The Jewish Week’s Grand Kosher Wine Tasting

Yesterday at the City Winery (155 Varick Street, NYC; Tel: 212.608.0555) The Jewish Week held its annual Grand Kosher Wine Tasting. The most prestigious wine distributors and importers were there with hundreds of wines from all over the world.

Partial views of the crowd…

As always many old friends and familiar faces were there…

Chaim Hezkel, from Liquors Galore, talking wine to an enrapt audience…

Yeruchum Rosenberg, Aron Ritter (center), from the Kosher Wine Society, and Dani Myers, trying to taste some wine…

Nineteen distributors and stores were showing off their best wines, spirits and cocktails, food was available at eight different tables representing meat restaurants, cheese distributors, sausage distributors and chocolate stores.

It wasn’t easy to photograph Brent Delman, TheCheeseGuy.com. His was one of the most popular tables, too many people around waiting to taste his products.

Gershon Bodner of Morad Wines, Estie Wartenberg of Recanati Wines, Shai Germezian of Allied Importers, Zaan Eksteen with Backsberg Wines, Ron Jordan who represents Taanug Wines from Spain, Mayer Jacobovits from Israeli Wines Direct, Michael from Skyview Wines & Spirits were, Shlomo Blashska and Jay Buchsbaum from Royal Wine Corporation were just some of the people manning the tables.

As always it was a pleasure to see Alyson Nathan from Abigael’s, and Yossi Horowitz, Esq., who over the last few weeks served as a judges –  in choosing the 18 Top Wines for each of the nine Jewish Week lists – together Miriam Morgenstern from Wine Spectator, and Aron Ritter from Kosher Wine Society among others.

Though I took copious notes, there were just too many wines to post on all of them, but I will discuss a few new selections I discovered here…

Backsberg Wines from South Africa…

Backsberg Chardonnay Paarl 2013 –  With a very fresh lemon, melon and hazelnut tones combine to a give it a delightful aroma; its natural acidity is balanced by sweet fruit flavors of white peach, providing a medium bodied palate with a long, rewarding finish.

Backsberg Brut Paarl – A strong flavored mix of green apple and pear, with a long refreshing finish.

Backsberg Pinotage 2011 – With strong mulberry and strawberry notes, with hints of herbs, all combining to a very fruity finish.

Taanug Cava – Three grape varieties (Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo), are fermented separately, then blended and fermented again together in the bottle for 12 months. Intensely fruity on the nose, it is smooth on the palate and has a long finish; with a pale straw color and considerable effervescence.

TheCheeseGuy.com featured a selection selection of cheeses including a very creamy brie style from Vermont (my new favorite!!). Sabra presented their hummus variations and Greek yogurt dips. La Brochette Restaurant, as expected, had a nice meat selection but they run out way to early. Grow and Behold served some delicious, juicy sausages. I only wish I hadn’t been too full to taste the rest of the food.

All in all it was a very enjoyable and educational evening, and of course… delicious!

CS

A Night of Wine and Art

This coming Wednesday the 23 of January (from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm), The Kosher Scene, as well as Recanati Winery, The Cheese Guy and World of Chantilly will be cosponsoring a Night of Wine and Art at the Igal Fedida Gallery,(1482 First Avenue, between 77 and 78 in Manhattan) together with the Kosher Wine Society.

Gil Shatsberg, winemaker at Recanati Winery will introduce us to wines ranging in price from the mid $20s to the mid $70s. The wine list includes:

• Recanati Shiraz 2011
• Recanati Rose 2011
• Reserve Merlot 2009
• Reserve Petit Syrah/ Zinfandel 2010
• Reserve Syrah/ Viognier 2010
• Reserve Wild Carignan
• Special Reserve Red 2007
• Special Reserve White 2010

Gil Shatsberg heads winemaking and vineyard management at Recanati Winery, one of Israel’s top five wine producers and an international standard bearer for fine quality Israeli wines. Shatsberg’s credentials include managing and making wine for seven years at the critically acclaimed Amphorae Vineyard. In early 2008, Gil took over from former Recanati winemaker Lewis Pasco, who left to pursue new career.

Our faithful readers are already familiar with Igal Fedida. Igal was born and raised in Israel, moved to the United States at an early age to pursue a successful business career in construction, design and remodeling. Being of curious and deeply spiritual nature, however, he decided to take some time to get to know the World and he traveled to many distant and unusual pockets of our home planet. He enjoyed drawing, sketching and design since an early age and he discovered the love for photography during his travels, capturing images of nature and people alike.

