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Kosher California Wines

The Prestige of California Wine

California has a reputation for making some of the best wine in the nation, and there's no exception when it comes to kosher wine from the Golden State. Winemakers at Herzog Cellars have been making wine since 1848 and have an outstanding winery known for being the home of one of the finest restaurants in Southern California: Tierra Sur. Their line of Herzog Variations wine is a true tribute to California's kosher wines. Also celebrated as leaders in the kosher wine scene are Hagafen Cellars in the heart of Napa Valley, and the Weiss Brother's excellent contribution to the market, Shirah. You can now enjoy the best California wines from anywhere in the United States when you purchase online from KosherWine.com.

Shop Our Best Wines From California!

The Modern Boom of California Wines

So what put California on the map in the first place, in a world dominated by France? 

A wine tasting now known as the "Judgement of Paris" was a historical tasting, that with wild publicity, skyrocketed California's reputation in the wine world as a serious competitor of the coveted Bordeaux wines. Although some criticize the way the scores were tallied, in a blind tasting pitting some of France's top wines against a bunch of small-production wines made in the bucolic hills around San Francisco, California came out on top. 

More than the scores though, was the revealing article written by George Taber.

A food and wine writer for Time magazine, Taber, was the only journalist present at the event, and his brief article revealing the result of the tasting to the American people probably had far more impact on the Californian wine industry than the tasting itself.

wine critics - california vs. francewine critics - california vs. france

Taber was allowed to wander around and noted down the judges' comments as they tasted, exposing some rather embarrassing bias: "'Ah, back to France!' exclaimed [Raymond] Oliver after sipping a 1972 Chardonnay from the Napa Valley," Taber wrote in his article. "'That is definitely California. It has no nose,' said another judge – after downing a Batard-Montrachet '73." 

Although kosher wineries existed in these regions before 1976, the outcome, was a huge movement towards california wines, and what set the stage for the production levels of californian wines today.

The Kosher Scene in California Today

California kosher wines are sensory wines that are controlled and delicious, produced with ripe, juicy and fresh taste that cannot be produced in many other areas. Below are a few highlighted kosher wineries in California.

3 of the most famous wineries in california include:

Hagafen Wine CellarsHagafen Wine Cellars
Herzog Wine CellarsHerzog Wine Cellars
Shirah WineryShirah Winery

Hagafen Cellars

Hagafen Cellars is located in the Napa Valley, in the heart of California's premier wine grape region. Hagafen Cellars has been producing some of the best kosher wines from California since 1979. Hagafen Cellars’ three brands (Hagafen Cellars, Prix Vineyards and Don Ernesto) each bear the hechsher of the Orthodox Union as kosher for Passover. The Hagafen Cabernet Sauvignon is one of our favorites; its rich, spicy nose of baker’s chocolate and black cherry compliments the brooding and spice-filled black licorice, black cherry, plum and cranberry on the palate.

Hagafen Wine Cellars EntranceHagafen Wine Cellars Entrance

Historical Tidbits

Hagafen Winery was the first kosher winery in California and is considered to be the “first of the upscale kosher brands.” Many wine critics praise Hagafen Cellars for producing a broad selection of highly recommended kosher wines that are often rated as some of the best kosher wines in the world.

A wine writer from the Washington Post once wrote of the Hagafen Cabernet Sauvignon, "Classic, rich and powerful, this is a real Napa Cab at an optimal stage of maturity."

Hagafen Wines have been served at the White House many times over the years, including a White House State Dinner held by President Reagan in 1981. In 2010, President Barack Obama serve Hagafen Sparkling Wine as the only alcoholic beverage at the annual White House Hanukkah dinner.

In 2004, vandals hit the winery, opening valves and dumping out over $200,000 worth of wine. Luckily the winery has recovered and is selling strong today.

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  • Dry
  • California, Napa Valley
  • 13%
  • Mevushal
  • White
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU
  • $29.99 $26.49
    Save $3.50 (12%)
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  • Dry
  • California
  • 12.50%
  • Mevushal
  • Red
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU
  • $59.99 $53.49
    Save $6.50 (11%)
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  • Dry
  • California
  • 13%
  • Mevushal
  • Red
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU
  • $49.99 $44.49
    Save $5.50 (11%)
    (12)
  • Dry
  • California
  • 13.50%
  • Mevushal
  • White
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU
  • $39.99 $33.99
    Save $6.00 (15%)
    (5)
  • Semi-Dry
  • California
  • 11%
  • Mevushal
  • White
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU
  • $29.99 $26.49
    Save $3.50 (12%)

    Herzog Wine Cellars

    Herzog Wine Cellars have been producing wine for over 100 years, beginning with winemaker Philip Herzog, who made wine in Slovakia for the Austro-Hungarian court. The wine company was handed down through the family and in 1948, the Herzog family moved to America after the Holocaust. In 1985, the Herzog family decided to expand their winemaking operations to California, where they make wine under two separate labels: Baron Herzog and Herzog Wine Cellars. Just south of Santa Barbara in the town of Oxnard, Herzog Wine Cellars has created a center for high-end contemporary winemaking in a tradition that dates back nearly six centuries

    Herzog Wine BarrelHerzog Wine Barrel

    Historical Tidbits

    The original wine producer of the Herzog family, Philip Herzog, created wines that were so appreciated by Emperor Franz-Josef that he made Philip a baron. The Baron Herzog wines are named to commemorate his honor.

