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The Best and Top 25 Kosher Wines of 2025, including the Wine of the Year, Winery of the Year, the Best Wine of the Year, the Best Mevushal Wines of the Year, and Best QPR Wine of the Year Awards
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Israel, Israeli Wine, Kosher French Wine, Kosher Red Wine, Kosher Sparkling Wine, Kosher White Wine, Kosher Wine, WineArnaud Baillot, Assai, Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Castellare, Chateau Bellefont-Belcier, Chateau Dauzac, Chateau de Rocher, Chateau LaGrange, Chateau Leoville Poyferre, Chateau Malartic Lagraviere, Chateau Moulin Riche, Chateau Pontet Canet, Chateau Royaumont, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Chateau Tour Saint Christophe, Chateau-Lafon-Rochet, Domaine du Chateau Philippe le Hardi, Domaine Roses Louise, el26, Elvi Wines, Four Gates Winery, Generation IX, Gidon, Herzog Cellars Winery, I Sodi di S. Niccolò, L’interdit de Valandraud, Merlot, partial-access, Raziel Winery, Relais de La Dominique, Stags Leap, Terra di Seta, Top 10, top kosher wines, Top Mevushal Wines, Top QPR Wines2 comments on The Best and Top 25 Kosher Wines of 2025, including the Wine of the Year, Winery of the Year, the Best Wine of the Year, the Best Mevushal Wines of the Year, and Best QPR Wine of the Year Awards -
Hotel Wine tastings – Taieb Wines, Mercier Wines, Bokobsa Wines, Cedev Wines, Victor Wines, and more! Jan 2026
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General, Kosher French Wine, Kosher Red Wine, Kosher Rose Wine, Kosher White Wine, Kosher Wine, Wine, Wine Tasting6 Puttonyos, Art Series, Barbera D’Asti, Baron David, Beausejour, Blanc, Bourgogne, Cascina Vecchio, Cave du Bollenberg, Charles Pere & Fils, Chateau Bellegrave, Chateau Branda, Chateau Cantenac Brown, Chateau Clement-Pichon, Chateau Fayat, Chateau Grand Rivallon, Chateau Haut Breton Larigaudiere, Chateau La Naude, Chateau La Tour Blanche Sauternes, Chateau le Coteau, Chateau Magence, Chateau Martin, Chateau Merigot, Chateau Rocher Gardat, Chateau Roquettes, Chateau Tour de Pressac, Chateau Vieux Lavergne, Chateau Vieux Moulin Noir, Château de Marmorières, Château Haut-Brignot, Château Tour de Bellegarde, Chiroubles, Clos du Chateau de Cadillac, Clos du Moulin, Clos Mesorah, Cotes Du Rhone, Cuvee de Exception, Dominique Piron, Eclat De Diamant, el26, Elvi Wines, Furmint, Gabison Yossef, Garnatxa, Gewurztraminer, Grof Degenfeld, Hautes-Cotes de Beaune, Hautes-Cotes de Nuits, Herenza, Herenza Crianza, Herenza Reserva, Herenza Semi, Imperial Topaz Valley, JazzaMoart, Kvitl, La Clape, La dame de Baladoz, La Demoiselle D’Haut-Peyrat, Late Harvest, Les Amandiers, Les Aromes de Vieux Taillefer, Les Jardins de Soutard, Maison Arnoux et Fils, Marquis, Marquis De Mons, Palais de France, Paris Hotel, partial-access, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Plume de Paloumey, Pommard, Riesling, Rose, Saint-Martin, Serinity, Steiner Estate Winery, Summer Ice, Sylvaner, Szamorodni, The Butcher’s Daughter, Tokaj, Tokaji, Torchio, Vieux Clocher, Vina Encina, Vol de Paloumey -
Paris tasting of Royal Wine’s 2023 and 2024 Bordeaux and other French wines – January 2026
