The Kosher Terroir

Solomon Simon Jacob
  • 5.0 (8)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

We are enjoying incredible global growth in Kosher wine. From here in Jerusalem, Israel, we will uncover the latest trends, speak to the industry's movers and shakers, and point out ways to quickly improve your wine-tasting experience. Please tune in for some serious fun while we explore and experience The Kosher Terroir...www.TheKosherTerroir.com+972-58-731-1567+1212-999-4444TheKosherTerroir@gmail.comLink to Join “The Kosher Terroir” WhatsApp Chat https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHmgm2u5lQW9VMzhnoM7C9 Thursdays 6:30pm Eastern Time on the NSN Network and the NSN App

  1. The Dirt Behind Great Kosher Wine

    2D AGO

    The Dirt Behind Great Kosher Wine

    Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir You can watch a winemaker in a vineyard for five minutes and learn the real secret: they don’t spend most of their time looking at the grapes. They look down at the dirt. From Jerusalem, I’m taking you underground to the place where kosher wine is actually made, in the topsoil, subsoil, bedrock, and the living microbiome that turns geology into something you can feel on your tongue.  We walk through the vineyard’s layers, then travel across the three rock families. Volcanic igneous soils like the basalt of the Golan Heights. Sedimentary limestone and chalk, like what you find in the Judean Hill, and Metamorphic slate and schist in Spain and Germany. To make it practical, I give you a simple side by side tasting to try on Shabbat so you can learn to taste terroir as texture and structure, not just flavor notes.  If this opened your eyes to looking down at the dirt the next time you pour a glass of wine, please subscribe, share with a fellow wine geek, and leave a review so more people can find Kosher Terroir. Support the show www.TheKosherTerroir.com +972-58-731-1567 +1212-999-4444 TheKosherTerroir@gmail.com Link to Join “The Kosher Terroir” WhatsApp Chat https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHmgm2u5lQW9VMzhnoM7C9 Thursdays 6:30pm Eastern Time on the NSN Network and the NSN App

    44 min
  2. KFWE Tel Aviv 2026

    MAY 14

    KFWE Tel Aviv 2026

    Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Most people have a “kosher wine” picture stuck in their head: sweet, syrupy, and only for ritual use. From the floor of a live kosher wine tasting, we go straight at that stereotype by asking winemakers, importers, and wine pros to name the one myth they’d love to kill and then proving the point with specific bottles, regions, and real production details. We talk about what actually drives quality: where the grapes come from, how the vintner works, and why a great kosher wine can be every bit as compelling as a great non-kosher wine. Along the way we pour a rich Chardonnay with serious California pedigree and use it as a reminder that “kosher” is a certification, not a flavor. Several guests also tackle the debates people argue about most, especially Mevushal: what it is today, what it might do to aging, and why modern methods are nothing like the scary “boiled wine” shorthand. The myths get more practical and more human as the microphones move: kosher wine doesn’t have to be expensive, supervision isn’t a constant obstacle to winemaking, and you don’t need a rabbi to bless your bottle. We even get one of the best pieces of drinking advice you’ll hear all week: you shouldn’t feel pressured to finish an opened bottle the same day, and some wines reward patience. Finally, we zoom out to what’s changing fast such as rising Israeli wine quality, greater attention to appellation and winery story, and the outdated idea that women can’t be winemakers in the kosher wine world. If you like wine education without the snobbery, hit subscribe, share this with a friend who still thinks kosher means sweet, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Which kosher wine myth have you heard most often? Support the show www.TheKosherTerroir.com +972-58-731-1567 +1212-999-4444 TheKosherTerroir@gmail.com Link to Join “The Kosher Terroir” WhatsApp Chat https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHmgm2u5lQW9VMzhnoM7C9 Thursdays 6:30pm Eastern Time on the NSN Network and the NSN App