Returning to Los Angeles, he enrolled in intensive photography study program at the UCLA. Exploring the world of photography, his need for expression drove him to develop a unique form where he combined Polaroid photographs with water color in order to deepen the effect of the image. In doing so he discovered that his need to express the nature and the World that surrounds us far surpasses the limited potential of photography. Subsequently, as if an invisible hand pointed a direction, the magic door opened and he was pulled into the world of painting.

Completely self taught, over the time he developed his own fascinating style of contrasting images. His black and white collection clearly expresses his inner search of balance between order and chaos, good and evil and evermore constant yin and yang presence in life. On the opposite to this sharp collection stand abstracts filled with mesmerizing colors inspired by nature and God alike. Some of his paintings carry deep meanings about the creation and the world from ‘big bang” and Adam and Eve to modern day socialites while others are visually hypnotizing, energy filled abstracts of strikingly vivacious colors.

Brent Delman (thecheeseguy.com), will present us with a delectable selection of imported cheeses. World of Chantilly will bring us their superb selection of award winning pastries.

Please reserve your tickets at the Kosher Wine Society‘s website (space is limited as the gallery is small), for what promises to be an incredible Night of wine and Art, this coming Wednesday from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm (Eastern Time) at the Igal Fedida Gallery (1482 First Avenue, between 77 and 78 in Manhattan).

Hope to see there!

CS

RELATED POSTS

A Talk with Igal Fedida

A Night of Wine and Art – Part 2

Upcoming Wine Events

Sunday, March 4th

Gotham’s 9th Annual Kosher Wine Extravaganza

Where:

West Side Institutional Synagogue – 120 West 76Street, New York, NY 10023

When:

VIP Tasting: 1:00pm – 2:00pm – $60.00 per attendee
VIP tickets are entitled to attend the whole show.
Part1: Join Chief Winemaker Shiki Rauchberger of Teperberg Winery for a wine tasting showcasing wines from his iconic winery.
Part 2: Join Costas Mouzuras in a short tasting featuring some new and old treasures.

Early Admittance: 2:00pm – 3:00pm – $40.00
Enjoy chocolate samplers from ChocolateWorksNYC.com.
Cheese tasting sponsored by Anderson International Foods.
Join Brigitte Mizrahi from AIFoods and taste a huge selection of cheeses.

Be adventurous and try our chocolate and wine pairings, our cheese and wine pairings and… YES! will also be presenting TISHBI’s Fruit and Wine Preserves. What a heavenly combination!

General admission: 3:00 – 6:00pm – $30.00 ($35.00 at the door)

What:
Over 300 wines from offering a panoramic view of Kosher wines in today’s market. Sample amazing wines from every major vineyard from Israel, France, Italy, Spain, South America, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, United States and more at this annual Wine Extravaganza.

Taste and enjoy wines from wineries such as: Adar, Aldaz, Alexander, Baron Herzog, Barkan, Bartenura, Binyamina, Borgo Real, Bravdo, Capcanes, Carmel, Casa Da Corsa, Castell D’Olerodola, Chosen, Cordovero, Covenant, Dalton, Elvi, Domaine du Castel, Dovev, Drappier, Efrat, Ella Valley Vineyards, En Fuego, Five Stones, Flechas, Florenza, Gabriele, Gamla, Goose Bay, Guillermo, Gush Etzion, Harkham, Joseph River, K Wines, Kinneret, Lan Zur, Laurent Perrier, Luis de Sacy, Mony, Noah, Notte Italiana, Odem Mountain, D’Owyers, Or Haganuz, Pacifica, Psagot, Ramon, Rashi, Recanati, Segals, Shiloh, Tabor, Teal Lake, Teperberg, The Cave, Tierra Salvaje, Tishbi, Tzora, Vignobles David, Weinstock, Yatir, Yogev, exciting new wineries from France, and many many more.

Get your tickets at Gotham Wine & Liquors‘ website.

—-)OoO(—-

Sunday, March 11th

Where:
City Winery – 155 Varick Street, (between Spring and Vandam Streets) – New York, New York 10013

When:
2:00 to 5:00pm

What:
Over 100 of the best Kosher wines from around the world!