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Kosher French Wine, Kosher Red Wine, Kosher Sparkling Wine, Kosher White Wine, Kosher Wine, Tasting, Tasting Notes, Wine, Wine TastingArnaud Baillot, Aurore de Dauzac, B Rose, Baron Edmond de Rothschild, Beaune Premier Cru, Blanc, Bourgogne, Brut Speciale, Chablis, Chambolle-Musigny, Champagne, Chateau Bertineau Saint-Vincent, Chateau Chasse-Spleen, Chateau Clarke, Chateau d’Aussieres, Chateau Dauzac, Chateau de Mallengin Eve, Chateau des Arnauds, Chateau des Laurets, Chateau Du Tertre, Chateau Faurie de Souchard, Chateau Fourcas Dupre, Chateau Gazin Rocquencourt, Chateau Giscours, Chateau Greysac, Chateau Haut Condissas, Chateau La Clare, Chateau LaGrange, Chateau Lamothe-Bergeron, Chateau Le Bon Pasteur, Chateau Le Crock, Chateau Leoville Poyferre, Chateau Malartic Lagraviere, Chateau Malmaison, Chateau Montviel, Chateau Moulin Riche, Chateau Pomeaux, Chateau Pontet Canet, Chateau Roubine, Chateau Royaumont, Chateau Tour Saint Christophe, Cheurlin Champagne, Chevalier de Lascombes, Corbières, Cuvee Hautes Terres, Domaine de la Begude, Domaine du Chateau Philippe le Hardi, Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils, Etoiles de Mondorion, Gevrey Chambertin, Grand Cru Classe, Grand Cru Classe en 1855, Hautes-Cotes de Beaune, Inspire, J. de Villebois, La Vie en Rose, Le Comte de Malartic, Les Athets, Les Crais, Les Fiefs de Lagrange, Les Marrioners, Les Roches De Yon, Margaux, Marquis de Terme, Medoc, Monthelie, Montmains, partial-access, Pavillon de Leoville Poyferre, Pomerol, Pouilly-Fume, Premier Cru, Rose, Roubine, Rouge, Royal Wine, Royal Wine Tasting, Sainte Beatrice, Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc, Savigny-les-Beaune, Silex, Teurons, Volnay -
Four Gates Winery’s January 2026 new releases
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France, May 2025 – Part 3 – Hotel Wines and more
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2024 Elvi Wines, Adar, Alella, Alex Rubin, Aloxe-Corton, Arinto, Assai, Blanc, Blanco, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Superieur, Cabernet Sauvignon, california, Capcanes, Carillon D’Angelus, Cave D’Esclans, Côtes de Bourdeau, Chablis, Chardonnay, Chateau Angelus, Chateau Haut Condissas, Chateau Haut-Brisson, Chateau Lafitte, Chateau Puygueraud, Chateau Roc de Boissac, Chateau Tour Baladoz, Château Lynch Moussas, Château Sainte Roseline, Chevalier De Marmorieres, Chianti Classico, Collection, Cotes de Provence, Crianza, Cru Classe, Cuvée Casher, Cuvee Boisee, Eclat De Diamant, el26, Elvi Wines, Elysee Palace, Francs-Côtes de Bordeaux, Gran Selezione, Grand Cru Classe en 1855, Gris du Sud, Guiduccio, Herenza, JP Marchand, L'enclos de Zeide, La Chablisienne, La Mancha, Lampe de Méduse, Le Petit Trianon, Lussac Saint-Emilion, Margaux, Medoc, Meshi, Monsant, Monterey, Montsant, Pauillac, Pays d'Oc, Peraj Ha’Abib, Peraj Petita, Prestige, Priorat, Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion, R de Romy, Relais de La Dominique, Reserve, Ribera del Júcar, Rioja, Riserva, Rosada, Rosado, Rosato, Rose, Roseline Prestige, Saint Emilion Grand Cru, Saint-Emilion, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe, Sous Chaillots, Summer Ice, Tempo D’ Angelus, Terra di Seta, Tinto, Toscana, Toscano, Vieux Chateau Chambeau, Vin de France, Vina Encina, Whispering Angel, White -
Another round of QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) Hits and Misses, 12 QPR WINNERS – December 2025
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Israeli Wine, Kosher French Wine, Kosher Red Wine, Kosher Rose Wine, Kosher Sparkling Wine, Kosher White Wine, Kosher Wine, QPR Post, WineAura di Valerie, Aziza’s, Barolo, Blanc, Brut, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cantine Leuci Fiano, Capcanes, Chateau Pedesclaux, Chateau Puygueraud, Clos des Menuts, Clos du Moulin, Cremant d’Alsace, ESSA Wine Co., Essence, Godin, Goose Bay, GRW, Harkham Winery, Koenig, Larmoni, Marchesi Fumeanelli, Netofa Winery, Peraj Ha’Abib, Pet-Nat, Pinot Noir, QPR, Razi’el, Red, Reserve, Riesling, Rose, Roter Hang, Saperavi, Sauvignon Blanc, Secret Reserve, Shiloh WInery, Shiraz, Solar das Boucas, Teperberg Winery, Terso, Trocken, Tsinandali, Vento Bianco, Weingut Gehring, White -
KFWE Miami 2025, a new venue is not always the best idea