    37 min
  3. The ABC's of Chardonnay Reconsidered

    MAY 7

    The ABC's of Chardonnay Reconsidered

    Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Chardonnay has been mislabeled as predictable for so long that a lot of wine lovers stopped tasting it with fresh eyes. We’re changing that by treating Chardonnay like what it really is: a translator for place and a scoreboard for decisions in the cellar. From my window in Jerusalem, we trace how limestone, clay, and volcanic basalt can reshape the same grape into radically different expressions, whether it’s a mineral-driven Judean Hills white or a fog-cooled California bottle from Russian River Valley or Chalk Hill.  We dig into the story behind the grape, from its surprising DNA parentage to the way Burgundy’s monks “mapped” terroir long before modern lab tools. Then we step into the winery to unpack the real mechanics behind Chardonnay style: malolactic fermentation and the buttery diacetyl debate, French vs American oak, the rise of unoaked “naked Chardonnay,” and bâtonnage for that savory, leesy weight. If you’ve ever wondered why one Chardonnay tastes like flint and another like popcorn, you’ll leave with a clear framework and practical shopping cues.  The kosher wine journey is front and center. We talk about the cold-tech revolution that helped kosher Chardonnay leap in quality, from the Golan Heights’ high-altitude vineyards and stainless steel fermentation control to California pioneers who refused to treat “kosher” as a compromise. Along the way we revisit the Judgment of Paris and the 1990s butter-bomb backlash, then reveal Chardonnay’s secret superpower in Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine, where acidity and patience create some of the most age-worthy bottles on earth.  If you care about terroir, kosher wine, Israeli wine, California Chardonnay, or simply drinking smarter, press play and taste Chardonnay as a living narrative again. Subscribe, share this with your biggest ABC friend, and leave a review with your go-to style: flinty and lean, creamy and layered, or sparkling Blanc de Blancs? Support the show www.TheKosherTerroir.com +972-58-731-1567 +1212-999-4444 TheKosherTerroir@gmail.com Link to Join “The Kosher Terroir” WhatsApp Chat https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHmgm2u5lQW9VMzhnoM7C9 Thursdays 6:30pm Eastern Time on the NSN Network and the NSN App

    46 min
  4. Inside Amphora’s First Premium Kosher Wines Under The Samuel Label

    APR 30

    Inside Amphora’s First Premium Kosher Wines Under The Samuel Label

    Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Amphora has been one of those names that instantly signals ultra-premium Israeli wine. For kosher wine lovers, it has also been the ultimate “so close, yet so far” winery, respected from a distance but missing from the Shabbat table. That gap finally closes as Amphora launches its first kosher lineup: four new wines released under the Samuel label, and we get the rare chance to visit the estate, tour the facilities, and taste all four. We talk through what it actually takes to make serious kosher wine without turning it into a compromise or a side project. That means years of planning from the ground up, making vineyards kosher, choosing the right parcels, and working within the realities of certification while protecting the winemaker’s ability to stay deeply involved. We also zoom out to the bigger story of Israeli wine right now: a clear shift from only heavy, oak-forward classics to fresher, more drinkable styles that make sense in Israel’s heat, powered by grapes like Cinsault, Counoise, Mourvèdre, Grenache Noir, and Grenache Blanc. Then we get specific in the glass. You’ll hear why Amphora’s “terroir” mindset creates soft, silky, summer-friendly reds, and why Ofek stands out as a uniquely bold kosher blend of Grenache Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah that doesn’t neatly resemble anything else in their portfolio. We also go into cellar details that wine geeks love: sur lie aging, torpedo or cigar barrels, the impact of different coopers and forests, and the archive library that keeps a winery honest across decades. If you care about kosher wine, Israeli terroir, or how a world-class producer protects its identity through change, press play. After you listen, subscribe, share it with a wine friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. For more Information: Amphorae Winery https://amphoraewines.com/ Call or Message via WhatsApp +972 54-984-0728 Support the show www.TheKosherTerroir.com +972-58-731-1567 +1212-999-4444 TheKosherTerroir@gmail.com Link to Join “The Kosher Terroir” WhatsApp Chat https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHmgm2u5lQW9VMzhnoM7C9 Thursdays 6:30pm Eastern Time on the NSN Network and the NSN App