• Taste exciting new Kosher wines,  including the winners of The Jewish Week‘s recent Top 18 Kosher Wine Competition.
• Meet Kosher wine vintners, wine experts and local retailers
• Enjoy food from various leading NYC Kosher restaurants and food companies

 $35 in advance/$40 at the door

Pick up a free copy of  The Jewish Week‘s Kosher Wine Guide packed with great ideas for food pairings, as well as the Top 18 Kosher Wines in 8 categories, and more.

DO NOT MISS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL NOT REPEAT ITSELF FOR ANOTHER YEAR!!!

SYR and I expect to attend both events, we’ll we meet you there?

CS

Pre-Chanukah Wine Tasting

This past Tuesday, Kosher Revolution author Geila Hocherman and I attended the Kosher Wine Society‘s Pre-Chanukah Wine Tasting Extravaganza. They featured eight Cabernet Sauvignon selections:

• Psagot Cabernet Sauvignon ’09
• Barkan Cabernet Sauvignon ’07
• Weinstock Cellars Select Cabernet Sauvignon ’09
• Teperberg Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon ’10
• Dalton Estate Cabernet Sauvignon ’10
• Hagafen Cabernet Sauvignon ’08
• Golan Cabernet Sauvignon ’09
• Gilgal Cabernet Sauvignon ’07

A tablefull of Cabernet Sauvignon types...

In addition, other selections included:

• Binyamina Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ’09
• Lanzur Reserva Pinot Noir ’10
• Chateau Bellerives Dubois Bordeaux ’10
• Le Mourre De L’Isle Cotes du Rhone ’10
• Teperberg Malbec ’09
• Gush Etzion Cabernet Franc ’07
• Gush Etzion Emek Bracha Dry Red Wine ’06
• Gush Etzion Nachal Hapirim, Dry Red Wine ’07
• Gush Etzion Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot ’06

In addition there were also:

• L’ChaimVodka
• Binyamina Chocolate Liqueur

Crackers, cheese, grapes and more helped neutralize the taste buds before sampling a different wine.

We started with the Psagot Cabernet Sauvignon ’09, for both of us this one turned out to be best of the bunch, we loved it. Dark garnet in color with silky tannins, showing oak on the nose and opening to aromas and flavors of black and red currants and citrus-peel, followed by vanilla and a lingering smokiness. Though very good, I still prefer the ’08 vintage which I’ve tasted before.

We followed with the Teperberg Terra Malbec ’09, dark – in typical Malbec fashion – and full bodied. Soft tannins finely balanced with spicy wood and fruits. On the palate one discerned plums, black cherries and wild berries balanced with notes of cinnamon, ending with a long finish of espresso coffee. While we both liked it, Geila preferred the Psagot, I found this Teperberg better.

In totally opposition to the norm we then tasted a white wine, Binyamina Reserve Sauvignon Blanc ’09. Pale straw in color, it opens with notes of grapefruit and lime, giving way to stony minerals with hints of asparagus. Nicely aromatic.

We went back to red wine with a Dalton Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, dark colored and well balanced with notes of currants, berries and mint well complimented with the subtle vanilla flavors of French oak.

We also liked the Gush Etzion Cabernet Franc 2007. Dark garnet, medium bodied with lots of soft tannins and notes of vanilla from the French oak casks where it aged for 18 months. On the palate it showed a rich array of blackberries, currant, black cherries giving way to Mediterranean herbs and saddle leather.

We capped the evening’s selection of potables with a L’Chaim Vodka. Very smooth and tasty!

Rabbi Mikhael Cohen, from the FJCCNY

Rabbi Mikhael Cohen of the French Jewish Cultural Center of New York (67 Wall Street; Phone: 212.202.1448 – Cell: 917.796.0680), spoke of Chanuka and its significance today.

Providing the musical entertainment...

During the tasting we are accompanied by the musical sounds of Yiddish and Israeli classics. All and all an enjoyable evening of good wines and great conversation.

CS

RELATED POSTS

Last Eve’s Wine Tasting, this Evening’s Show

Last Eve’s Wine Tasting, this Evening’s Show

Last evening there was a superb wine tasting at the West Side Synagogue’s Zanger Hall (347 West 34th Street) in Manhattan. The Kosher Wine Society presented New Wines for the New Year. I’ve been to many a wine tasting in my lifetime, but this one was truly different; unlike most kosher tastings, it included a cookbook author, food products, painters and a musical trio.

June Hersh, author of Recipes Remembered – featuring recipes and incredible stories from 80 Holocaust survivors – and the brand new Kosher Carnivore was our first interviewee of the evening. You must hear the eloquent words with which describe her passion for Jews and her love of food.

