Jay Buchsbaum, Royal Wine Corporation
On Monday, February 6, 2023, Kosher food and wine aficionadas gathered at Chelsea Piers Pier 60 in New York City for another fabulous Kosher Food & Wine Experience. Produced by Royal Wine Corp., the company also produces the KFWE in Los Angeles, London, and Tel Aviv.
Crave Soughdough
With wines and spirits offered from the around the world, and delicious food from Crave Sourdough, Marble & Grain, Miele Gelato & Sorbet, Pizza Box, Sushi Tokyo, Tuscanini, and Wall Street Grill, KFWE was a world-class experience of excellence that began at 3:00 pm and ended at 9:00 pm. Whether your taste ran to champagne, white, red, rosé, dry or sweet wines, or if you preferred distilled spirits, there was something to be enjoyed for every palate.
KFWE 2023 – Participating Wineries – New York City
Argentina
Flechas de Los Andes
Sforno
Australia
Teal Lake
France
Château Léoville Poyferré Saint Julien
Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac
Château Giscours Margaux
Château Lascombes Margaux
Château Meyney Saint-Estèphe
Château Saint-Corbian Saint-Estèphe
Château Malartic-Lagravière Pessac-Léognan
Château Piada Sauternes
Château Clarke Listrac-Médoc
Château Fourcas Dupré Listrac Médoc
Château de Parsac Montagne Saint-Emilion
Château Les Laurets Puisseguin Saint-Emilion
Château La Tonnelle Haut-Médoc
Château Lamothe-Cissac Haut-Médoc
Château Rollan de By Médoc
Château La Clare Médoc
Château Greysac Médoc
Château Les Riganes Bordeaux
Château Trijet Bordeaux
Château Mayne Guyon Bordeaux
Château Le Petit Chaba Bordeaux
Château d’Arveyres Bordeaux Supérieur
Château Genlaire Bordeaux Supérieur
Château Lacaussade Saint-Martin Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux
Château Fontenil Fronsac
Château Montviel Pomerol
Château Fayat Pomerol
Château Royaumont Lalande-de-Pomerol
Château Bellefont-Belcier Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Les Roches de Yon-Figeac Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Château Roubine Cru Classé Côtes de Provence
Château Sainte-Béatrice Côtes de Provence
Champagne Drappier
Champagne Barons de Rothschild
J. de Villebois Loire Valley
Domaine Ternynck-Les Marronniers Burgundy
Koenig Alsace
Israel
Carmel
Yatir
Barkan
Segal
Teperberg
Binyamina
Tabor
Psagot
Shiloh
Domaine du Castel
Razi’el
Vitkin
Netofa
Ephod
Odem Mountain
Nana Estate
Flam
Tura
Alexander
Zion
1848
Covenant Israel
Flegmann
Matar by Pelter
Or Haganuz
Tulip
Tzuba
Nadiv
Stoudemire
Italy
Bartenura
Ovadia Estates
Terra di Seta
Vera Wang Party
New Zealand
Goose Bay
Edmond de Rothschild Rimapere
South Africa
J. Folk
ESSA
Spain
Ramon Cardova
Elvi Wines
Clos Mesorah
Cellar de Capçanes
United States
Herzog Wine Cellars – CA
Sonoma Loeb – Sonoma
Covenant – CA
Hajdu – CA
Hagafen – Napa Valley
Marciano Estate – Napa Valley
Padis – Napa Valley
Pacifica – Washington
A Few of the Wines Tasted during the KFWE
From California, United States: Terra Gratia Marciano 2018 Kosher Estate Red, Napa Valley (14.8% alc.), and Herzog Late Harvest Old Vine Zinfandel, Mokelumne River region of Lodi (14% alc.).
From Israel: Tura Estate Winery Mountain Heights Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Judean Hills (14% alc.), Carmel Signature Limited Edition 2019, Galilee, a blend of 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon 25%, and Petit Verdot (14.5%), Or Haganuz OROT Series, French Blend 2018, Galilee, a blend of 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, and 17% Petit Verdot (14% alc.), 1848 Special Reserve 2016, Galilee, 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Petit Verdot (14% alc.), and Odem Mountain "Alfasi" Special Edition, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah (15%) from Israel’s northernmost winery.
From France: Château Montviel Pomerol 2020, Vignobles Parent, 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc (13.5% alc.), Champagne Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Urville, 80% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Meunier, (12% alc.), Champagne Barons De Rothschild, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, (12% alc.), and Château Bellefont-Belcier Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe 2020, 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (14.5%).
