Welcome to the life of a kosher wine taster.

In the New York City offices of The Jewish Week, in late January and early February, eight wine connoisseurs made their way through 242 bottles of kosher wine. First aerating the wine with a gentle swirl, then swishing it around the palate, and ultimately spitting the liquid into buckets scattered across a table where they were gathered.

The eight men and women who gathered give each a ranking between 1 and 100.  All wines tasted were part of a blind tasting, meaning the bottles were wrapped to conceal the wine’s identity from the panels of judges.

Wineries from around the world had sent complimentary bottles to The Jewish Week to ultimately be tasted by this panel of judges. Their results are below.

A bottle of Yarden wine. Photo: Milchig.

Top Red Wines

1 Shirah Wine, Power to the People, Syrah, 2009
2 Covenant, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
3 (tie) Alexander, Reserve, Syrah, 2009
3 (tie) Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Pinot Noir, 2007
4 Dalton, Shiraz, 2009
5 (tie) City Winery, Pinot Noir, Williamette Valley, 2009
5 (tie) Hagafen, Prix, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006
6 Bazelet HaGolan, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
7 Hagafen, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
8 (tie) Shiloh, Secret Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
8 (tie) Tura, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, 2009
9 (tie) Alexander, Sandro, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, 2007
9 (tie) City Winery, Obsidian Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
9 (tie) Domaine Netofa, Red, 2010
9 (tie) Golan Heights Winery, Golan, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
9 (tie) Tishbi, Estate, Shiraz, 2007
9 (tie) Weinstock, Cellar Select, Petite Sirah, 2010
10 Livni, Sdeh Kalev, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009

Top Red Wines $25 and Under

1 Dalton, Shiraz, 2009
2 (tie) Alexander, Sandro, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, 2007
2 (tie) Domaine Netofa, Red, 2010
2 (tie) Weinstock, Cellar Select, Petite Sirah, 2010
2 (tie) Tishbi, Estate, Shiraz, 2007
3 (tie) Golan Heights Winery, Golan, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
3 (tie) Weinstock, Red by W, 2009
3 (tie) Barkan, Classic, Pinot Noir, 2010
4 Binyamina, Reserve, Shiraz, 2009
5 Teperberg, Silver, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010
6 (tie) Borgo Reale, Maturo, 2009
6 (tie) Galil Mountain, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
7 Cantina Gabriele, Pinot Noir, 2010
8 (tie) Capçanes, Peraj Petita, 2009
8 (tie) Beit-El, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010
9 (tie) Shiloh, Shor, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, 2007
9 (tie) Gush Etzion, Spring River, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, 2009
10 (tie) Carmel, Appelation, Merlot, 2006
10 (tie) Don Guillermo de Mendoza, Pinot Noir, 2010
10 (tie) Recanati, Merlot, 2010
10 (tie) Recanati, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2010
10 (tie) Recanati, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009

Top Red Wines Over $25

1 Shirah Wine, Power to the People, Syrah, 2009
2 Covenant, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
3 (tie) Alexander, Reserve, Syrah, 2009
3 (tie) Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Pinot Noir, 2007
4 (tie) Hagafen, Prix, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006
4 (tie) City Winery, Pinot Noir, Williamette Valley, 2009
5 Bazelet HaGolan, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
6 Hagafen, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
7 (tie) Shiloh, Secret Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
7 (tie) Tura, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, 2009
8 City Winery, Obsidian Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
9 Livni, Sdeh Kalev, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
10 (tie) Gush Etzion, Lone Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
10 (tie) Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008
11 Dalton, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
12 Alexander, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
13 (tie) Segal, Dishon Single Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007
13 (tie) Psagot, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
13 (tie) Barkan, Altitude +624, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007
13 (tie) Gush Etzion, Lone Oak, Syrah, 2009
13 (tie) Psagot, Single Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007

A bottle of Recanati Sauvignon Blanc. Photo: PD.

Top White Wines

1 Carmel, Single Vineyard – Sha’al, Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, 2007
2 Domaine du Castel, Blanc du Castel, Chardonnay, 2009
3 Dalton, Reserve, Wild Yeast Viognier, 2009
4 Hagafen, Cuvee De Noirs, 2007
5 Hagafen, Oak Knoll, Chardonnay, 2010
6 (tie) Carmel, Appellation, Chardonnay, 2009
6 (tie) Hagafen, White Riesling, Rancho Wieruszowski, 2011
6 (tie) Weinstock, Cellar Select, Chardonnay, 2008
7  Teperberg,Terra, Sauvignon Blanc, 2011
8 (tie) Gamla, Reserve, Chardonnay, 2010
8 (tie) Lanzur, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010
9  Binyamina, Reserve, Chardonnay, 2010
10 Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Odem Vineyard Chardonnay, 2009
10 Tishbi, Estate, Chardonnay, 2010
11 (tie) Dalton, Alma, Chardonnay-Viognier, 2010
11 (tie) Galil Mountain, Viognier, 2009
12 (tie) Dalton, Fume Blanc, 2010
12 (tie) Hagafen, Prix, Oak Knoll Chardonnay, 2010

