KFWE has been around in NYC since 2007, and it keeps evolving. The Los Angeles version was initially called the International Food and Wine Festival (IFWF). It started in 2008. Neither of the KFWEs (NYC/NJ or LA) is the oldest kosher wine-tasting event; that would be the now-defunct Gotham Kosher Wine Extravaganza. Sadly, they stopped hosting those tastings; such is life. Their first one ran from 2004 to 2014. In 2015, the first year that the IFWF became the West Coast KFWE, David Whittemore and the gang from Herzog Winery pulled out all the stops and created what I still think was the best KFWE, with the first-ever VIP session, which was copied in almost every KFWE version, and hey, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” I was sad to see the L.A. KFWE move from the Petersen Automotive Museum, where it had been for three years, in 2016, 2017, and 2018. However, the 2019 and 2020 KFWE L.A. at the Palladium were freaking EPIC. Then we had COVID and no in-person events for 2021, though the innovative approach with those bottles, while flawed, was a hit. Today, Herzog is sending their club members a better version of those tiny bottles, which looks really cool! Followed by a KFWE – Jr in NJ, which I reviewed here. Then, the whole gamut of KFWE in 2023 is also reviewed here. The 2024 KFWE turned into a different beast; you can see my comments here.

As I have pounded on and on in these virtual pages, we need more wine education, and the wine education leader, IMHO, is also the kosher wine 800-pound guerilla, Royal Wines. Recently, I quickly checked my mind of the top kosher wineries or kosher wine runs worldwide, and Royal probably imports about 85% of them. Sure, there are tons of wineries they do not import, but they are also not wines I mainly buy and covet. It is just a fascinating fact, in my opinion. It is somewhat scary but also very telling. Here is a wine distributor and importer that gets what sells and what does not, has successfully found the better options out there, and keeps adding more.

Remember, once again, KFWE will be open to the wine trade ONLY in the USA. KFWE in London and Miami are the only ones open to the public. KWD will return in 2026 for their third run, but links are not yet available. I will add them to this post as they become available. KFWE LA is NOT returning this year, sadly.

Overall, I think Florida needs more from Royal. The Wizo event is run by Wizo for the benefit of Wizo, and it is a worthy cause, indeed! However, I think Royal Wines should ensure more winemakers from their wineries participate in this event. Florida is becoming too large a buying public and is only growing! Given this is the ONLY publicly accessible KFWE in the USA, the event can be improved. To start, have a short trade event two hours earlier. This will enhance winery representation, benefiting both the trade and the public. It needs better food options and a bit more marketing punch by Royal. Then, we are looking at a killer event and a winning opportunity for Royal Wines.

2026 KFWE – Kosher Food and Wine Experience (KFWE)

Two years ago, I initially had serious doubts about the changes surrounding the Kosher Food and Wine Event (KFWE). Gone was the public access to KFWE. Throw in the fact that there was no European KFWE (London) in 2024, nor a Tel Aviv option, and I thought this was a bad idea.

Fast-forward to 2025, and I rewrote my thoughts regarding the 2024 Wine Tasting events. I still think the lack of a 2024 KFWE in Europe (London/Paris) or Tel Aviv was a mistake, and thankfully, that has been rectified this year, at least for London. As of this moment, London KFWE is open to the public, but we have no word yet on Tel Aviv.

When I first wrote this last year, I was worried about the lack of public access to wine education. Miami continues to excel, as it is open to the public, but at the same time, we have always had issues with the KFWE in the USA. The KFWE has always been very crowded, and the public was not allowed to appreciate the wines. As I wrote in my closing thoughts on wine tastings, this new approach may work well. It will depend on whether more events like KWD step up to fill the gap. For now, KWD is the only kosher wine tasting open to the public in 2026, and that was not the idea! Thankfully, this year’s timing is MUCH better than last year’s. First, we are not facing a Sunday Super Bowl; they finally decided to look at the NFL schedule. Also, as there is no KFWE in LA, wineries will be able to fully make both events (KWD and KFWE) and still promote wines in the NY/NJ area. This would have been the PERFECT year for the return of the Jewish Link Kosher Wine Festival. Sadly, that’s not in the cards this year either! So, we are looking at diminished public access and limited wine education opportunities. Which makes no sense when the VERY THING that the millennial and Gen Z need more than anything at a time like this, is more wine education!

Sadly, the KFWE London/Europe event needs to be a week later due to Wine Paris, a massive event that wineries all need to attend.