WIZO – Women’
s International ZionistOrganization is a worthy cause that hosts an annual KFWE (Kosher Food and Wine Extravaganza). KFWE is a Royal Wines idea for implementing Kosher Wine education. The event may appear on Royal Wine’s KFWE page, along with NYC/NJ and CA (which will return next year), but the Miami event is run by WIZO.KFWE Miami
The KFWE Miami, which happened two weeks ago, on December 10th, 2025, was held at a new location, the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. If we can start with the obvious, the event was moved from the longstanding location of the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort in Aventura. It had been there for about 5 years. Before that, it was a mix of the Gulfstream Park’s Sport of Kings Theater and the Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood. Before we get to the food, wine, and such, we need to talk about the layout and the premises.
I have been to all the locations, and I still think the JW was the best. It was the largest, though the racetrack was a bit larger, but poorly laid out. The Fontainebleau may have a bit more glitz on the outside, but inside, it pales in comparison to the JW’s staff and quiet elegance. Beyond that, the amount of available space and how it was used were big misses this year.
Looking at the pictures above, you can see absurd crowding around the food options in the back aisle. Looking closely at the second picture, you can tell why. The space in the room was poorly used. The tables were laid out so there were three aisles instead of 5 or more. All that empty space was wasted, and it could have been used to manage crowds or to provide seating to enjoy the food and wines. Instead, it was literally used for a couple of screens, and that was it!
This caused intense crowding in the back aisle, where all the California wines, M&M Wines, and other wines were being poured. This was a nuisance for the people who came to taste those wines and for those who wanted to enjoy the food options.
The food setup was very much the same as in previous years, outside of the layout and locations. However, for the first time, in Miami, they seemed to be cooking food there on the premises. The smells were so strong, I had a SERIOUS issue smelling any wine. The food options were once again a miss, either overcooked or tasteless. The only reasonable option, food-wise, was the sushi, and the long lines proved it. Krudo continues to impress with their fish and flavors!
I will stress that this event, year after year, seems to be well attended, and the people there seem very happy and enjoy their time. My points are more from a wine-tasting perspective and far less about the ambiance, noise, and food. If I were to comment on the event based on how most attendees saw it, I think they would agree that the layout needs to be fixed, but otherwise, they were all happy.
Wines
At the current time, there are just a few new 2023 French wines in the United States. Since the Miami event, a bunch more have arrived. However, what was poured at the event was current wines, at that time, given the logistics and travel times.
Most of the wines were current, and the pouring process was done well. Regarding representation, Menahem Israelievitch was there to talk about French wines. Amichai Lourie from Shiloh Winery, along with Gad Elbaz (promoting his namesake wine), GAD from Shiloh Wineries. Roni Jesselson, President of Carmel Winery and Yatir Winery. Herzog Winery was represented by David Galzignato, Director of winemaking and operations, at Herzog Wine Cellars. Sagie Kleinlerer, Managing Director of Covenant Wines. Itamar Alperin, Export Manager. Alex Haruni and Shai Ghermezian from Dalton Winery and Allied Wines, respectively. Isaac Porzia for M&M Importers.