Top White Wines Under $18

1 (tie) Gamla, Reserve, Chardonnay, 2010
1 (tie) Lanzur, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010
2 Galil Mountain, Viognier, 2009
3 Dalton, Fume Blanc, 2010
4 Recanati, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010
5 (tie) Shiloh, Chardonnay, 2010
5 (tie) Tishbi, Gewurztraminer, 2010
5 (tie) Hagafen, Don Ernesto’s Collage, 2010
5 (tie) Cantina Gabriele, Moscato Sparkling Rose, n.v
6 (tie) Bartenura, Moscato, 2010
6 (tie) Tishbi, Emerald Riesling, 2010
6 (tie) Joseph River, Estate, Chardonnay, 2010
6 (tie) Teperberg, White (Sauvignon Blanc-Chardonnay), 2011
7 Baron Herzog, Chardonnay, 2008
8 (tie) Geographe, K, Chardonnay, 2009
8 (tie) Primo V Puglia, Moscato, 2010
8 (tie) O’Dwyers Creek, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010
9 Layla Vineyards, Moscato, n.v.

Top White Wines $18 and Over

1 Carmel, Single Vineyard – Sha’al, Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, 2007
2 Domaine du Castel, Blanc du Castel, Chardonnay, 2009
3 Dalton, Reserve, Wild Yeast Viognier, 2009
4 Hagafen, Cuvee De Noirs, 2007
5 Hagafen, Oak Knoll, Chardonnay, 2010
6 (tie) Carmel, Appellation, Chardonnay, 2009
6 (tie) Weinstock, Cellar Select, Chardonnay, 2008
6 (tie) Hagafen, White Riesling, Rancho Wieruszowski, 2011
7 Teperberg,Terra, Sauvignon Blanc, 2011
8 Binyamina, Reserve, Chardonnay, 2010
9 (tie) Tishbi, Estate, Chardonnay, 2010
9 (tie) Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Odem Vineyard Chardonnay, 2009
10 Dalton, Alma, Chardonnay-Viognier, 2010
11 Hagafen, Prix, Oak Knoll Chardonnay, 2010
12 Covenant, Lavan Chardonnay, 2009
13 (tie) Herzog, Late Harvest White Riesling, Monterey County, 2010
13 (tie) Dalton, Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, 2010
13 (tie) Agur, Rosa, 2010

Top Israeli Wines

1 (tie) Alexander, Reserve, Syrah, 2009
1 (tie) Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Pinot Noir, 2007
2 Dalton, Shiraz, 2009
3 (tie) Carmel, Single Vineyard Sha’al, Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, 2007
3 (tie) Bazelet HaGolan, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
4 Domaine du Castel, Blanc du Castel, Chardonnay, 2009
5 (tie) Shiloh, Secret Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
5 (tie) Tura, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, 2009
6 Dalton, Reserve, Wild Yeast Viognier, 2009
7 (tie) Alexander, Sandro, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, 2007
7 (tie) Domaine Netofa, Red, 2010
7 (tie) Tishbi, Estate, Shiraz, 2007
7 (tie) Golan Heights Winery, Golan, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
8  Livni, Sdeh Kalev, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
9 (tie)  Barkan, Classic, Pinot Noir, 2010
9 (tie)  Golan Heights Winery, Yarden, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008
9 (tie)  Gush Etzion, Lone Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
10 (tie)  Binyamina, Reserve, Shiraz, 2009
10 (tie)  Dalton, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009

Top Wines $36 & over

1 Shirah Wine, Power to the People, Syrah, 2009
2 Covenant, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
3 (tie) Alexander, Reserve, Syrah, 2009
3 (tie) Hagafen, Prix, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006
3 (tie) City Winery, Pinot Noir, Williamette Valley, 2009
4 Bazelet HaGolan, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
5 Domaine du Castel, Blanc du Castel, Chardonnay, 2009
6 Hagafen, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
7 Tura, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot, 2009
8 City Winery, Obsidian Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
9 Hagafen, Cuvee De Noirs, 2007
10 Alexander, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
11 (tie) Psagot, Single Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007
11 (tie) Segal, Dishon Single Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007
12 (tie) Gofna,Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009
12 (tie) Capçanes, Peraj Ha’Abib, 2008
12 (tie) City Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bettinelli Vineyard, 2009
12 (tie) Yatir, Red Blend, 2007

This kosher wine guide is distributed with the permission of The Jewish Week and can be found here.