I’ve removed two very great pages on this wordpress blog but this and more are available on the NEW HaKerem

For great info about Israeli wine go to http://www.israeli-wine.org

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR LINKS AND BOOKMARKS

I have launched a new site for HaKerem: The Israeli Wine Blog. The new URL is http://www.israeli-wine.org

There still are some kinks, which I would appreciate any help. I admit that WordPress.com is much easier than the self-hosted counterpart, but this version has also lacked key features which have kept content out of your reach. This site will hopefully not be updated any longer so please go on over to:

http://www.israeli-wine.org

Also, if you are linking to this site, please update your links to HaKerem: The Israeli Wine Blog at http://www.israeli-wine.org

Richard Shaffer of Israeli Wine Direct has an absolutely excellent video post about how “kosher is not a country” and how many of the everyday foods that are in your refrigerator, pantry, and throughout your house may be kosher – no matter your religion. Coca Cola, Cheerios, Heinz ketchup, fruits and vegetables and many more everyday products are all kosher.

Yet, as we all know, there is still a stigma with kosher wine. People even search online for “Jewish wine” yet there is NO difference in the actual winemaking process between kosher grape wine and “non-kosher” wine.

I’ve said enough about kosher and wine but, before you leave this blog (and hopefully buy some online kosher wine and great non-kosher wine at Israeli Wine Direct, if you’re in the US), check out this video:

What wine are you opening this July 4 weekend? Personally, I’m in the mood for a nice California Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley or Russian River, but I think instead I will go for an Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon, depending on dinner tonight. The Segal Single Vineyard tastes like it could be from Napa.

What are you drinking this holiday weekend?

Check out this fascinating video with Gary Vaynerchuk and Kevin Rose of Digg giving the basics of wine tasting and wine tasting. Topics covered including corkscrews, decanting, wine fridges, and other topics. Check it out!

I have written previously about Israeli Wine Direct and the important work Richard Shaffer and his team are doing to bring small-quantity Israeli wine into the United States. IWD is making some of Israel’s best, small-production wine available to consumers in America. My only complaint is that it means less for me!

Well, I have just been informed that Israeli Wine Direct has officially launched. This new online wine store (also selling direct to trade) focuses on hand-selected, artisanal, mostly non-kosher wines from Israel. Individual consumers (where allowed by state law) can now get access to individual bottles and cases of some of Israel’s best wines.

Wineries represented within the Israeli Wine Direct selection are Margalit, Flam, Pelter, Meishar, Tzora, Yaffo, Bravdo, Somek, and La Terra Promessa, among others. They all have great reputations in Israel and are all of unique style, both old and new world.

According to Richard, “Reviews, ratings and stories are showing up coast to coast. We want to provide serious wine lovers access to niche, high-quality, small-production wines from the region.”

If you are in the United States, I strongly recommend going over to Israeli Wine Direct and picking up some great Israeli wine!

As Gary V says “LINK IT UP“

If you’ve been enjoying reading this blog than please be sure to add a link to your blog, website, twitter feed, or even e-mail signature. Link it up baby!

And, of course, I always accept tips in the little “tip jar” on the top right.

While Adam Sandler’s character Zohan may eat American hummus (which, I must ask, what was up with that? No self-respecting Israeli would eat American hummus), it appears that Adam Sandler is enjoying some Israeli wine.

On a recent trip in California, Sandler and his entourage visited O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery, where Ari Erle is the assistant winemaker. Ari, as you may know, runs Israel Wine Company, a great wine club focusing on Israeli wines and he also makes wine in Israel. So, of course, Ari gave Sandler some Israeli wine including the Rimon Wine and Clos de Gat, which they planned on tasting shortly after the visit.

Interesting article about Israeli wine, especially Flam - whose father was the first Israeli to study at the University of California Davis’s winemaking program and was the winemaker at Carmel for decades. In honor of the Jewish Vinter’s event in California last weekend, several Israeli winemakers were there including Golan Flam (of Flam), Assaf Paz (of Binyamina and an advisor for Vitkin), Gil Shatsberg (of Recanati, formerly of Amphorae) and Ariel Ben-Zaken (of Castel).

Check out the article and check out the wine.

School’s out! The tourists have arrived. Israelis are on vacation and visitors from around the world are amassing on Israel for their summer vacation.

While you’re here this summer, there are some tremendous events not worth missing on the wine scene:

24 June – Lecture Series: Wine in Ancient Israel

The Tel Aviv wine shop Pri HaGafen is hosting a series of lectures by Professor Amos Hadas who is indeed one of the most knowledgeable people in the world on this subject of wine in ancient Israel. The first lecture will take place on Tuesday, 24 June on the premises of the store at Rehov Achad HaAm 4 in the Neve Tzedik quarter of Tel Aviv. It begins at 8:00PM and the fee is NIS65. Several wines will be tasted during the event.

25-26 June – Wine Fair at the Land of Israel Museum

As previously mentioned, the Eretz Yisrael Museum in Ramat Aviv (next to the Tel Aviv University campus and near the Arlozoroff bus station) will play host for the 12^th wine fair of the Wine and Gourmet Magazine. Admission is 57NIS. For more information: 1-700-504-404.

4 July – Pelter unveils two new wine’s

On Friday, 4 July, Tal and Nir Pelter of the Pelter Winery will host the unveiling of two new wines – the 2006 Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon in their T-Selection Series. The event will take place on Moshav Tsofit from 10:00-19:00. In addition to tastings of the two newly released wines it will be possible to purchase any of the wines of the winery.

Precise driving instructions and further information can be gained by email to Info@pelterwinery.co.il or by telephone to 052 8112385.

15-17 July: Jerusalem Wine Festival

Especially appropriate for visitors, the Jerusalem Wine Festival will be held at the Israel Museum’s splendid sculpture garden on 15-17 July, from 7:00PM until midnight. There will be about 35 wineries represented and the cost of admission is 55NIS, which includes a tasting glass and unlimited tastings.

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