Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Giving Vine (Wine Gifts)

#351 -November 30, 2017 Chanukah & the Art of Gift-Giving Long before sanctifying Rosh Chodesh Kislev with the serious wines of RCC (check out the Jewish Week’s recent article on RCC), my desk was cluttered with multiple lists outlining in great detail and colorful ink (not to mention varying degrees of legible penmanship) the different […]

Making it Easy (Thanksgiving Wines)

#350 – November 22, 2017 As a wine writer and full-fledged oenophile, the chagim and seasonal weather changes are harbingers not only of wardrobe changes and an onslaught of meat-heavy grocery shopping but also curated wine and drinking adjustments.  With good wine playing a primary role in the positive vibe of any social gathering or […]

Shiloh Winery

#349 – November 5, 2017 It has been more than five years ago since Shiloh Winery was profiled on this newsletter and things have certainly changed since 2012 when it was still a relative newcomer to the scene.  As can be seen in my interview of the principal owner in 2014, much has changed over […]

When Patience Really is a Virtue (Aging Wine)

The coming Chagim present a perfect opportunity to dig deep into our cellars and bring out some of those Moshiach Wines. While RCC has (and continues to) provide its hundreds of participants around the globe with monthly “excuses” to open and share some of our better wines, the Jewish Holiday “season” of Rosh Hashana, Succot […]

Historical Connections (Personal Israeli Wine Milestones)

#331 – May 1, 2017 As you know, today we transition from Yom HaZikaron to Yom HaAtzmaut – Israel’s 69 Independence Day – so Happy Birthday of Israel! A little related tidbit I picked up this weekend is that due to Israel’s desire to avoid the desecration of Shabbat in connection with any national events, […]

Holiday Prep (2017 Annual Pesach Wine Buying Guide)

Public Service Announcement: You can skip the verbiage and scroll straight down to the bottom of this newsletter for the actual list (which this year includes all my recommendations in this week’s edition, instead of being split over two weeks), but I suggest reading through since the material below contains a number of tips that […]

A Very Good Year (Best of 2016)

Following last week’s newsletter summarizing the trends and occurrences in the kosher wine world, this week includes my annual list of the “Best Wines of 2016” and the “Most Exciting / Interesting Wines of 2016” (many of which give more pleasure than some of their “near-perfect” brethren who are included in the former, more prestigious, […]

Wine and Food Pairing

#320 – September 22, 2016 (“Mix and Match”) One of the most frequently-asked questions I receive is with respect to finding the “right” wine(s) to go with any number of specific dishes and/or holiday meals.  As any frequent reader of this newsletter knows, my general belief is that wine is a beverage that can and […]

The [Serious] Pleasures of Pink

Albeit a little later in Rosé’s “traditional” drinking season than usual (last year’s version was released prior to Shavuot), there are more than six weeks of summertime drinking left to enjoy one of the most glorious of all wine genres – Rosé (although as Eric Asimov and I have written, like Champagne, Rosé should be […]

30 Days Prior (2016 Pesach Buying Guide)

Public Service Announcement: You can skip the verbiage and scroll straight down to the bottom of this newsletter for the actual list (which this year includes all my recommendations in this week’s edition, instead of being split over two weeks), but I suggest reading through since the material below contains a number of tips that […]