The Kosher Terroir

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The Slichot prayers rise like mist from the terrace of Beit Yisrael Synagogue in Yemin Moshe, carried skyward by the Solomon Brothers Band as Jerusalem's ancient walls stand witness. This rare recording captures repentance transformed into celebration—a spiritual vintage worth savoring.

Rabbi Yeres offers profound wisdom about tears and prayer. From the Talmud, he shares that when the Temple was destroyed, the gates of prayer were locked—but the gates of tears remained forever open. In a year marked by tremendous suffering for Israel, this teaching carr...

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Nestled in the rugged hills of Montserrat, Spain, lies a winemaking story so unlikely you might think it's fiction. Jürgen Wagner, a German-born winemaker who now leads exports for Capçanes winery, takes us through an extraordinary journey of transformation, tradition, and unexpected salvation.

This small cooperative of just 55 farming families was on the brink of collapse in the early 1990s. Having been downgraded from bulk wine producer to mere grape supplier, their future looked bleak until a Barcelona Rabbi made an unusual request: could they pr...

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Alessandro Cellai speaks with the gentle confidence of someone who has transformed Italian wine over three decades, yet he carries his accomplishments with remarkable humility. As we journey through his winemaking life – from early mentorship under the legendary Giacomo Tachis to his current leadership at multiple prestigious estates – a philosophy emerges that transcends technique.

"In all great wines we must recognize terroir. In top wines we must recognize the grape. And we must recognize the DNA of the winemaker." These principles, instilled by Tachis (creator of Super Tusc...

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The pop of a cork, the swirl in the glass, the scent of fruit, earth, and time captured in a single sip—wine has been the centerpiece of Jewish tradition for millennia. Yet something remarkable has happened in our lifetime: kosher wine has transformed from sweet ritual necessity to world-class luxury, collecting international medals and commanding respect from the most discerning palates.

This transformation couldn't come at a more paradoxical moment. While kosher wines reach unprecedented heights of quality and prestige, global wine consumption is plummeting. From Fr...

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Nestled in the ancient hills where Jacob once dreamed of a ladder reaching to heaven, Hillel & Nina Manne have created something extraordinary, a boutique winery that transforms biblical terroir into world-class kosher wines. This episode takes you to Beit El Winery, where tradition meets innovation in every bottle.

With disarming candor and refreshing pragmatism, Hillel shares his journey from agricultural studies at UC Davis to establishing vineyards in the historically rich Judean hills. "I make wine that I like, my family and I drink as much as...

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There's something magical about beginnings—especially when they're rooted in volcanic soil under sweeping Golan skies. Join me for an unforgettable visit to Sha'al, where Sam and Rivka Baum are writing the next chapter of Israel's wine story with their Family Baum Winery.

After years at prestigious Castel Winery, Sam identified this northern Golan location as "the best area in the whole Levant" for viticulture. The evidence is compelling: deep soil with perfect water retention, volcanic basalt for drainage, dramatic temperature shifts between day and night, and un...

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The somber days leading to Tisha B'Av bring us face-to-face with profound loss and spiritual yearning. Why do we refrain from wine during this period of mourning? The answer lies not just in ancient texts but in the very soil of Jewish history and practice.

Wine flows through Jewish tradition as a symbol of both celebration and sanctification. When we abstain before Tisha B'Av, we're acknowledging the absence of true joy without the Temple service, where wine libations once accompanied sacred offerings. This practice varies among communities – Se...

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We take a behind-the-scenes look at Shiloh Winery's beautiful new visitor center for an exclusive first taste with Itay Metzger, VP & Winemaker at Shiloh Winery, of two groundbreaking wines that represent bold new directions for one of Israel's premier wineries.

What happens when traditional winemakers become students again? The answer lies in these two remarkable bottles: Shiloh's first-ever Tannat varietal and their inaugural Pinot Noir, both from the prestigious Secret Reserve line. These aren't just new wines—they're completely new expressions that challenge pre...