    37 min
  5. The Invisible Ingredient: Michel Rolland

    APR 23

    The Invisible Ingredient: Michel Rolland

    Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir A giant has fallen, and we’ve been tasting his influence for years without always knowing his name. From Bordeaux to Napa to the Upper Galilee, Michel Rolland helped define the modern red wine profile so many of us now treat as “normal” — deep color, lush fruit, and tannins that feel like velvet instead of sandpaper. If you’ve ever opened a premium kosher Cabernet or a kosher Bordeaux run and wondered why it’s so polished right out of the gate, the answer often lives in the cellar’s quiet relationship with oxygen. We walk through Rolland’s most important ideas in plain language: physiological ripeness (why sugar isn’t the whole story), ruthless sorting tables that strip out anything imperfect, micro-oxygenation that softens tannins before bottling, and malolactic fermentation in barrel that weaves oak and fruit into one seamless texture. Then we zoom out to the big controversy. Critics claimed these tools “Parkerized” wine, flattened terroir, and turned place into a repeatable formula. Supporters argued terroir only matters if the wine is clean and drinkable. Finally, we bring it home to kosher wine and Israel’s wine revolution, where hot climates and big tannins made Rolland’s playbook feel less like ideology and more like survival. We also look at the pendulum swing toward lower intervention and ask what the next era of premium kosher wine should taste like. If this made you rethink what’s in your glass, share the episode with a wine friend, subscribe, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Support the show www.TheKosherTerroir.com +972-58-731-1567 +1212-999-4444 TheKosherTerroir@gmail.com Link to Join “The Kosher Terroir” WhatsApp Chat https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHmgm2u5lQW9VMzhnoM7C9 Thursdays 6:30pm Eastern Time on the NSN Network and the NSN App

    51 min
  6. To Breathe or Not To Breathe?

    APR 16

    To Breathe or Not To Breathe?

    Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir We dig into the art and science of wine aeration, including the two chemical forces that change everything: evaporation and controlled oxidation. We break down “bottle stink” and why reduced sulfur aromas blow off fast, then explain how oxygen helps tannins polymerize so astringency softens and fruit and floral esters finally show up. We also draw a clear line between aerating wine and decanting wine, since one is about oxygen exposure and the other is often about separating sediment. Because this is kosher wine, we tackle the Mavushal factor too, and I share why Mavushal bottles often respond even better to a big glass, a proper decanter, or a quick Venturi aerator. Then we talk about the danger zone: older vintages, delicate Pinot Noir, crisp whites, and especially sparkling wine, where too much air can flatten the magic. Finally, we get practical with methods from swirling and double decanting to the controversial hyperdecanting blender trick, plus an “interval test” you can run at your Shabbat table to find a wine’s perfect window. If this helps you rescue even one special bottle, subscribe, share the show with a wine-loving friend, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find Kosher Terroir. Support the show www.TheKosherTerroir.com +972-58-731-1567 +1212-999-4444 TheKosherTerroir@gmail.com Link to Join “The Kosher Terroir” WhatsApp Chat https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHmgm2u5lQW9VMzhnoM7C9 Thursdays 6:30pm Eastern Time on the NSN Network and the NSN App

