2025 Kosher Food Wine Experience NY/NJ

Feb 15, 2025 by Chef David

By The Jewish Voice And Opinion Staff

February 10th marked the annual Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE) in New York / New Jersey. It was an extravagant event, with two rooms devoted to showcasing the best kosher wines and spirits, accompanied by a sumptuous smorgasbord of food. It was an evening full of surprises, opportunities to speak with the owners, investors, and winemakers, and sample a seemingly unlimited assortment of kosher wines from California, France, Isreal, Italy, South Africa, and Spain. 900 attendees circulated through over 80 tables displaying wines and spirits. Thank you Royal Wine for making this possible.

KFWE served up a wide range of wines ranging in price from $20 to $500. It was a lot to take in, and a great opportunity to learn and discover kosher wines. Jay Buchsbaum, Royal Wine’s VP & Director of Wine Education notes, “The kosher wine industry has seen many trends in recent years, with incredible growth and industry accolades.” There has been an increase in varieties, and brands and an emergence of micro-wineries in Israel. Kosher wines have improved in quality becoming more well-balanced and complex.

Some Call Outs

At KFWE attendees traveled the world without leaving the room, sipping, and sampling wines from across the globe. Prize-winning selections from Royal Wine Corp awarded top honors at The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Tasting Competition, including Best of Show / Double gold Psagot 2021 Peak (score 97), three gold medalists Herzog 2022 Special Edition Cabernet Sauvignon, (score 93), Flam 2021 Noble (score 94) and Chateau Roubin 2023 Hippy Rose (score 94). They also showcased new Israeli wines like DAROM by Yatir Cabernet Sauvignon 2023.

The list of brands on display is extensive, indicating the wide varied selection of kosher wines on the market. Below are some of the wineries that were featured at the show.

From the USA – Capio (showing a sauvignon, chardonnay, and ‘petite’), Covenant, Hagafen Family Vineyard, Herzog, Jeunesse, and Sonoma Loeb.
From France: Chateau Agassac, Chateau Bellevue, Chateau La Fleur, Château Le Gay, Chateau Le Rey, Chateau Romenford, Clos Triguedina, J. De Villebois, La Maison Bleue, Le Comte de Malartic, La Nardian, Madam de Rayne, Philpe Le Hardi, Relais De La Dominique.
From South Africa: there were wines from Essa
From Spain: Clos Mesorah
From Italy: Cantina Giuliano, Joyvin, Le Regola, Masseria Frattagi
From Australia: Teal Lake

An entire room was devoted just to wines from Israel including selections from Barkan, Bin Nun, Carmel, Chateau Golan, Flam, Feldstein, Gros, Kamis, Pinto, Shiloh, Tulip, Tabor, and Yatir Daron.

The experience was overwhelming, and exhilarating, as wine connoisseurs, retailers, and press, mingled, and experienced an amazing selection of kosher wines – too many to taste in one evening.

The Hard Stuff

The KFWE did not shy away from spirits, with an unexpectedly large range of tequilas including Amna tequila, Patsch Tequila, Gran Diamant [Kosher for Passover], Mexcor, and Casa de Hamsa. In addition to other spirits Bacan, Be Tini, Bourbon Rabbi, David’s Sling, Machya, Thinkers, and Upstate Vodka [Kosher for Passover].

Kosher Food to Compliment the Wine

Not to be outdone – KFWE served up an abundance of food, small bite-sized appetizers, fleshing pizza by sizzle & slice, cholent, kugel, a falafel station by Ha’Misda Mediterranean kitchen, The Fishermans Plank, hot dogs from Manischewitz, chicken bites from West Wing and carved meats. There were many Kayco food brands featured including Tuscanini Premium Imported Italian items, Manischewitz rugalach, and Old Williamsburg premium beef jerky. It was a perfect evening with sufficient room to circulate and we left with a commemorative 2025 KFWE wine cup.

We hope that the vendors were successful in making connections. We enjoyed discovering exciting new spirits and wines. The event was a great opportunity to impress, do business, and nurture relationships. Cheers!