I was in a health food store the other day and I saw a Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay by Caramel Vineyards. They were both Kosher Wines from Isreal. What is the difference between a kosher wine and a noon kosher wine? Would they be less ageable?
From what I understand, most of the Kosher wines are from Israel, and have been made according to Rabbinical law. I know they were made under the direction of a rabbi, and were only handled by Orthodox Jews. I have had the Carmel Moscato D'asti, and it wasn't too bad. I doubt if they will cellar for very long.
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Posts: 757 | Location: Boston, MA | Registered: Nov 19, 2003
You can get kosher wines in all kinds of appellations. Most bordeaux subregions have got kosher wines. You can buy a kosher Leoville Poyferré if you wish. The wine will not be that different, but the production has been controlled by a rabbi, following the rules necessary. That's all.
Unless the rabbi does it all, they have to be boiled to be Kosher. They are not ageable and most are flabby and thin. There is a syrah out of Santa Barbara, Kadeshem or something close to that. The Rabbi is the only one that grows, picks and touches the wine in anyway. He doesnt boil his, he can certify it himself.
Posts: 1458 | Location: Dem Hills, CA | Registered: Jan 03, 2004
What you say, Flubis? Kosher Leoville Poyferré is thin and flabby?
The wines don't have to be boiled, what a terrible idea, the material, the pumps, the presses, the cuves... have to be cleaned with boiling water... The vinification has to be done by rabbin delegates, but they know what they are doing, they're not going to boil wine (see chapter one cooked wines).
There are two types of kosher wine--non-mevushal, your basic kosher wine, and mevushal, fit for the most orthodox wine lover. Non-mevushal wines must be produced, handled and even served by Sabbath Observant Jews in order to be kosher. Mevushal wines go through an additional step, flash pasteurization, in which the wines are subjected to heat during the winemaking process but are not boiled, contrary to popular belief. This process originated from ancient times when wine was once used by pagans for idolatrous worship. By pasteurizing the wines, they were considered unfit for pagan worship and should satisfy the most orthodox Jew. As a result, mevushal wines may be handled by non-Jews and remain kosher. The back label should indicate whether the wine is mevushal or not.
Its the heat that I was talking about
Posts: 1458 | Location: Dem Hills, CA | Registered: Jan 03, 2004
Originally posted by Rik: You can get kosher wines in all kinds of appellations. Most bordeaux subregions have got kosher wines. You can buy a kosher Leoville Poyferré if you wish. The wine will not be that different, but the production has been controlled by a rabbi, following the rules necessary. That's all.
Flubis - the rabbi doesn't need to do everything. An orthodox jew needs to be the only one touching the wine. For example if the winemaker wants to taste the wine he needs to ask the orthodox jew to pour the wine for him. Kosher wine doesn't mean bad wine. For a more elaborate and accurate description you can follow the link: Kosher Wines (The Full answer)
Yaron.
http://tastingwines.blogspot.com/
Posts: 55 | Location: Israel | Registered: Apr 18, 2005
