The Jewish Link, which is known amongst readers of this website for publishing its annual Wine Guide, has published its third annual Summer Food & Wine issue, which is available online, as well as in print.
Edited by Elizabeth Krantz, this issue has the following:
- “Eitan Bernath Explores Cuisine of Jewish Mexico City” by Channa Fischer (pp. 5-7)
- “Recipes from Mexico City” (pp. 8-9)
- “Building a Kosher Top 25 Rosé List” by Elizabeth Kratz (pp. 10)
- “Top 25 Kosher Rosés” (pp. 11-12)
- “Refresher Course: Cooking for a Crowd by Bracha Schwartz (pp. 14-16)
- Recipes (pp. 17-18)
- “Gin Up Your Garden: Five Garden-Infused Gin Cocktails for Summertime Sozzling” by Gamliel Kronemer (includes recipes) (pp. 19-21)
- “Prepared in a Pinch” by Nina Glick (p. 22)
- “Twin Suns Buttery Chardonnay, Explained” by Elizabeth Kratz (p. 23)
One thing that Elizabeth Krantz mentions regarding the rosés list is that few of the 2023 rosé releases were available in time for their annual Wine Guide, so this is a complete list.
Also notable is Gamliel Kronemer’s insightful selection of gin-based cocktails, which are meant to utilize garden-based items, especially for the summer, so this is certainly of interest.
Finally, I was particularly interested in Elizabeth Krantz’ writing on Twin Suns’ Butter Chardonnay – this is definitely a wine that deserves an explanation and I am so glad that she wrote on this wine. Having had it last summer (disclosure: a review sample was sent to Jewish Drinking for review purposes), everyone – myself included – who had this wine was incredibly fascinated by it. Krantz writes:
When Twin Suns first launched its first Buttery Chardonnay in 2021, most kosher wine-drinkers didn’t know what to make of the name. … Buttery chardonnay is actually a typical California wine that has gone through an additional procedure called malolactic fermentation, which tends to add notes of butter, cheese, and cream, and, sometimes, adds other interesting notes like hazelnut or dried fruit.
I can tell you that, to whomever has never had it before, it is a bit baffling and surprising, yet it is an intriguing white wine, especially for red wine-drinkers. Clearly, I’m not the only kosher consumer who is intrigued by this wine, as Krantz quotes Ami Nahari, CEO of The River Wine, which makes Twin Suns:
“We made 1,500 cases the first year, thinking it was going to last us two years, but it flew out. This year (2023), we made 2,200 cases, thinking it would last us two years, but we’re essentially all distributed to stores already. For the 2024 vintage, we are making 3,400 cases.”
She then helpfully concludes with pairing ideas:
Buttery chardonnay is an excellent food-pairing wine, particularly for first course salads, fish, or even roasted chicken. Vinaigrette dressings, asparagus, and any vegetables seasoned with dill or rosemary would be an effortless complement to this wine.
For more on River Wine, you can check out the episode of The Jewish Drinking Show featuring Nahari and his wife, Larissa, on their business; for more on Twin Suns, you can check out the episode of The Jewish Drinking Show featuring the brothers Weiss, who are the Twin Suns’ vintners.
