Posted at 20:20h in Kosher by Avi 0 Comments In 2007, Israeli winemaker Shuki Yashuv of Agur Winery surrendered the right to touch his own wine when he turned his winery kosher. Despite being Jewish, Shuki is not considered a “kosher worker.” Host David Rhodes also meets winemaker Shiki Rauchberger at Teperberg, Israel’s oldest kosher winery, to understand how kosher wine is made and who is allowed to make it. Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz, Senior Rabbi at the Orthodox Union, sets […]

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Posted at 18:00h in Reviews, Wine industry by 3 Comments Israel boasts a new champagne (traditional) method sparkling wine from the Golan Heights Winery – the Gamla Brut. This sparkling Israeli wine has just appeared on the shelves – I first saw it on Sunday in Tel Aviv. The Gamla Brut N.V. is half pinot noir and half chardonnay – a common feature of champagnes from France. This Israeli sparkling wine was made in the traditional method of secondary fermentation […]

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Posted at 21:24h in Wines by Avi 0 Comments The following is from wines-israel and reprinted with permission Colombard is little known, but it is the most planted white wine variety in Israel. It first came to Israel in the 1970’s, but since then has been mainly used in white wine blends. It was the most planted variety in California until the 1990’s when it was overtaken by Chardonnay.Both in Israel and California, it is more often known by the […]

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Posted at 23:40h in Wines by Avi 4 Comments As much as we might not like, sometimes we get gifts of so-called Kiddish wine. In New York, it’s made with Concord Grapes. In Israel, (even when called Concord), it may not be as rancid as Manishewitz, but it’s still not something I want to drink in my cup. Several months ago, I solicited suggestions for what to do with kiddush wine. Here were the results: What would you do?

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Posted at 16:42h in Events by Avi 0 Comments Carmel Winery is celebrating its 120th year of harvests. The first harvest to be received by Rishon Le Zion Wine Cellars was on August 3rd 1890. Soon the 2010 harvest will begin, which will be the 120th by Israel’s most historic winery. To celebrate this, a special Symphony has been composed by Gil Shohat. The premiere peformance of this unique work will be performed by The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra at Carmel’s […]

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Posted at 12:55h in Reviews, Wine industry by Avi 1 Comment Galil Mountain Winery, one of the best new world wineries in Israel, has just launched a new wine, which is going to replace their Yiron Syrah. Called the Meron, it is a blend of 78% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 11% Petit Verdot. It is now available in Israel’s best wine shops and, I hear, highly recommended. I have not yet had a chance to pick up this fine […]

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Posted at 21:25h in Wine industry by Avi 0 Comments For immediate release Washington, DC August 6, 2012. The International Wine Review (IWR) announces the release of its 32nd Report “The New Wines of Israel. The report is based on extensive research and travel in Israel by a team consisting of Publisher Michael Potashnik and Editor Donald Winkler in collaboration with Joel Butler, MW, a member of the IWR’s Tasting Panel. The report provides a comprehensive look at Israel’s growing […]

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Posted at 21:54h in Events, Reviews by David Rhodes 2 Comments     The Jerusalem Wine Festival is the largest and most widely attended wine festival in Israel with tens of thousands attending over four nights. Traditionally, and now it’s in its 9th year, the festival is held at Jerusalem’s revered Israel Museum during the week of Tu Ba’av , which is both Jewish “Valentine’s Day” and a celebration of the beginning of wine grapes being harvested in Israel. Wine festivals can […]

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Posted at 08:59h in Wine industry by Avi 0 Comments Delicious Rewards for Good Deeds and Celebrated Wines     An enticing menu has been announced for the 10th Annual Golden Cluster’s Awards Gala Dinner, what’s billed as the “Oscars of Israeli Wines.” The proceeds from this year’s dinner will go to the Schneider’s Children’s Medical Center of Israel. This well anticipated festive evening will be held at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv June 18th featuring an array of gourmet […]

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Holiday Shopping – Parts I & II As you probably already know, the weeks leading up to Pessach are the US kosher wine industry’s busiest with more kosher wine being sold during this period than the rest of the year combined. As the popularity of quality kosher wine continues to increase, the quality and variety of wines available to the kosher wine consumer are truly astounding. While obviously a blessing, the tremendous choice can make for a somewhat stressful shopping […]

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