This past week saw my friend (the ultimate wine novice) and me at what can truly be called the greatest “kosher wine event” on earth.  This is not the place to come if you want to be fed a wonderful spread, or the place to come if you want to be fed line after line by people who have no idea on what differences there are between a Pinot Gris versus a Pinot Noir, or what differences lay between a Viognier and a Chardonnay.  Nope, this event is where the kosher wine world can come and taste a true assortment of kosher wines that are not under Royal’s control or someone else’s clutches.  Nope, this event is put on by Gotham Winery, one of the places on earth where you can get a truly wonderful collection of kosher wines, and most of them – 362 wines to be exact, were on display at the Lincoln Square Synagogue.  This was the 6th edition of this event, and one that was truly well attended.  About 150 or so individuals packed the synagogues’ auditorium, in the basement, where they were graced with 12 tables laden with wines from all around the world.

The breakdown of the tables, were not by region or varietal, rather by wine distributor.  You see, as described earlier, this wine event was about kosher wine, irrelevant to the distributor or wine maker.  Yes, this wine event brought together wine makers and distributors of kosher wine from around the world.  Dalton was represented, along with Red Fern Winery, and others.  The people pouring the wines, either made them, or imported them because they like and/or realize that the wines have a market, and were explaining the nuances of what they see in them.  This is in stark contrast to the Oxnard event we were at a month ago, where excepting for the three wine makers at the event, the people pouring the wines had no idea of what they were pouring.  This event, gave us a chance to meet Howard Abarbanel (of Abarbanel wines), and sample some distinct wines that he is importing.  It also, gave us a chance to sit down with Costas Mouzouras, of Gotham wines who put on the event, and was hands on throughout.  He led a one hour VIP tasting which we truly enjoyed.  The wines were unique, including some old vintages that he had at the shop and some new and exciting wines that we had yet to taste.  We will have more on Costas later in a later posting, but for now, it is enough to say that the man is knowledgeable about the wines he sells, and is passionate about the kosher wine community.  I am sure it is not 100% altruism, as he has a business to run, but the event is something that was, and is not required for him to sell his wines.   Yet, he has put it together now for 6 years, and it is a wine event that gives us all a chance to see the world of kosher wines, through a large picture window, rather than the view glass that we have been served up as the “International wine Festival”.  Many thanks to Costas, Gotham Wines, and all the wineries and distributors that took the time out of their busy “Pre-Passover” schedule, to come and display their wines, and share their wisdom and wares together with us all.

Again a heartfelt thanks to Costas, the Gotham Wine crew that helped with the event and the rest of the winemakers and distributors who made the occasion as special as it was.