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Step into the sun-drenched vineyards of Anava, where founder Nadav Jesselson transforms traditional winemaking into a community adventure. Fresh from their inaugural harvest, Nadav shares the triumphs and challenges of nurturing vines through Israel's demanding climate – and the unexpected honor of having their first vintage selected by prestigious Yatir Winery.

What distinguishes Anava from other vineyards is its innovative approach, allowing wine enthusiasts to own personal plots while participating in every aspect of the vineyard-to-bottle journey. Nadav passionately explains how this creates not just excellent wine, but al...

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Nestled among the rolling Judean hills sits Anava Vineyards, a place where passion, personal connection, and profound terroir converge to create something truly extraordinary. More than simply producing wine, Anava offers individuals and families the rare opportunity to craft wine from their own plots of land in Israel, guided by a world-class winemaking team.

Returning to our podcast, Nadav Jesselson shares how Anava has evolved through challenging times, including navigating the disruptions of war and military service while continuing to nurture both vines and community. In Part...

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Dive into the extraordinary world of Tannat, a grape that commands respect with its bold structure, remarkable longevity, and fascinating journey across continents. While many wine enthusiasts gravitate toward Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah, Tannat offers something profoundly different – a powerful red with ancient origins that challenges our assumptions about what bold wines can be.

Tannat's story begins in the rugged foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains, where medieval monks cultivated this robust grape to fortify pilgrims traveling the Camino de Santiago. Known as "the black wine of Madiran," th...

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What does it take to create a perfect wine? Is it even possible? And is Israel ready to produce a bottle that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's most acclaimed wines?

Deep in the hills of Shiloh, winemaker Amichai Lourie isn't just crafting excellent kosher wines – he's on a mission to create Israel's first 100-point wine. His newest releases, the Legend series, represent not just exceptional winemaking but a philosophical statement about Israel's place in the wine world.

Named after King David's legendary warriors – Itai, Adino, and...

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The grape that once dominated French vineyards has risen from obscurity to become one of the most exciting varietals in kosher wine. Carignan's story is one of remarkable transformation – from bulk wine scapegoat to artisanal darling.

Born in northeastern Spain so long ago it gave its name to a town rather than the reverse, Carignan traveled through the Mediterranean basin adapting to new terroirs and playing crucial roles in viticultural history. By the mid-20th century, it became France's most planted grape before falling victim to its ow...

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Wine begins with passion, curiosity, and an open heart – elements that define Penina Kustanowitz's remarkable journey into winemaking. Speaking while journeying from Jerusalem to Yerucham's Pinto Winery, Penina shares how a simple love for kosher wine blossomed into a full-fledged winemaking career that's quickly establishing her as one of Israel's rising stars.

Her story unfolds organically – from joining the RCC Club and volunteering at harvests to a fortuitous phone call that led to her first assistant winemaker position. Now armed with UC Davis certification and producing her own...

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The soulful journey of Jeff Morgan from jazz saxophone virtuoso to kosher wine pioneer unveils a remarkable story of passion, transformation, and unexpected spiritual connection. With natural charisma and refreshing candor, Morgan recounts his first culinary awakening in France as a 19-year-old music student that would eventually reshape his entire life's trajectory.

At the heart of this conversation lies the birth story of Covenant Winery—an enterprise that began almost as a dare between Morgan and his late business partner Leslie Rudd. Could they create a kosher wi...

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In this captivating second part of our conversation with Assaf Paz at Vitkin Winery, we move from vineyard stories to the glass itself. Though you can't taste through your headphones, Assaf's vivid descriptions bring each wine to life with such clarity that your imagination fills in the sensory gaps. His approach to winemaking—"taking down my ego, understanding that what I get from the fruit is amazing"—reveals itself through every sip we share.

The journey begins with a stunning Pinot Noir that defies expectations about what can...

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Nestled in the heart of Israel's Sharon coastal plain, Vitkin Winery has been quietly revolutionizing Israeli winemaking for over two decades. Founded in 2001, Vitkin has championed Mediterranean grape varieties that thrive in Israel's unique terroir.

