Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir A drought year wasn’t supposed to reward restraint—but 2025 had other plans. At Vitkin Winery, we walk the rows with winemaker Assaf Paz and discover how a parched winter, scrambled ripeness windows, and a nation holding its breath forged wines with unusual clarity and nerve. When irrigation couldn’t fix stressed vines, an old, dry-farmed Carignan did: deeper roots, stronger canopies, and, shockingly, higher yields. The lesson is simple and radical—le...
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Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir A drought year wasn’t supposed to reward restraint—but 2025 had other plans. At Vitkin Winery, we walk the rows with winemaker Assaf Paz and discover how a parched winter, scrambled ripeness windows, and a nation holding its breath forged wines with unusual clarity and nerve. When irrigation couldn’t fix stressed vines, an old, dry-farmed Carignan did: deeper roots, stronger canopies, and, shockingly, higher yields. The lesson is simple and radical—le...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir A drought year wasn’t supposed to reward restraint—but 2025 had other plans. At Vitkin Winery, we walk the rows with winemaker Assaf Paz and discover how a parched winter, scrambled ripeness windows, and a nation holding its breath forged wines with unusual clarity and nerve. When irrigation couldn’t fix stressed vines, an old, dry-farmed Carignan did: deeper roots, stronger canopies, and, shockingly, higher yields. The lesson is simple and radical—le...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Sweet can be serious, as we look at Moscato’s long road from ancient Muscat vines to Piedmont’s low-ABV sparkle, and the cobalt-blue bottle that took kosher wine mainstream. Along the way, we explain why this fragrant style became a first-love wine for so many people who once felt intimidated by tannins, tasting notes, and cellar talk—and how it still manages to honor religious tradition all while elevating the mood of the moment. Muscat grapes harve...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir The Slichot prayers rise like mist from the terrace of Beit Yisrael Synagogue in Yemin Moshe, carried skyward by the Solomon Brothers Band as Jerusalem's ancient walls stand witness. This rare recording captures repentance transformed into celebration—a spiritual vintage worth savoring. Rabbi Yeres offers profound wisdom about tears and prayer. From the Talmud, he shares that when the Temple was destroyed, the gates of prayer were locked—but the gate...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Nestled in the rugged hills of Montserrat, Spain, lies a winemaking story so unlikely you might think it's fiction. Jürgen Wagner, a German-born winemaker who now leads exports for Capçanes winery, takes us through an extraordinary journey of transformation, tradition, and unexpected salvation. This small cooperative of just 55 farming families was on the brink of collapse in the early 1990s. Having been downgraded from bulk wine producer to mere gra...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Alessandro Cellai speaks with the gentle confidence of someone who has transformed Italian wine over three decades, yet he carries his accomplishments with remarkable humility. As we journey through his winemaking life – from early mentorship under the legendary Giacomo Tachis to his current leadership at multiple prestigious estates – a philosophy emerges that transcends technique. "In all great wines we must recognize terroir. In top wines we must ...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir The pop of a cork, the swirl in the glass, the scent of fruit, earth, and time captured in a single sip—wine has been the centerpiece of Jewish tradition for millennia. Yet something remarkable has happened in our lifetime: kosher wine has transformed from sweet ritual necessity to world-class luxury, collecting international medals and commanding respect from the most discerning palates. This transformation couldn't come at a more paradoxical moment...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Nestled in the ancient hills where Jacob once dreamed of a ladder reaching to heaven, Hillel & Nina Manne have created something extraordinary, a boutique winery that transforms biblical terroir into world-class kosher wines. This episode takes you to Beit El Winery, where tradition meets innovation in every bottle. With disarming candor and refreshing pragmatism, Hillel shares his journey from agricultural studies at UC Davis to establishing vin...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir There's something magical about beginnings—especially when they're rooted in volcanic soil under sweeping Golan skies. Join me for an unforgettable visit to Sha'al, where Sam and Rivka Baum are writing the next chapter of Israel's wine story with their Family Baum Winery. After years at prestigious Castel Winery, Sam identified this northern Golan location as "the best area in the whole Levant" for viticulture. The evidence is compelling: deep soil w...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir The somber days leading to Tisha B'Av bring us face-to-face with profound loss and spiritual yearning. Why do we refrain from wine during this period of mourning? The answer lies not just in ancient texts but in the very soil of Jewish history and practice. Wine flows through Jewish tradition as a symbol of both celebration and sanctification. When we abstain before Tisha B'Av, we're acknowledging the absence of true joy without the Temple service, w...