Bass, violin and tsimbl

From nostalgic old shtetl tunes to Hungarian czardasz we were regaled with klezmer sound that meshed Jewish nigunnim with Gipsy soul!

Aleks Veyg's Natural Flavored Honey

I tasted Veyg’s Natural Wild Flower, Lemon Zest and Peanut Butter honey flavors. All three were great, but, the Lemon Zest was my personal favorite!

A small sampling of Arianna Santoriello's paintings...

Arianna Santoriello, whom we interviewed, is a young mixed media artist who markedly shows the growing fires of inspiration

Rabbi Mikhael Cohen of the French Jewish Cultural Center of New York (67 Wall Street; Phone: 212.202.1448 – Cell: 917.796.0680), was instrumental in bringing the artists and musician to the tasting, thereby, greatly enhancing this event.

Aron Ritter and his father

Aron Ritter, President and Founder of the Kosher Wine Society, and his staff made it a superb evening so different, so delicious. SYR and I met old friends and made new ones, so many wines, so many fascinating people, so little time… truly a tasting to remember!

This evening at 7:30pm (Eastern Time) on our internet radio show, we will feature some of the pre-taped interviews. Meanwhile, if you missed our two broadcasts last week, you can listen to our delightful talk with David Mintz – CEO of Tofutti Brands, Inc. and our conversation with Geila Hocherman, the French trained Chef/author of Kosher Revolution, a beautifully executed cookbook which we’ll review on these very pages.

CS

Talking with David Mintz

Who hasn’t tasted Tofutti‘s Better Pecan ice-cream, or the brand’s Tofutti Cuties? Tofutti, the company, evolved far beyond its founder’s dreams, it has almost become a household word throughout most of the country rather than just a brand.

Our guest this evening (8:00om Eastern Time) on The Kosher Scene’s Internet Radio Show will be David Mintz, CEO of Tofutti Brands, Inc. a company whose products products are all soy-based. We will talk about what brought him to create a super successful line of dairy free products and how he evolved from his beginnings as a Brooklyn delicatessen owner, his quasi-obsession with creating delicious dairy-tasting food that was parve and the company’s newest products.

If you missed our last broadcast, you can hear it here. Our guest were – for the first half hour – award winning documentary cinematographer and author Joseph Dorman and Aron Ritter from the Kosher Wine Society for the second half.

Why not listen in this evening to a fun, informative talk with David Mintz, at 8:00pm (Eastern Time) today on BlogTalkRadio.com?

We’ll be waiting for you!

CS

This Week’s Events…

Monday, September 12th:

Lévana Kirschenbaum resumes her weekly cooking demo (Cooking and a Show) series this evening:

Upcoming Cooking Demo in NYC: Monday September 12th: Asian Feast. Gluten-Free

You may have trouble going back to ordering in a Chinese restaurant after you realize how superior homemade is, thanks to all the glorious  Asian flavors. We will never know why Chinese cookies are called Chinese, but we do know they are fabulous! 

I’ll be demonstrating:

• Mock Crab salad
• Hot and sour egg drop soup
• Steamed chicken breasts with shitaki and baby bok choy
• Vegetable fried rice
• Chinese Cookies

Click Here to Register!

Tuesday, September 13th

Read until the end for an amazing 2 for 1 deal! Aron Ritter, founder and President of The Kosher Wine Society presents:

SPECIAL TASTING WITH ALEX HARUNI!

Join us for the season’s first sit-down guided wine tasting with Alex Haruni, owner of Dalton Winery.

Sign up today to meet Alex and taste his newest wines!

Tuesday September 13, 2011

7:30 – 9:30 PM

Zanger Hall
347 West 34th street
New York, NY 10001

Price: $65.00

Wine List Includes:

Dalton Alma White (Chardonnay-Viognier) 2010
Dalton Alma (Cab Sauv-Merlot-Cab Franc) 2009
Dalton Alma Smv (Shiraz-Mourvedre-Viognier) 2009
Dalton Estate Shiraz 2009
Dalton Reserve Shiraz 2007

Event Sponsor:
Allied Importers
Dalton Winery

Although the price is $65.00 per person for the above tasting, you can a 2 for 1 deal IF you email: info@kosherwinesociety.com AND mention The Kosher Scene Radio Internet Show OR The Kosher Scene blog and my first name (Chaim). at: info@kosherwinesociety.com. You must contact them today, no later than 6:30pm. Tell them you want the 2 for 1 deal.

