About Kosher Wine Musings

My name is David Raccah and this space is a blog about our musings and tasting notes on the world of kosher wine and food. We have been drinking wine for some 18 years now and have been privileged to taste some of the best kosher wines from around the world. We thought it was time to start sharing our food and wine experiences with others. We hope that you will find some of these notes and musings useful and maybe even entertaining. Also you can follow up on twitter @kosherwinemuse and you can signup for updates to be sent to you by clicking the link to the right on the homepage “Follow Blog Via Email”.

  1. alice feiring | September 6, 2010 at 11:20 am

    David, I can’t find your email address and I wanted to ask you a question, could you drop me a line? –Alice

    Reply
  2. Curt F. Stetson | November 7, 2010 at 1:07 pm

    Excellent Blog Would love to receive your comments as I only drink Kosher wine since I became Balat Shuva and I was and am a bit of a conoisseur. Thanks.

    Reply
  3. David Rhodes | February 4, 2012 at 11:55 pm

    aw nice to catch your blog and put a blog to the face after meeting you at Sommelier 2011 in Tel Aviv

    you missed a more relevant event for you Jerusalem just held a Kosher Wine Festival with about 30 only kosher wineries….

    don’t feel bad they didn’t promote it much at all in English but it was a nice two day event in a nice venue and I think they’ll repeat it next year so look for it next year about this time

    Reply
    • winemusings | February 5, 2012 at 10:16 am

      Indeed I heard about the kosher wine event and posted about it on the forum, but did not blog about it.

      I came in for Sommelier, as it was truly unique. Great seeing then.

      David

      Reply
  4. David Rhodes | February 23, 2012 at 1:14 am

    have you been in touch with Aron Ritter and his Kosher Wine Society in NYC?

    I’m the Israeli chair

    you two could make a good team on that side of the pond

    Reply
  5. Joseph Berkowitz | March 11, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Hello hello tanks for all

    Did u have chance to taste the 2008 B.R. Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon Kosher

    Thanks

    Reply
    • winemusings | March 11, 2012 at 3:46 pm

      Yes – it is in my blog posting:

      Tunisian Couscous Au Poulet and an assortment of wines

      I gave it a fine score – though there are some that are now wondering if it is currently in a dead spot. Meaning that the wine, like all wine are living things, can ebb and flow, and currently this wine may be ebbing. It does not mean that it is dead, but may well pop up again soon. However, for now some think it is asleep.

      Reply
  6. Elena zimbalista | January 29, 2013 at 2:28 am

    Hi…im elena zimbalista from moshav avigdor. I read your blog about midbar winery and i also produce white wines unocked in the north border of the negev! You know them? We do moscato alexandroni ,chardonnay and sauvignon with a total of 12000 bottles. The wines are kosher. If you wish to come to us .also..with big pleasure! Ciao
    Elena
    052 4208852
    elena.medim@gmail.com

    Reply
    • winemusings | January 29, 2013 at 6:26 am

      Hello Elena,

      Thanks for posting! I will make it my job to get out there the next time I am in Israel

      Thanks again so much!
      David

      Reply
  7. elena zimbalista | January 29, 2013 at 6:38 am

    waiting for your next visite!
    elena

    Reply
  8. Joe and Daphne Bazer | February 20, 2013 at 11:20 pm

    Dear David,
    We enjoy reading your Kosher wine blog. We have been making wine since 2004. Our wine is completely natural,made from grapes grown in Shiloh, un-oaked with no added ingredients, sulfites, yeasts etc. Last year we produced 800 bottles and this year we hope to have 2,400 bottles. The wine is certified Kosher Mehadrin by the Rabbanut of the Regional Council of Mate Binyamin. We are located 50 meters from the archeological site of Ancient Shiloh. We would like to invite you to come visit us next time you are in Israel.
    Joe and Daphne Bazer
    Talia Wines

    Reply
    • winemusings | February 21, 2013 at 8:21 am

      Sounds like fun – thanks for the invite, I will be sure to email you when I am there next time.

      Reply
    • Pamela Smith | November 24, 2014 at 7:34 pm

      Enjoyed your wine on Har Bracha, and took a little home to the states. My husband got a buck last night and I used a 1/4 cup to make a venison stew that would make Esau proud!

      Reply
  9. chaim | May 10, 2014 at 9:21 pm

    who certifies the wine to be kosher ?? who”s hasgacha?

    Reply
    • winemusings | May 15, 2014 at 8:57 pm

      This is a blog about wines that I taste, the hashgacha is different per wine. Some have an OK some have an OU, it depends on the wine and the winery.