If you were looking to be educated overall, I think they missed the opportunity, which was unfortunate, given that this is the only KFWE in the USA open to the public! Again, KWD will act as the Public KFWE going forward, but that does not excuse this oversight. IMHO, Miami is the next NY/NJ in terms of sales and prospective buyers.
A few years ago, Jay Buchsbaum, the executive vice president of marketing and director of consumer education at Royal Wine, asked me to choose three wines I liked from the KFWE Miami event. Since that year, I have taken it upon myself to find good, new Israeli options, and once again, I was successful! As usual, I did so minus my usual crutches, like French and Italian wines from the usual suspects, and stuck to new to less-known wines. This was no easy task!
Also, I tasted every Israeli wine at the event. There was one new Italian wine that I wanted to add to the list, but it showed very poorly at the event. In the end, my three winners for KFWE Miami 2025 are:
So, for all intent and purpose, I tasted every wine at the event and these are the three I chose:
- 2023 Feldstein Roussanne, Galilee – Score: 92+
- 2023 Pinto Wadi Shualim, Negev – Score: 92
- 2024 Goose Bay Small Batch Pinot Noir, East Coast (M) – Score: 92
- 2024 Psagot Peak White, Judean Hills – Score: 91+ (Honorable Mention)
- 2024 1848 Orient White, 5th Generation, Galilee – Score: 91
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California Dreamin’ about more 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 vintages and a Herzog Event
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Kosher Red Wine, Kosher Rose Wine, Kosher Sparkling Wine, Kosher White Wine, Kosher Wine, Wine, Wine Tasting, Winery VisitAlexander Valley, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Black Label, Blanc de Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Rose, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chalk Hill, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg, Covenant Winery, Dignitary, Don Ernesto, Dry, Eminence, Five, Hagafen Winery, Hajdu Wines, Herzog Cellars Winery, Knights Valley, La Familia, Lake County, Landsman, Lineage, Mayacamas, Merlot, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, North Coast, Oak Knoll, Oh!, One Plus XII, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Prix Reserve, Riesling, Rose, Rutherford District, Single Vineyard, Solomon Blanc, Sonoma, Sonoma-Loeb, Special Edition, Special Reserve, Syrah, Variations, Warnecke Vineyard, White, Winery Reserve -
The 2025-2026 kosher wine-tasting event season is upon us
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France, May 2025 – Part 2 – IDS – Short, but very sweet…
As always, one of the highlights of my trips to France is our visit to IDS. For a number of years, I used to make a single trip in November, as this is when Royal released their wines – and with all due respect to everyone else, no one produces as much wine with such consistent levels of quality as Royal. So, November each year it was. But, while I was making annual trips in November, David Raccah of Kosher Wine Musings. who always organizes everything for all of these visits, was making an additional yearly trip in May – and this is when he would usually taste the IDS wines as they release a few months later than Royal. Therefore, when we would get there together in November, he had already tasted a bunch of stuff – and I would miss out. I corrected this mistake a few years ago – and if there was ever a reason to justify a second trip, this was the visit. 2022 was a special vintage with some truly awesome wines produced – but the top of the heap, perhaps the GOAT, is the 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte. My notes for that are below, but while tasting, I noticed something that I had ignored each time I had tasted an SHL -there is QR code on each bottle that attests to its authenticity. Each bottle has a unique code – and each case lists the bottles contained therein.
There is a time stamp showing when the bottle was activated and a separate timestamp on the case showing when the case in question was packed. This is something that has been going on for the kosher releases as far back as 2009. And if you look at the results, the kosher releases are given unique trackers – in other words, the inventory is carefully managed down to the bottle. In the kosher world, I believe this is unique to SHL and just shows you how much the brand puts into making sure its customers – kosher included – are getting the quality product they expect. Anyhow, enough wine-geekery – though I can say, if there was ever a wine that deserved high-end inventory control and tracking, it’s this one. On top of the SHL we have wonderful showings from Château Lafon Rochet (a QPR superstar especially in France) and Domaine de Chevalier. We only tasted six wines in total (one of which was not an IDS wine and so is not included here but will be included in my next post) – so this visit was relatively short, but super sweet! Here are the notes:
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