Kosher Kings. Are Kosher Wines the Steals of this Era?

Kosher Kings. Are Kosher Wines the Steals of this Era? – Episode #297

August 21, 2007

Kosher wines have a cloud over their heads and to be honest they have deserved it up to about 3-4 years ago. Gary Vaynerchuk tastes what should be 3 serious Kosher wines!

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Comments on this episode(213) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: I’ve never had kosher wine….” by ulu ulu ulu ulu
“QOTD: I’ve never had any kosher wine. I don’t care about “kosherness”…” by Phredd
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2002 Pardess Reserve MerlotIsraeli Kosher Wine
2003 Hevron Heights Syrah ReserveIsraeli Kosher Wine
2005 Covenant Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (kosher)Other California Kosher

213 Responses

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August 21, 2007

italianwinelover
wow…92 to a 69! Yikes must have been pretty bad

QOTD: Yes I have had one, but it was a Moscato fru-fru wine that I had to taste out..of course everyone loved it but it was way to light & fruity.
August 21, 2007

Kevin Ko-val-chik
QOTD: I had been thinking more about buying a $20+ Kosher, but now I think I may hold off. None of those reviews were exactly glowing.
August 21, 2007

Elliot Essman
No kosher wines in my experience, but I look forward to the general episode on Israeli wines.
August 21, 2007

WineShopChic
The look on your face in response to the Covenant Napa Cab was priceless*** We’ve had a few Kosher wines at our wine shop over the years. I think Barkan (among others), which wasn’t horrible – honest. In general, not much of a market for $$$ …. but I suppose there is a time and a place for every wine.
August 21, 2007

Shadowbird
QOTD: No trans-$20 koshers, but I have had kosher wine before. It’s donated to my church for use in communion by a parishioner who runs a liquor store. (God, I love my church.)
August 21, 2007

Steve Garfield
Hi Gary,

I enjoyed this episode, but too bad none of the wines were that great. When we go to friends house for Passover each year we bring wine and pick different ones, always trying to find something good, like the wines we drink the rest of the year. I’ll have to check out some of the wines other viewers mentioned in the comments.

I just sent you an email to let you know about a videoblog I produce with Nina Simonds called Spices of Life.

You and your viewers might like today’s episode:

Wine Tasting Myths Exposed.
http://spicesoflife.com/2007/08/21/wine-tasting-myths-exposed/

Enjoy,
–Steve
August 21, 2007

melissa vv
I’m a newbie.

QOTD: No, can’t say that I have.
August 21, 2007

Russ J
Kerry Rhodes over Ed Reed? Gibril Wilson rules…….!!??

QOTD: No.
August 21, 2007

Brad
Preconceived notions baby! Jets suck, get your own stadium! I’ll say that everyday you blas the blue…can’t wait till we hose your gumby ass on the field.
Try Jean Luc Thunevin’s Valandraud kosher…expensive as hell, but perhaps @ the top of the kosher scale- vintage dependant of course…
August 21, 2007

Ben N.
QOTD: No
August 21, 2007

Dave Canada
I have the perfect shirt for you to where on WLTV some day…. can’t wait
QOTD – Never had a kosher wine but did order a half case of Chateau Malmaison 2005 which is kosher from what I hear so we’ll see…
August 21, 2007

JoeG
QOTD: Never had a kosher wine.

Sorry to see that the Covenant didn’t hold up…there go my perceptions, for now at least. Got any suggestions for some good, entry-level (sub $20) kosher wines?
August 21, 2007

NathanN
Never seen that look on your face before after you had the Covenant.

QOTD: Nope
August 21, 2007

Christopher T
Get your own stadium! Sorry, had to say it…

QOTD: Nope
August 21, 2007

David S
Wondering why you didn’t change glasses, or swish with still or mineral water.

Maybe get that Giants fan to do it for you, or better yet, 3 clean glasses.

Let me know when you try the standards of kosher wine: Yarden Cab, Hagafen Cab, Recanati Cab, and please clean with water or USE SEPARATE GLASSES

I do find your humor entertaining though, Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats.
August 21, 2007

Sassodoro
QOTD: It has been quite a while since I have had a Kosher wine, and I don’t think I’ve ever had one over $20. However, I take your point that in confusion there is opportunity. This may be an area worth exploring.
August 21, 2007

BruceP
QOTD: Perhaps. Had some at a friend’s house once that wasn’t bad (was tasted with an Algerian wine that also actually wasn’t too bad…I’m guessing that one wasn’t halal). Wish I could remember the brand. Other than that, though, Nope. As a good old fashioned completely lapsed Catholic, I can’t say I’m in any particular rush to start keeping a Kosher diet. I’ve never looked good in black hats anyway.
August 21, 2007

Aheadwithwings
Eli Overrated?!!? You can’t be overrated if you are bashed non-stop by every media outlet…If anything he is Underrated.