      Reply
  10. Jon Frank | September 29, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    Hi David. Was wondering if Poppy Fields Pinot Grigio is kosher, supposedly it’s made in Napa. Please let me know. Thanks!

    Reply
    • winemusings | October 7, 2014 at 8:41 am

      Yes it is a kosher wine, and it is not bad at all, but for the price there are far better options. There is the Dalton Pinot Grigio and the Goose Bay PG as well.

      Reply
      • Neelee neelee | March 23, 2015 at 3:39 pm

        Thank you! Is it kosher for Passover?? I got a coupon from a website for $100 off wine and this is the only kosher wine they have. I am considering it for Passover. Do you know who certifies it? With thanks!

      • winemusings | March 23, 2015 at 3:47 pm

        You did not post the wine you were talking about? My guess is the Poppy Fields Pinot Gris on NakedWines.com? It is made by Ernie Weir – from Hagafen Cellars, and yes the wine is kosher and mevushal. I have not tasted it, so I have no idea what it tastes like – sorry. That said, Ernie makes great white wines….

  11. hesh | March 22, 2015 at 11:36 am

    Thought of u today having pickedup teRren ’14. Still wonder y left the forum so cold turkey. Chag kasher vsameach

    Reply
  12. Isaac | April 14, 2015 at 10:19 pm

    Hi david
    I am trying to buy wine from hadju but they are impossible to get I touch with.
    Do you have a phone number or email to reach him?
    Thank you

    Reply
  13. hesh | April 21, 2015 at 1:48 pm

    Hi. Y don’t u join us anymore @ the ol’ rogov forum?

    Reply
  14. Ragen Shapiro | May 14, 2015 at 3:17 pm

    What hechsher does poppy fields wine have?

    Reply
  15. Aliza | May 19, 2015 at 12:29 pm

    Hello. I had a time-sensitive question for you regarding permission to use photos from your blog. Can you please get in touch with me via e-mail? Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  16. אלנה צימבליסטה | May 21, 2015 at 4:08 am

    You can use the pictures
    elena
    0524208852

    Reply
  17. Shane | August 28, 2015 at 7:05 pm

    David, I just read your post about Covenant Winery Israel. How and Where can I wines from Covenant Winery? Is there any place that ships to Oklahoma?

    Thanks

    Shane

    Reply
  18. Shane | August 28, 2015 at 7:05 pm

    David, I just read your post about Covenant Winery Israel. How and Where can I purcahse wines from Covenant Winery? Is there any place that ships to Oklahoma?

    Thanks

    Shane

    Reply
  19. Jan Faibisoff | August 29, 2015 at 10:28 am

    Shalom and Shavuah Tov, David.
    I am curious if you know of any sulfite free kosher wines? I know of two people who are oinophiles, but unable to imbibe because of sulfite allergies.
    Thanks,
    Jan F (Chicago and Tucson)

    Reply
  20. Dov Begun | September 27, 2015 at 2:44 pm

    2007 Mirvis Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Cuvée Yitz, Rowe – is it kosher? I don’t see any symbol on it other than KE?

    Reply
    • winemusings | September 29, 2015 at 8:55 pm

      Well the wine is made by Yitz Applebaum and the KE stands for Kosher Enough. I drank it, but you need to make your own decision.

      Reply
  21. HARRIS TILEVITZ | October 26, 2015 at 8:36 am

    Re Mirvis Creek. Here is a letter from Joseph Herzog saying that the wine is under the same hashgacha as the rest of Herzog wines. http://mirviscreek.com/images/KE-Letter.pdf —

    Reply
  22. h | December 16, 2015 at 11:31 am

    Hi. Any chance you can visit our weeksend thread one of these days with a post. Been years since u dropped by the ol rogov neighberhood

    Reply
  23. Fermin | May 30, 2016 at 12:56 am

    Dear David , Thanks for your blog. I have a query for you . Is there any way to contact you .Regards from sunny Spain.
    Fermín

    Reply
  24. Luis Chami | March 5, 2017 at 7:24 am

    David, very goog blog, did you tested Argentinian Malbec wines, like Terrenal Malbec, Wild Goat Reserve or Guillermo de Mendoza?
    Thanks a lot

    Reply
    • winemusings | March 5, 2017 at 7:34 am

      The Terrenal malbec is on this blog many times. Not a fan of the current vintage. Not a fan of wild goat. Never yet tasted Guillermo de Mendoza

      Reply
  25. Howard Abarbanel | March 8, 2017 at 10:21 am

    David — Thanks for your kind review of Abarbanel Batch 66 Riesling ’12. Our new 2015 vintage will be out on the market G-d willing in the next week or two although many stores will still have the ’12 in stock. In your overview of kosher Rieslings, just a little historical footnote — Abarbanel was first with kosher dry Riesling from Alsace back in 1999 and we’ve been producing it ever since. We’re not a recent arrival and as a consequence dry/semi-dry kosher Riesling has been around for a while. The new ’15 vintage is Non-Mevushal (which is a change for us) and has our new “Lemminade” packaging. Thanks!