    36 min
  7. Jay Buchsbaum, The Five Cups And What To Pour

    MAR 31

    Jay Buchsbaum, The Five Cups And What To Pour

    Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Four cups of wine feels simple until you try to choose the bottles, pace the night, pair the food, and keep everyone happy at the table. Then someone asks the question hiding in plain sight: what about the fifth cup, and why does Elijah get his own glass? From Jerusalem, we sit down with Jay Buchsbaum, Director of Wine Education at Royal Wine Corporation, to make the Passover Seder make sense both as halacha and as a real-world kosher wine plan you can actually pull off.  We dig into the Talmudic debate behind cup five, why the Gemara lands on teiku, and how that turns Kos Shel Eliyahu into a symbol of future redemption. Jay shares what he sees people pour for Elijah’s Cup, why many prefer an Israeli wine for that moment, and how those customs can become a powerful teaching tool for kids when the door opens and the story feels personal.  Then we go cup by cup with practical advice: when lighter reds, Pinot Noir, rosé, or white wine make more sense than a heavy Cabernet; how to think about ABV and pacing to avoid the classic Passover wine headache; when sweet wines or sparkling wines elevate the fourth cup; and why mevushal wine is often a smart hosting move today. Jay also gives an insider look at Pesach logistics, shifting consumer tastes, climate change pushing alcohol higher, and a list of hidden gem kosher wines across budgets.  If you care about kosher wine, Israeli wine, and building a Seder that tastes as good as it feels, hit play, subscribe, share this with a friend planning their bottles, and leave a review with your go-to Seder pour. Support the show www.TheKosherTerroir.com +972-58-731-1567 +1212-999-4444 TheKosherTerroir@gmail.com Link to Join “The Kosher Terroir” WhatsApp Chat https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHmgm2u5lQW9VMzhnoM7C9 Thursdays 6:30pm Eastern Time on the NSN Network and the NSN App

    51 min
  8. What to do without Scotch on Pesach

    MAR 26

    What to do without Scotch on Pesach

    Send a Text Message to The Kosher Terroir Your whisky cabinet is locked for Passover, but that doesn’t mean your glass has to get boring. From Jerusalem, I take you on a guided journey into kosher brandy as the spirit that actually makes sense for the holiday, not as a backup plan, but as wine’s most concentrated expression of place. We start by clearing up the labels that confuse even seasoned drinkers, then build a simple framework you can use in any liquor store aisle. We travel from Cognac’s chalk and limestone “white fields” to the sandy, iron-tinged soils of Gascony, where Armagnac keeps more oils and character for a bolder, earthier sip. Along the way, I explain how distillation can preserve terroir through congeners and careful cuts, why copper stills matter, and what “rancio” is really telling you after long years in oak. If you’ve ever wondered whether heat destroys nuance, this will change how you taste every aged spirit. Then we get practical about kosher certification and Passover reality. Kosher brandy is governed by stam yeinam, which means supervision, handling rules, and serious attention to barrel provenance can shape what’s available and why it costs what it costs. I also bring the story back home to Israel, from the early Carmel brandies and the legend of 777 to the modern revival led by producers like Tishbi, plus a quick tour of fruit-based cousins like slivovitz, bucha, and calvados. We close with a tasting guide you can use immediately: ditch the snifter, choose the right glass, keep the temperature steady, and pair intelligently with everything from dark chocolate to brisket. If you enjoy thoughtful kosher spirits, Israeli wine culture, and the intersection of halacha and craftsmanship, subscribe, share this with a friend planning their Passover table, and leave a review with the bottle you’re most excited to pour. Support the show www.TheKosherTerroir.com +972-58-731-1567 +1212-999-4444 TheKosherTerroir@gmail.com Link to Join “The Kosher Terroir” WhatsApp Chat https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHmgm2u5lQW9VMzhnoM7C9 Thursdays 6:30pm Eastern Time on the NSN Network and the NSN App

    45 min
See All (135)

Trailer

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

We are enjoying incredible global growth in Kosher wine. From here in Jerusalem, Israel, we will uncover the latest trends, speak to the industry's movers and shakers, and point out ways to quickly improve your wine-tasting experience. Please tune in for some serious fun while we explore and experience The Kosher Terroir...www.TheKosherTerroir.com+972-58-731-1567+1212-999-4444TheKosherTerroir@gmail.comLink to Join “The Kosher Terroir” WhatsApp Chat https://chat.whatsapp.com/EHmgm2u5lQW9VMzhnoM7C9 Thursdays 6:30pm Eastern Time on the NSN Network and the NSN App

Information

  • Creator
    Solomon Simon Jacob
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    135
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Kosher Terroir
  • Show Website
    The Kosher Terroir

You Might Also Like