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir We take a behind-the-scenes look at Shiloh Winery's beautiful new visitor center for an exclusive first taste with Itay Metzger, VP & Winemaker at Shiloh Winery, of two groundbreaking wines that represent bold new directions for one of Israel's premier wineries. What happens when traditional winemakers become students again? The answer lies in these two remarkable bottles: Shiloh's first-ever Tannat varietal and their inaugural Pinot Noir, b...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Step into the sun-drenched vineyards of Anava, where founder Nadav Jesselson transforms traditional winemaking into a community adventure. Fresh from their inaugural harvest, Nadav shares the triumphs and challenges of nurturing vines through Israel's demanding climate – and the unexpected honor of having their first vintage selected by prestigious Yatir Winery. What distinguishes Anava from other vineyards is its innovative approach, allowing wine e...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Nestled among the rolling Judean hills sits Anava Vineyards, a place where passion, personal connection, and profound terroir converge to create something truly extraordinary. More than simply producing wine, Anava offers individuals and families the rare opportunity to craft wine from their own plots of land in Israel, guided by a world-class winemaking team. Returning to our podcast, Nadav Jesselson shares how Anava has evolved through challenging ...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Dive into the extraordinary world of Tannat, a grape that commands respect with its bold structure, remarkable longevity, and fascinating journey across continents. While many wine enthusiasts gravitate toward Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, Tannat offers something profoundly different – a powerful red with ancient origins that challenges our assumptions about what bold wines can be. Tannat's story begins in the rugged foothills of the Pyrenees Mountain...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir What does it take to create a perfect wine? Is it even possible? And is Israel ready to produce a bottle that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's most acclaimed wines? Deep in the hills of Shiloh, winemaker Amichai Lourie isn't just crafting excellent kosher wines – he's on a mission to create Israel's first 100-point wine. His newest releases, the Legend series, represent not just exceptional winemaking but a philosophical statement about I...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir The grape that once dominated French vineyards has risen from obscurity to become one of the most exciting varietals in kosher wine. Carignan's story is one of remarkable transformation – from bulk wine scapegoat to artisanal darling. Born in northeastern Spain so long ago it gave its name to a town rather than the reverse, Carignan traveled through the Mediterranean basin adapting to new terroirs and playing crucial roles in viticultural history. By...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Wine begins with passion, curiosity, and an open heart – elements that define Penina Kustanowitz's remarkable journey into winemaking. Speaking while journeying from Jerusalem to Yerucham's Pinto Winery, Penina shares how a simple love for kosher wine blossomed into a full-fledged winemaking career that's quickly establishing her as one of Israel's rising stars. Her story unfolds organically – from joining the RCC Club and volunteering at harvests to...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir The soulful journey of Jeff Morgan from jazz saxophone virtuoso to kosher wine pioneer unveils a remarkable story of passion, transformation, and unexpected spiritual connection. With natural charisma and refreshing candor, Morgan recounts his first culinary awakening in France as a 19-year-old music student that would eventually reshape his entire life's trajectory. At the heart of this conversation lies the birth story of Covenant Winery—an enterpr...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir In this captivating second part of our conversation with Assaf Paz at Vitkin Winery, we move from vineyard stories to the glass itself. Though you can't taste through your headphones, Assaf's vivid descriptions bring each wine to life with such clarity that your imagination fills in the sensory gaps. His approach to winemaking—"taking down my ego, understanding that what I get from the fruit is amazing"—reveals itself through every sip we share. The ...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Nestled in the heart of Israel's Sharon coastal plain, Vitkin Winery has been quietly revolutionizing Israeli winemaking for over two decades. Founded in 2001, Vitkin has championed Mediterranean grape varieties that thrive in Israel's unique terroir. Chief winemaker Assaf Paz welcomes us into his world with remarkable candor, sharing the extraordinary challenges of creating wine during wartime. Following October 7th, 2023, the entire Israeli wine in...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Journey to the edge of the Judean Desert, where breathtaking vistas meet ancient biblical lands at Gilad Winery. Perched dramatically above steep drops into the Jordan Valley, this boutique gem has become a beacon for kosher Mediterranean-style wines under the passionate stewardship of Chaim Sackton. As we sit surrounded by barrels in his intimate winery, Chaim shares the story of Gilad's inception—how a morning coffee overlooking the distant Gilad M...
Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir A drought year wasn’t supposed to reward restraint—but 2025 had other plans. At Vitkin Winery, we walk the rows with winemaker Assaf Paz and discover how a parched winter, scrambled ripeness windows, and a nation holding its breath forged wines with unusual clarity and nerve. When irrigation couldn’t fix stressed vines, an old, dry-farmed Carignan did: deeper roots, stronger canopies, and, shockingly, higher yields. The lesson is simple and radical—le...
