The third Kosher vintage in our winery has just ended, and we can say that we are very satisfied with the path we started in 2021 that has led us to have our wines tasted by consumers in Israel.
Over the years the number of products that have obtained Kosher certification has increased, and from the 2023 vintage we will present a Prosecco DOC Extra Dry sparkling wine, Pinot Grigio sparkling wine DOC delle Venezie "M-use" and three red wines without added sulfites, Merlot IGT Veneto, Cabernet IGT Veneto and Rosso IGT Veneto.
In these weeks of harvest, we are delighted to host Assaf, a young man of the Jewish religion who for the past three years, together with the Rabbi, has always been present in the winery and guided by our winemakers, carries out every step of the winemaking and bottling process. We interviewed him!
What does "Kosher" mean and what does it mean to produce a Kosher wine?
Kosher is the set of religious rules that regulate the nutrition of the observant Jewish people. The word "kosher" or "kasher" means in accordance with the law, suitable, permitted.
That of Kosher wine is a special story, making it unique from the very first stages of production. There are very specific rules behind the production of Kosher wine and these follow the dictates of the Torah.
What does it mean that wine can only be "touched" by people of the Jewish religion?
Only the harvesting of the grapes is permitted to be done by anyone. All processing and steps up to the time the bottle is corked is permitted to be done only by a person of the Jewish religion and "Shomer Mitzvot"(practicing).
Are there processes in the winemaking and production process that differ from a non-Kosher vin? Are there products that cannot be used in the production of Kosher wine?
The winemaking process of a Kosher wine does not differ from a non-Kosher wine. The only rule is that all products that are used during the different stages, such as yeast and sugar, must themselves have Kosher certification.
How widespread are Kosher-certified Italian wines in Israel?
Italian wines are widespread in Israel and are great synonymous with quality. Most of the wines on supermarket shelves or in specialty stores have Kosher certification.
Is Kosher wine consumption related to specific holidays or is it a daily consumption?
In addition to being consumed in everyday life, wine in the Brahic culture and religion has a fundamental importance. It is used during the meals of Shabbat, Pesach, Passover and Purim, very important holidays in the Jewish calendar.
We would like to thank Assaf for his willingness to help us better understand what it means to produce a Kosher wine and for the effort he puts in every day to enable our wines to reach the tables of Israeli consumers.
Cantina Pizzolato hopes that the conflict in Israel can end soon and that all communities involved will find moments of peace and serenity.
CAMPAIGN FINANCED ACCORDING TO EU REG. N. 1308/2013
