Yakov Bromberg of Doyna Wines in Linden, New Jersey, imports unique kosher wines and liquors to the United States. He has created a distinct portfolio that adds significantly to varied kosher offerings here in America. A recent opportunity to taste half a dozen of his wines and a brandy was noteworthy in that there are very few kosher wines available from two of the three regions from which he sent wines.
Bromberg shared bottles of red wine made by Wild Goat, which are Bromberg’s line of wines imported from Mendoza, Argentina’s most important wine region. He also shared several wines made by Cumba Chiliena from the Central Valley, Chile’s most important wine region. His Israeli label is Even Zahav, from the Judean Hills in Israel. His portfolio also includes aged cognacs from France and other liquors from Moldova, in addition to wines and liquors from Italy, France, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland and Uzbekistan. All of his products hold Badatz kosher hechshers.
Wild Goat, from Mendoza, Argentina, makes wines primarily from Argentina’s most famous grape, malbec. Malbec is a classic French grape used in Bordeaux wine blends but which is said to only have found its footing in the unique terroir of Argentina, where the sunshine helps ripen the grape’s thick, black skin. Classic malbecs from this country are colored a deep ruby-red with violet hues, and often have concentrated aromas of red and black fruit, with blossom and blueberry notes in the background. A “tell” if you are ever tasting Argentinian malbec blind, is that the wine’s purple color is distinctive with a slight blue hue at the edge of the glass.
The Wild Goat Malbec Reserve was first produced (as a non-kosher wine) in 1998 by winemaker Alejandro Vigil, now of Catena Zapata, a large, well known label. Vigil is a renowned winemaker who has won numerous awards. The Wild Goat Malbec Reserve has won several awards itself, including a gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2019. Finding Wild Goat wines with Badatz kosher certification is an opportunity for kosher-keepers to taste mid-range and high-end malbec from the most well known malbec region in the world. Many of these wines are priced at under $20, though the reserve wines are priced slightly higher.
Cumba Chiliena from Chile provides young wines made in Chile’s most famous wine region, the Central Valley. These are affordable table wines which provide kosher wines from a region that is almost never available in kosher. We tried Cumba Chiliena Merlot 2021 and Cumba Chiliena Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, which retail for $11-$15. Also available is cabernet sauvignon reserve and chardonnay and sauvignon blanc.
Even Zahav is available in special blends including cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot, made in the Judean Hills. In 2016 it placed No. 1 in the red wine category of the Jewish Week Wine Guide, the precursor to the Jewish Link Wine Guide. The wine I tasted from Even Zahav that I enjoyed the most was the Even Zahav Single Vineyard 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ($45-$50), from the Judean Hills in vineyards at a high altitude of 850 meters, and aged in small French oak barrels for 20 months. Even Zahav also makes table wines composed of merlot and cabernet, which are reasonably priced at $12-$15.
Even Zahav also makes a 36% alcohol brandy made with sweet and bitter orange essence. It is called Even Zahav Goldstone’s Jerusalem of Gold Brandy ($20-$25) and is produced by Kawar Craft Distillery in Tzipporit, which is famous for its arak products.
We look forward to tasting more from the Even Zahav collection.
Learn more about Bromberg’s selections at https://doynawine.com/.