Chief winemaker Assaf Paz welcomes us into his world with remarkable candor, sharing the extraordinary challenges of creating wine during wartime. Following October 7th, 2023, the entire Israeli wine industry faced unprecedented difficulties – from labor shortages as workers joined military reserves to the physical dangers of tending vineyards within rocket range of hostile bo...

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Journey to the edge of the Judean Desert, where breathtaking vistas meet ancient biblical lands at Gilad Winery. Perched dramatically above steep drops into the Jordan Valley, this boutique gem has become a beacon for kosher Mediterranean-style wines under the passionate stewardship of Chaim Sackton.

As we sit surrounded by barrels in his intimate winery, Chaim shares the story of Gilad's inception—how a morning coffee overlooking the distant Gilad Mountains inspired not just the winery's name, but his entire approach to winemaking. Each wine series carries bi...

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The world of kosher wine has embraced transformative approaches to viticulture that honor both ancient traditions and forward-thinking environmentalism. Sustainability isn't just a marketing term—it's a comprehensive philosophy that encompasses water conservation, solar energy, and holistic management, returning waste to the soil as nourishment. These practices create closed-loop systems where nothing is wasted and everything contributes to vineyard health.

Even more fascinating is biodynamics, which incorporates cosmic rhythms into agricultural science. Biodynamic winemakers plant and harvest according to lunar cycles, bury cow horns filled with manure un...

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In a groundbreaking conversation that challenges conventional thinking about kosher certification, Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein reveals how Tzohar is transforming Israel's wine industry through a revolutionary yet deeply halachic approach to kashrut. 

After years serving Jewish communities around the world, Rabbi Grunstein discusses how Tzohar recognized a critical problem: many Israeli wineries simply couldn't access kosher certification due to impractical requirements that weren't actually mandated by Jewish law. The result? Fewer kosher wines and more Shabbat violations across Israel.

Tzohar's solution maintains all essential halachic requirements—clo...

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The vineyard of tomorrow is materializing before our eyes, and kosher wine isn't just keeping pace—it's positioned to lead this technological revolution. 

Imagine walking through a Galilee vineyard where robots delicately prune vines while AI algorithms track each grape variety's development. Picture winemakers wearing augmented reality glasses that display real-time data on sugar levels and hydration metrics. At the fermentation station, sensors fine-tune temperatures as machine learning predicts the perfect fermentation development curve—all while maintaining impeccable kosher supervision.

This isn't science fiction—it's the eme...

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Prepare for an extraordinary Passover experience as we journey through the perfect wine pairings for your Seder table. Broadcasting from Rav Shlomo Katz's beautiful synagogue in Efrat, this special collaboration between The Kosher Terroir and JM in the AM delivers both practical wisdom and spiritual depth for the holiday.

Simon Jacob guides us through his meticulously curated wines for the four cups – beginning with La Forêt Blanche rosé from the historic Yatir region (where King David planted vineyards for Temple's sacrifices), progressing to the robust Flam Whit...

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Imagine tasting wine as it was meant to be—pure, alive, and untamed by modern chemistry. This is the radical vision behind Petachya Winery, where brothers-in-law Petachya Wittenstein and Yaakov Singer are crafting kosher wines that challenge everything we thought we knew about winemaking in Israel.

Nestled in the ancient Ella Valley, their boutique operation produces wines with zero additives, no sulfites, and absolutely no oak—just hand-picked grapes allowed to express themselves through natural fermentation. As we taste through their portfolio, from their standout Argaman to expe...

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Step into the sun-drenched hills of Israel's historic wine country as we continue our exploration of La Forêt Blanche Winery with CEO Yaakov Bris. This intimate conversation reveals how ancient tradition and modern innovation converge in every bottle, creating kosher wines that speak eloquently of their unique terroir.

Yaakov guides us through a comprehensive tasting that follows a symbolic journey from the Negev desert through Hebron and ultimately to Jerusalem. Beginning with their accessible Talpiot range—designed specifically to welcome new wine drinkers—and culminating with their...

