On one of our trips to wineries in the Niagara Peninsula, we learned that if Icewine were a stringed orchestra, Riesling would be the violins and Vidal would be the cellos. We were thrilled to receive a bottle of Tzafona Cellars 2015 Vidal Icewine, and immediately thought of Yo Yo Ma. According to the back label, Tzafona is an ancient Hebrew word meaning northward. Wineries along the Niagara Peninsula are among some of the most northern wineries in North America. Tzafona Cellars’ Vidal Icewine would be a perfect sweet accompaniment to desserts on Yom Kippur.

The certified Kosher Icewine had a dark gold color with orange hue. The aroma of this 100% Vidal Icewine suggests honeysuckle and jammy peaches. The full-bodied and silky mouthfeel could best pair with a rocking chair on a porch. The taste included honey, nectarines, apricots and peach notes. Although sweet, the wine had good acidity. The wine was 11.5% alcohol and the residual sugar measured 20.2% or 202 grams of sugar per liter. 

A partnership between Toby Berkel and Avi Gislason provided the motivation to create Kosher wines in the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario, Canada. In addition to the Kosher Vidal Icewine, they also produce a Kosher Cabernet Sauvignon Icewine and a Kosher Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are crafted by the winemakers at Lakeview Wine Co. under the supervision of the COR and Mehadrin Toronto – Rav Shalom Hirsch Adler.

Cheers,
Terry