KFWE 2023 – Participating Spirits – New York City
Adictico
Cava de Oro
Jelinek
Palica de Maramures
Ron Abuelo
Deau Cognac
Rolland Bru
Maison Royale
USCO
XDAR
XM
Casa Maestri
Don Ramon
Skelly
Tita Doña Celia
Togouchi
Antioqueño
La Puerta Negra
Los Generales
Mexxo
Zarza
Boondocks (Bourbon)
LVOV
Tomintoul
Glencadam
Bokobsa
Lusty Claw
Ron Viejo de Caldas
Cristal
Alouf
Baha
Stamford
Voda
Gava
Old Williamsburg
Dead Drop
Varchas
Upstate (Apple Vodka)
Padre Azul
Padrecito
Xiaman Mezcal
Knocktails
Bicern
Distlillerie Massenez
Sabra
Walders
Cooloo
Ben Eideann
Heavens
Schmerlings
A Sampling of the Spirits Tasted
In addition to sampling wines, here are a few of the spirts tasted: New York State is known for its apple orchards and Sauvage Distillery celebrates that with its Upstate Vodka made from apples. Also interesting was Boondocks 6-year Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Barrels made in Kentucky by Master Distiller David E. Scheurich, and Lusty Claw Bourbon Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey aged for a minimum of 3 years (45% abv). Also sampled was DEAU Cognac "Black" from France (40% abv) that was truly exceptional and a cognac for cognac connoisseurs with a retail price around $200 per bottle.
Kosher Wine Terminology
While the KFWE’s focus was on showcasing wines kosher for Passover, these exceptional wines would be equally at home anytime of the year. On the back of kosher wine labels, they will note if they are "Kosher," "Kosher for Passover" and if they are "Mevushal," or "Not Mevushal." A "U" means that it is a Kosher wine, and "P" indicates that it is Kosher for Passover.
For those new to the terminology for Kosher Wines, Royal Wine Corp. notes: "A big misconception about kosher wine is that it’s made differently from non-kosher wine, or it’s been "blessed" by a Rabbi. In fact, kosher and non-kosher wines are made the same way, it’s just the handling that is a little different. In order for wine to be kosher it must adhere to the following: A Sabbath-observing Jew to handle the process. Each and every ingredient added, whether infiltration or clarification along the vinification process must be kosher. All tools and equipment must be dedicated to kosher winemaking alone. Aside from the constraints mentioned above, there needn’t be any difference between the techniques used to make a fine kosher wine or a fine non-kosher wine."
Royal Wine Corp. defines the term "mevushal" as: "…the most misunderstood term in the kosher wine tradition. In Hebrew, mevushal means literally boiled. However, mevushal wines are not heated to a boiling temperature. Thanks to modern-day technology, mevushal wines are flash pasteurized to a temperature that meets the requirements of an overseeing rabbi. The technique does not noticeably harm the wine. In fact, flash-pasteurization is used at a number of very well-known non-kosher wineries, where it is thought to improve certain aromatics. For Jews, however, the technique simply alters the spiritual quality of a kosher wine, making it less susceptible to ritual proscription. That means anyone-whether kosher or not-can open a bottle of mevushal wine and have it retain its kosher status. Non-mevushal, wines are more sensitive to religious constraints and must be opened and poured only by Sabbath-observant Jews."
Until next time, cheers and Bon Appetit!
About the Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE)
"The Kosher Food & Wine Experience is produced each year by the Royal Wine Corporation and includes shows in New York City and Los Angeles as well as worldwide events in London and Tel Aviv."
About The Royal Wine Corporation/Kedem
"Founded in 1848, Royal Wine Corp. has been owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking roots date back eight generations to 19th century Czechoslovakia. Today, Royal Wine Corp is the leading producer, importer and distributor of kosher wines and spirits, headquartered in Bayonne, NJ, offers more than 300 brands in its portfolio including Bartenura Moscato, the best-selling Italian Moscato in America."
"The company owns and operates the Kedem Winery in upstate New York, with a tasting room and gift shop as well as Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard, California, a state-of-the-art-facility featuring guided wine tours, a fully staffed modern tasting room, gift shop and catering facilities. Additionally, the Oxnard winery houses the award-winning restaurant Tierra Sur, serving the finest Mediterranean inspired contemporary California Cuisine."
For information on attending the next KFWE in New York, Los Angeles, London, or Tel Aviv, please visit the website: www.KFWE.com. The event tends to sell out, so if interested in attending, be sure to purchase quickly.
For information on Royal Wine Corporation, please visit their website: www.RoyalWine.com
Royal Wine Corporation
63 LeFante Way
Bayonne, New Jersey 07002
United States
Email: Info@RoyalWine.com
Website: www.RoyalWine.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RoyalWineCorp/
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/royalwinecorp
KFWE
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