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In the sun-drenched highlands of Israel's ancient wine country, a remarkable story of passion, persistence, and purpose is unfolding. This episode takes you inside La Forêt Blanche Winery, where CEO Yaacov Bris has harnessed his unlikely background in e-commerce to revitalize and reimagine what Israeli kosher wine can be.

Yaacov's journey from selling products across 25 countries to building one of Israel's most exciting new wineries began with a simple appreciation for exceptional taste. When he first encountered winemaker Bruno's creations amid a sea of mediocre Israeli w...

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A rare convergence marks this year's Purim celebration as Jerusalem and the rest of the Jewish world unite on the same day—an event that won't occur again for at least two decades. This timing feels divinely orchestrated, arriving precisely when we need Jewish unity most, following more than a year of hardship since October 7th 2023.

The stories of hostages who survived captivity mirror the ancient Purim narrative with startling clarity. Rachel Edry offering her captors homemade cookies during a 20-hour standoff; Yarden Roman Gat sacrificing her fr...

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Dive into the world of kosher wine like never before! In this episode, we chat with Joshua E.  London, a seasoned wine and spirits writer, who takes us through the captivating evolution of kosher wines. From its early roots to the emerging trends and flavors of today, Joshua shares his unique insights into what makes kosher wine special, how it reflects cultural identity, and why different flavors play a vital role in the tasting experience. 

Explore the craftsmanship behind every bottle as Joshua uncovers the stories of th...

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Discover the fascinating journey of Grenache in this captivating episode of The Kosher Terroir! From its rich origins in Spain and its rise in iconic French winemaking to its blossoming presence in Israel's modern wine scene, Grenache is a grape steeped in history and adaptability. Join me, Simon Jacob, as we explore the details of this charming grape varietal, including my own romantic encounters. 

Join us as we traverse Grenache's migration and view its evolving role, not only as a quintessential grape but as a symbol of w...

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In this episode of Kosher Terroir, we trace Colombard’s journey from its French roots to its surprising renaissance in places like California, Australia, and Israel. Learn why Colombard, with its natural high acidity and robustness, is stepping into the spotlight, challenging its status as merely a blending grape, and earning accolades for its ability to produce wines rich in character and flavor.

As we explore Colombard’s global journey, discover the diverse expressions of this unique grape across various terroirs, from the vibrant, fruit-forward wines of Sout...

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Explore the intriguing evolution of Israel's kosher wine industry bringing you insights from Alex Haruni and Guy Eshel of Dalton Winery. Discover how Guy's journey from UC Davis through the Rhone Valley to Australia has influenced his innovative winemaking approach, which has shaped Dalton's offerings. Learn how the Upper Galilee's unique terroir, with its blend of basalt and limestone soils, creates wines of unexpected complexity and aging potential, satisfying both seasoned connoisseurs and new wine enthusiasts alike.

We tackle the challenges of expanding into international markets and...

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Join me, Simon Jacob, as we uncork the rich and vibrant tale of rosé wine, from its ancient origins to its sophisticated status in Greek and Roman times, and onward to its revival as a symbol of laid-back luxury. We journey through the vineyards of Provence where monastic winemakers crafted wines close to today's rosés, and explore how regions like Israel and the United States are producing exceptional kosher rosés, showcasing the adaptability and artistry behind this beloved wine.

We'll traverse the fascinating evolution of ros...

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Discover the captivating world of Israeli winemaking with Or Nidbach, Tabor Winery's head winemaker, as he takes us through his unconventional journey from bartender to winemaking visionary. In this episode, learn how his passion for crafting elegant and drinkable wines emerged, alongside his educational experiences at UC Davis. Or's unique perspective is reshaping Israeli wines, moving away from traditionally powerful styles and focusing on the artistry of wine to deliver a refined sipping experience.

Dive into the evolution of winemaking at Tabor Winery, where sustainability meets innovation...