    Baron Philip originally made both kosher and non- kosher wines. The kosher wines were made in a separate cellar and tasted remarkably like his non- kosher wines.

    Philip's grandson Eugene hid his family from the Nazis during World War II by moving them around the Slovakian countryside. A courageous Christian friend allowed him to retreat behind a false fall in his woodshed, where Eugene emerged after the war to reclaim his family's winery. Three years later, the family was forced out of Europe by the Czech communist regime, and they arrived in New York City in 1948.

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  • Dry
  • California
  • 13%
  • Mevushal
  • Red
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU, Rabbi Weinberger, Rabbi Teichman
  • $15.99 $13.49
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    (13)
  • Dry
  • California
  • 13.50%
  • Mevushal
  • White
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU, Rabbi Weinberger
  • $42.99 $36.99
    Save $6.00 (14%)
    (8)
  • Dry
  • California
  • 13%
  • Mevushal
  • White
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU, Rabbi Weinberger, Rabbi Teichman
  • $15.99 $13.49
    Save $2.50 (16%)
    (22)
  • Dry
  • California
  • 13%
  • Mevushal
  • Red
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU, Rabbi Weinberger, Rabbi Teichman
  • $15.99 $13.49
    Save $2.50 (16%)
    (13)
  • Dry
  • California
  • 13.50%
  • Mevushal
  • White
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU, Rabbi Weinberger
  • $42.99 $36.99
    Save $6.00 (14%)
    (8)
  • Dry
  • California
  • 13%
  • Mevushal
  • White
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU, Rabbi Weinberger, Rabbi Teichman
  • $15.99 $13.49
    Save $2.50 (16%)

    Shirah Winery

    Shirah Wine LLC was started in 2009 by two brothers, Gabriel and Shimon Weiss. The brothers had previously worked for Herzog Wine Cellars before opening up their own kosher winery. Shirah Wine LLC is dedicated to producing the highest quality kosher wine, with a focus on varietals, blends and other styles that are not yet well known to the kosher wine-drinking community. Shirah's trendy labels and ultra-premium wine production allows for kosher wine drinkers to explore new and different elements during the wine-drinking experience. View diverse and delicious selections from this popular California wine brand when you shop online at KosherWine.

    shirah wine makershirah wine maker

    Historical Tidbits

    Shirah Wine LLC works with very small batches influenced mainly by the most highly regarded producers in California.

    Gabriel made his first wine with two friends in 2005 in a friend’s garage in Los Angeles. During an interview in the Los Angeles Times, Gabriel said he still has two bottles left from the first wine-making endeavor.

    The brothers initially obtained a start-up fund from family and friends who enjoyed the wine. They earned about $10,000 in investments.

  • Dry
  • California, Central Coast
  • 15%
  • Not Mevushal
  • Red
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU
  • $59.99 $54.99
    Save $5.00 (8%)
    (1)
  • Dry
  • California, Santa Barbara
  • 13.40%
  • Not Mevushal
  • White
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU, Cal Kosher
  • $33.99 $31.99
    Save $2.00 (6%)
    Out of stock
  • Dry
  • California, Santa Barbara
  • 13%
  • Not Mevushal
  • White
  • Kosher For Passover
  • 750 ML
  • OU
  • $33.99 $31.99
    Save $2.00 (6%)
    Out of stock

    Explore Californian Wines

     

    When you order online at KosherWine, you can enjoy premium kosher wines from California in the comfort of your own home no matter where you live. Enjoy browsing our great selection of high-quality, delicious kosher wines from California to find the one that fits your tastes. Shop to try a new wine, pick out a specific bottle for a special occasion or choose something to give as a thoughtful gift to a friend or family member. In addition to our competitive pricing, you will qualify for free shipping any time you order a case of the best kosher wines from California online at KosherWine.com. Can't decide between a case of Hagafen Pinot Noir  or a case of Herzog Late Harvest Orange Muscat? No worries, you can mix and match kosher wine brands in a single case and still qualify for free shipping.

    If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know on Facebook or Twitter and we will get back to you soon. You can also feel free to call us directly at 1-866-567-4370. Thank you for choosing KosherWine.com!