    Reply
  26. Dan | May 8, 2017 at 12:43 pm

    Hi David, I am a wine novice so I appreciate your blog with its recommendations. What do you think about the 2010 Terra Di Seta Special Reserve Chianti Classico at a $30 price point?

    Reply
  27. Dan | May 16, 2017 at 10:08 am

    Hi David – Can you recommend a versatile wine glass that would be suitable to use for both red and white wines?

    Reply
  28. jeanne | May 29, 2018 at 7:53 pm

    Hi, we are driving from barcelona through parts of france and back to Barcelona. We are looking at Bordeaux, vichy ,San Sebastian, Limoge and Lyon . do you you have any recommendations for kosher wineries to visit?? any recommendations are appreciated.

    Reply
    • winemusings | May 29, 2018 at 9:02 pm

      Sadly, there are no kosher wineries in France, they all make kosher runs of the kosher wines. The only kosher wineries in Europe are Elvi Winery (Clos Mesorah), and two in Tuscany. There may also be an option with Vignobles David, he is in the Rhone area.

      Reply
  29. Albert Benalloun | May 31, 2018 at 6:21 am

    Good morning
    I’m a big wine aficionados, i enjoyed reading your blog can you add me to your email list . Thank you

    Al

    Reply
  30. Uri rosenzweig | July 23, 2018 at 3:36 pm

    Hi David,

    In need of your expert advice…

    I have been working with some great winemakers from the best wineries in Napa and Sonoma, but they have never had an Israeli wine. If you had to choose one or two bottles to give them as a gift that are uniquely israeli but suit a california pallete, what would you recommend?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • winemusings | July 23, 2018 at 4:49 pm

      As always – Tzora wines or Netofa wines are the best options from Israel, and maybe some Gvaot wines as well. They show Israel to their best and would map well to the palates of California Connoisseurs.

      Reply
  31. Eli Eisenberg | February 20, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    A young rabbi in our community came across your blog and asked me if I’ve ever heard of you…. LOL

    Reply
  32. Rebeca M. Pinhas | October 30, 2019 at 10:44 am

    Yes, I’d also like to ask a wine question. How can I contact you?

    Reply
  33. Leslie Kellen | November 2, 2021 at 1:13 am

    Hi David,
    We are looking for a rabbi/ masgiach to make kosher wine here in Blaye Bordeaux.
    Can you help?

    Reply
    • winemusings | November 4, 2021 at 9:51 pm

      Hello,

      I am not the person to talk with. I write about kosher wine. However, I know many people who may be able to help you. Please send me your email and name by entering your name and contact info in the Contact Form on the right side of my blog, lower down. Be well!

      Reply
  34. Theo Gehring | February 9, 2022 at 11:34 pm

    Thanks for the high scores of gehringwein/germany.

    You are always welcome to visit us.
    In the town of Nierstein there where many jewish familiys in winebuisness befor the war.
    The biggest named Sichel in Mainz.
    So i hope wine will bring us all togehter again.
    My friend jehuda past away but life is going on and we are a big (wine) -family.
    Thank you and stay healthy ,
    Theo

    Reply
  35. alec jaret | November 5, 2022 at 6:50 pm

    Please add me to your email list.

    Reply
  36. Theo Gehring | November 6, 2022 at 12:16 am

    High,
    we make a kosher riesling from the steps at rhine river loceted in Nierstein / Germany.
    Nice to be part of your community.

    Reply
  37. Fred Petersen | November 17, 2022 at 9:10 am

    Hi David
    I have a bottle of 2013 Château Remo Grand Blend.
    Should I drink now or wait?

    Thanks

    Reply
  38. Eli Eisenberg | March 26, 2023 at 9:18 am

    B”H

    David,

    Our son Rabbi Adam Eisenberg (you know him from East Boca; he was with the JEC) is going to his in-laws in Israel over Pesach and wants a recommendation for a winery visit. Can you make a few suggestions? His email is adammoshe.eisenberg@gmail.com

    Sincerely,

    Eli Eisenberg
    USA Cell/WhatsApp +1 (818) 427-9391;  Israeli Cell 055-500-9903 (011-972-55-500-9903)
    Eli@StraightLineMgt.com
    http://www.StraightLineMgt.com
    Schedule a meeting with me at https://calendly.com/Eli_Eisenberg

    Reply

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