Taking a walk around Bergenfield’s Wine Country last week indicated an infusion of new, exciting bottles as well as changes and expansions to the store’s kosher section, which already takes up a quarter of the shelves. “We are making room for more than two dozen new Italian wines, and a dozen new Spanish wines, in addition to some new liqueurs available on the market this year for the first time,” said Scott Maybaum, owner of Wine Country Stores and the Bergenfield location. While Wine Country carries some kosher wines in all of its stores, Bergenfield’s store has a strong focus on kosher, which Maybaum says provides an important service to the local community; many of the store’s liquors, spirits and other products are certified as well.
Maybaum shared thoughts on a few products that are particularly exciting for kosher consumers this season. New this year on the shelves is a liqueur product that is sure to be exceedingly popular: Heavens Artisan Liqueurs, which offers imaginative, fun flavors such as caramel toffee, classic cappuccino, nougat, peanut, chocolate cherry and dark chocolate. The liqueurs are O-U, pareve and distributed by Kedem Europe. At $20 a bottle, the price is also quite reasonable.
Just in time for Chanukah, Maybaum had held tastings for a variety of sparkling wines, or “sparklers,” that are easy drinking and a perfect accompaniment to cut through those greasy latkes. Never before has there been such a great selection for sparkling kosher wine. Five Stones Margaret River in Australia has a sparkler made in the “Methode Champenoise” style, indicating that while wines only made in Champagne, France can ever be technically called Champagne, this method is being used to make this sparkling chardonnay wine (and it’s on sale for $15.97).
Other new sparklers to try this year include the Italian Lambrusco by Contessa Annalisa, which is imported by The River Wine. It’s a semi-dry wine, so it is drier than a Moscato but more fruity than a brut ($10.99). Cantine de Borgo Reale, another Italian winemaker, also has a delicious kosher Prosecco on the market (on sale for $14.97), which is made in the dry brut style and is best served ice-cold.
Taste all these wines and more at the Wine Country-sponsored Congregation Ahavath Torah Wine and Spirits Tasting on January 7 at 8 p.m., and learn more by visiting Wine Country in Bergenfield on 89 New Bridge Road, 201-385-0106.
By Elizabeth Kratz