I hope to meet you, gentle reader, I’ll be at both of these events.

CS

No Radio Show This Evening

Photo from: HowStuffWorks.com

I got back from Richmond, VA, this morning where I had some important family business to take care of. My guest for this evening had his own emergency. The show I pre-taped earlier needs some editing and there was no  time left before show time; we will have a 60 minute show tomorrow evening, instead, with three guests.

Our guests will be award winning documentary filmmaker and author Joseph Dorman, founder of Riverside Films he will talk to us about his current movie showing around the country: Sholom Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness. In the second half of the show we will host Aron Ritter, President of the Kosher Wine Society and Alex Haruni, owner of the Dalton Winery in Israel

Please listen to our show tomorrow evening, at 7:30pm (Eastern Time) on BlogTalkRadio. See you there!

CS

This Eve’s Radio Show

Last Wednesday, the 27th of April 2011, we featured Sara Lasry Leizerowsky. Mrs. Leizerowsky authored two cookbooks (The Dairy Gourmet and The At Home Gourmet, published by Israel Bookshop), for eight years she owned and successfully operated Tastebuds – a dairy restaurant in Lakewood, NJ. Charming and witty, if you missed our conversation when it aired, you can hear the whole conversation on BlogTalkRadio.

This evening’s guest will be Aron Ritter, founder and president of the Kosher Wine Society.

Aron Ritter started the Kosher Wine Society in 2005. KWS has, since then, risen to become synonymous with the best kosher wine workshops presenting potables from around the world, expert speakers and food and wine pairings, including at such venues as some of NYC’s most prestigious kosher restaurants.

We will talk about the development of the Israeli wine industry, from biblical times, to the beginning of modern development in the 19th century to today. Mr. Ritter will talk about some of the boutique wineries and some Israel’s international award winning wines. We will also discuss KWS‘ upcoming events.

Tune us in here. If you have any questions for Aron, or any comments, we invite you to call in at 714.333.3357.

Don’t forget, The Kosher Scene Radio Show, airs tonight from 8:00pm to 8:30pm, Eastern Time. It will be a very informative evening with a discussion of some of the best kosher wines on the market today. We hope your computers will be tuned in to us, as we look forward to hearing from you.

CS

Scotch, Bourbon, Cigars…

This past Tuesday I attended Kosher Wine Society‘s event at the Roger Smith Hotel, on Lexington Avenue, in Manhattan. Aron Ritter, the Society’s president and founder celebrated his 30th birthday, this event was held in the Solarium, a roof balcony. The view was nice, the potables more than memorable.

Aron Ritter, the birthday boy

The event featured some rare but superb scotches, great bourbons and – for the smokers – some good cigars.

Superb selections!

I started with the Usquaebach [pronounced whisk-ay-bay] ‘Premium Blend’ Flagon. It consists of an 85% single malt blend and 15% grain whiskey. With a fruity nose carrying a vanilla sweetness, it runs to a grassy, herbal freshness. The very smooth rich palate is balanced with ample spiciness. The sweet character lingers on in the finish with Caribbean spices. Unusual in character and richness, definitely the best I ever tasted!

I followed with Usquaebach 15YO Pure Malt. Very nice, very smooth!

A partial view of the crowd

After some photo shooting and pleasant conversation I had some Glenmorangie 10 year old. It’s long been my favorite, it has an enigmatic aroma, delicate but very noticeable, sweet but with a strong hint of dryness, young yet oaky. On the palate it combines an oaky taste, a complex toastiness to the barley, with the lightest hint of smoke. I find it uncompromising from the first sniff to the last sip. Why else would it have been my favorite?

After some more photography and comparing notes on the scotches I went back for the bourbons. I always liked Blanton’s Single Barrel, it won a Siver Medal at the 2008 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION. The taste has a masterful start with powerful dry vanilla notes in perfect harmony with hints of honey and strong caramel. The long, creamy caramel holds the fort until some late soft peppers arrive to spice things up. Smooth, superb selection!

I ended the evening with the Eagle Rare 10 Year Old, Single Barrel, Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Honey-colored with aromas of toasted wheat bread and hints of tobacco, opening up to almond butter, melon and lanolin. On the palate it is oily and toasty with flavors of cereal grains and oak. The finish is long and sweet with a little spice.

From the ledge, looking around

An event I’ll long remember, I will definitely be back!

CS