In the mind of every Jewish gourmand looms a question: Am I drinking a good wine — or is it just good for a kosher wine? Thanks to many years of abuse by the Manischewitz Co., we’re filled with self-loathing for our vino.
Distributor Royal Wine is trying to change that perception by hosting the Kosher Restaurant & Wine Experience at Pier 60 in Chelsea Monday.
We wanted to experience them first, so in the name of science — and the fun of wine tasting — I brought a selection of Royal Wine’s more popular vintages to a Sabbath dinner hosted by Kol haKfar, a group of Jewish professionals who know Manischewitz from merlot.
First up was Segal’s Special Reserve cabernet sauvignon ($21), from the Galilee in Israel. With its blackberry and dark cherry flavors, this first one ended up being our favorite of the night. “You definitely get the tannins,” said Jonathan Schecter, as he swirled it around in his mouth, then swallowed — there was no wine bucket. We weren’t so fortunate with the next three. One, a Baron Herzog shiraz ($13), tasted white, not red — not a good thing.
But when we opened a Capcanes Peraj Petita ($22), a Spanish wine with red berries and cherry flavor, the room was buzzing. “It was very different,” says Illana Feiglin. “I don’t think I had ever had one like that before.”
Last, we opened a bottle of sparkling white dessert wine — a Bartenura Moscato ($12), an Italian loaded with pears, tangerines and melon flavors. Two fans waved their plastic cups in excitement.
About 200 varietals from 40 wineries will be on display at the Kosher Restaurant & Wine Experience. We guarantee that you won’t notice that you’re drinking a kosher wine.
And if you do, quit whining.
Tickets, $100; 888-710-2439 or royalwines.com.