QOTD: No never had any, maybe i will buy a bottle for my g/f who is Jewish for one of the upcoming holidays.
August 21, 2007

Loweeel
Other kosher israeli wineries that you need to drink:
- Recanati (especially their higher-end stuff, but even their lower-end sauv blanc is a nice balance between minerals and gooseberres) — 4 stars from rogov
- Domain du Castel, obviously
- Bustan (mostly kosher in recent years)
- Carmel (particularly the single vineyard and limited releases) — 4 stars rogov
- Ella valley, especially the cab franc — 4 stars rogov
- Golan Heights Winery — 5 stars rogov, especially the katzrin and yarden series, not so much the gamla or golan.
- Segal — 4 stars rogov, especially the single vineyard, unfiltered, and rehasim series.
- Tzora (some kosher, some not, — 4 stars rogov)
- yatir — 4 stars rogov
August 21, 2007

Loweeel
Other kosher israeli wineries that you need to drink:
- Recanati (especially their higher-end stuff, but even their
August 21, 2007

Loweeel
Well, as somebody Gary so generously hooked up with some great wineries in Israel… I have to say that I’m quite puzzled by a few things…

1) Why Gary didn’t reference the very nice high-value low-price NZ Kosher Goose Bay Sauv blanc that he reviewed in ep. 200 (IIRC), as a further example of how Kosher no longer means ”undrinkable swill”.

2) The choice of wineries. Now of course Gary has a preference in wines he carries, he chooses wildly disparate wines, and 2 from the same produer. Hevron Heights is generally not well regarded at all (a ”one star” — or ”hard to recommend” in his 2007 edtion of the israeli wine guide), though Rogov doesn’t review either of those wines in particular. Rogov also notes that Hevron Heights is marketed towards the particularly religiously observant Jews abroad, so it’s primarily a religious market, and flavor can be subpar and still have an market advantage. There are many better Kosher wineries in Israel,

Similarly, other than that you carry it, I don’t see what other than parker’s rating makes covenant a better choice than any others, including the south american kosher wineries.

CotD: Yes Gary, I’ve had a few, and they’re wines and from a winery I recommended to you — Hagafen Cellars, which makes some wonderful (and award-winning) napa cabs and syrahs (and an actually drinkable ‘chardonneaux’), particularly the 2001-3 Cab Sauvs. Just wonderful stuff.

Also, thanks to you, all sorts of varieties of Domain du Castel (5 stars from rogov, also known as consistently producing world-class wines), all of which are fabulous, even the chardonneaux. Even the petite castel, the second label, is a delight. In fact, you could definitely do worse than to have Arnon Geva on the show next time he’s in the states (though his wine has no shortage of customers), just because he’s the single most Gallic person I’ve ever met, which is particularly amazing when you realize that he’s haifa-born and of russian and hungarian ancestry. I’m sure he’d love to come on the show.

Other non-kosher israeli wineries that are good:
- Sea Horse (especially the Elul and the Munch petite sirah, which rogov called the best ever made in israel) — 4 stars from rogov
- Flam — one of the 3 best in Israel, along with Margalit and Castel — 5 stars from rogov
- Margalit — california-trained physical chemist and winemaker moves to israel. Hilarity and deliciousness ensue, as do bringing the miracle of PETIT SIRAH to Israel, and using it in small quantities to provide backbone to majority-cab blends. — 5 stars from rogov
- Chateau Golan — 5 stars on rogov
- Chillag — 4 stars on rogov
- Clos de Gat — 5 stars on rogov
- saslov, especially the adom and reserved series.
- Zauberman — 4 stars rogov

Other kosher israeli wineries that you need to drink:
- Recanati (especially their higher-end stuff, but even their
August 21, 2007

DryDrew
Gary
Thanks for the episode, was greatly appreciated
QOTD: yes many times

By the way kosher wine got nothing to do with a blessing of a Rabbi
All kosher wine means is
1. it was at all times handled by Jews
2. it contains no non kosher ingredients
3. the above 2 items are certified by a rabbi or kashrus organization like the OU
August 21, 2007

TommyBoBo of WI
I can’t see me drinking a wine, that when I watched you sniffy snif I found myself cringing!!!!! That just ain’t right! PAZZZZ!
August 21, 2007

1855class
enlightening episode gary. are you going to be ok?
qotd: never have, and now im not necesarilly all that inspired to. lahiem
August 21, 2007

Jeffrey
I’ve had quite a bit of Kosher Wine, some are hit, some are miss like anything else. I havn’t had much luck with Israeli wines, though. I forget the producers, but i’ve had a Malbec from Argentia, and a Barolo that were both great. I’ve got some 03 Kosher Bordeaux i’m looking forward to trying as well.

GV – you missed the Bartenura Moscato again!