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Welcome to The Kosher Terroir, your passport to the stories, traditions, and tastes of kosher wine from around the globe. I’m Simon Jacob, and whether you’re a seasoned sommelier, a passionate wine enthusiast, or simply someone looking to add a little sparkle to their day, you’ve arrived at the perfect place.

Today, we’re taking a deep dive into the effervescent, celebratory world of Champagne and sparkling wines. This episode promises to pop with fascinating stories, deep insights, and of course, plenty of bubbly inspirat...

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Welcome to another episode of “The Kosher Terroir.” Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Yael E. Geller, a distinguished figure in the kosher wine community. Yael is a seasoned wine writer, contributing insightful articles to publications such as The Jewish Press and The Jewish Link, where she explores the rich narratives behind wineries and the people who bring them to life. Beyond her writing, Yael co-administers the vibrant Facebook group “Kosher Wines: Sharing & Experiences,” a thriving community of over 8,000 members dedicated to discussing and appreciating kosher wines. Her deep kno...

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Welcome back to The Kosher Terroir – the podcast where we uncork the stories behind the finest wines, the most passionate winemakers, and the rich culture that intertwines with Israel’s flourishing wine scene. I’m Simon Jacob, and today we have an extraordinary guest – a true pioneer of Israeli winemaking, Avi Feldstein. Avi’s name is synonymous with innovation, bold experimentation, and a deep respect for the land and its native grape varieties.

From his transformative work at Segal Winery to founding his boutique <...

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What happens when you combine resilience, passion, and a love for winemaking? You get the incredible journey of Yaakov Ben Moshe, the heart and soul of Gat Basela Winery in Eish Kodesh. Raised in Massachusetts and now thriving in Israel, Yaakov has faced numerous challenges, from living in caves as part of the Hilltop Youth to losing all his possessions in a fire. Yet, his dedication to winemaking never wavered. Our conversation with Yaakov offers an inspiring narrative of perseverance that will leave you in awe of his commitment...

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Discover the joy of pairing wines with Hanukkah themes in our special crossover episode with The Kosher Terroir and the Parsha Wine Club podcasts. Led from Jerusalem by Simon Jacob, the vibrant Yechiel Chovav, insightful Itzik Stern, and Torah scholar Rabbi Levi Morrow. Embark on a flavorful journey with us, exploring selections like Vitkin Winery's Macabeo, and indulge in the artistry of winemaking. Levi enriches our celebration with his profound insights from translating Rav Shagar's Holiday Dreshas, weaving wisdom and festive spirit together...

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Ever wondered how a deep-rooted family tradition from Yemen could inspire a modern winemaking journey in Ma'ale Efrayim? Meet Yaacov Ben-Ami, a passionate winemaker who crafts approximately 3,000 bottles of kosher wine annually in his home winery. Join us as we uncover Yaacov's story, woven through tales of his grandfather Saba Moshe’s influence and his grapes sourced from vineyards across Shiloh, Itamar, and Galil regions of Israel. Discover the unique narratives behind his wines, each reflecting the historical and natural tapestry of their region.

Explore the nuances of...

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Discover the sacred secrets of kosher wine with esteemed Rabbi Yaakov Shepherd. We'll uncover how wine has become a cornerstone in Jewish rituals, steeped in history and spirituality. Rabbi Shepherd brings a wealth of Kabbalistic wisdom to our discussion, illuminating the profound connection between wine and spiritual elevation. Together, we explore how ancient wine presses in Israel tell a story that still resonates through practices like Kiddush and Havdalah, symbolizing joy, sanctity, and the transformation of everyday moments into sacred experiences.

Intrigued by the idea of "tikkun"...

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Join us for an enchanting excursion into the heart of Israel's wine country with our esteemed guest, Dr. Sam Soffer, a passionate wine enthusiast and doctor. Together, we navigate the stunning landscapes of the Shomron region, uncovering the unique charm and educational allure of Israeli wineries. With Sam's rich experiences and insights, you'll gain an insider's perspective on what makes these vineyards a must-visit. Sam's personal anecdotes and connections bring an added layer of intrigue and authenticity to our exploration.

Our conversation also highlights the vibrant winery...