering finish. This is truly an elite kosher wine and my personal favorite.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 “Laureline” Dom. St. Benoît ($35) A CDP of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah with beautiful balance and ripe, blackberry fruit.
Yarden NV Champagne Blend, Galilee, Israel ($20)- A nice sparkler with toasty yeast aromas and some hints of vanilla. Rated 86-88 points.
Baron Herzog Special Reserve 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley ($35) From one of the largest producers of kosher wine in California, this is a complex and rare Cabernet Sauvignon.
Goose Bay Pinot Gris 2007, New Zealand ($19) A clean, mouthfilling Pinot Gris with hints of citrus and peach and a smooth finish. Though Goose Bay (and new Zealand itself) is more well-known for Sauvignon Blanc, the Pinot Gris is its unsung hero.
Flor de Primavera Peraj Ha’abib, Capcanes 2005, Montsant Spain($40) A blend of Carinena, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Garnacha, this is a complex Spanish wine with rich plum and floral notes on the nose with a hint of oak. It’s dense and rich on the palate with dark fruits and a lingering finish.
*prices are estimates
The problem with great kosher wine these days, as you notice above, is that the best examples have prime price points. Finding a well-crafted kosher wine at an affordable price can be a treasure hunt. I have faith though, that with new global producers emerging, and the revolution of interest in diverse kosher wines, prices can creep down as demand climbs up. Maybe it starts with you?
Filed under: Kosher Wine
8 Comments
8 Responses to “Ahem! Kosher Wines Demand Your Attention”
Please Wait
February 25th, 2009 at 3:04:56 PM
If you’re interested in kosher wines from Israel (not all kosher wines come from Israel and not all Israeli wines are kosher) than I cover Israeli wines from Jerusalem @ my blog (israeli-wine.org). A lot of what you’re just discovering is old news here!
February 26th, 2009 at 3:10:19 AM
The Toby Press is the proud publisher of Rogov’s Annual Guide to Israeli Wines, the definitive guide to wine produced in Israel. In the 2009 edition, Israel’s leading wine critic, Daniel Rogov (who you mention), describes, sorts, and ranks nearly 2,000 wines, many of which are kosher (so noted in the guide). Next year, for the first time, we will publish Mr. Rogov’s Guide to Kosher Israeli Wines, as this market is growing rapidly.
http://www.amazon.com/Rogovs-Guide-Israeli-Wines-2009/dp/1592642527/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235631606&sr=1-1
February 26th, 2009 at 4:01:08 AM
Nice stuff Erika!
I did a quick entry about the event as well. Although I prefer to separate the two, it is fabulous to see you writing about kosher & Israeli wines (both here and on your personal blog!).
Look forward to more of your writings.
February 28th, 2009 at 6:03:45 PM
Actually, Hagafen Cellars on Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley has been making 90+ point wines for thirty years–and their average prices are $20-$40. I especially like their Pinot. I love the fact that it’s a family-owned winery and not a corporate venture. Nice people!
April 12th, 2009 at 7:16:20 PM
Hello to Sheryl from Toby Press-glad to hear that you will be publishing a Guide to Kosher Israeli Wines. Maybe Mr. Rogov can leave out condescending comments he regularly likes to make about those who keep kosher.
April 21st, 2009 at 8:22:53 AM
I will be working at an Israeli winery this year’s harvest and I have been drinking Israeli wine for the last 4 years, and I can say that you did not even come close to listing the best Israeli wines. Yatir was by far the most notable winery in Israel, this year, and there are a lot of other smaller wineries, who might not get in the 90’s but are sure to give you a high 80 every time.
As an observant Jew I can say that the care that is put into a kosher wine goes far beyond that of a non kosher wine. The people who handle the grapes, from the time they are picked to the time that the wine is poured into the bottle, feel the importance of what they are doing. They understand what the wine will be used for and make sure that the wine is of the highest level.
except for organic wineries, I can not see many other wineries that bring this much care into their product.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:30:44 AM
Hi David– Thanks for the input and suggestions. I was by no means trying to create an exhaustive list of all of the good kosher wines out there, I know that there are many more! I applaud your passion for kosher wines though and I hope the rest of the world will soon follow suit.
April 25th, 2009 at 4:29:28 PM
Thanks for the kind words Erika and on your next glass of wine I wish you a “L’Chaim” (to life in Hebrew).