The annual Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE) is taking place 20 days from now. Featuring nearly 1,000 kosher-certified wines, a plethora of spirits – including whiskies, bourbons, vodkas, tequilas, rum, and gin – and cordials, sampling and tasting will be available for attendees. This year’s event will be the 19th such annual KFWE, which is operated by Royal Wine Corporation, the largest producer of kosher-certified wines and spirits.

Described in a recent article by Kenny Friedman, KFWE is “one of the highlights of the kosher wine world’s calendar year”, KFWE NY 2025 will feature an exclusive preview of new wines and sprits for Passover 2025, the season when 40% of all kosher wines are sold. As Friedman continues to explain, “KFWE is a chance to taste many of the new wine hitting the market, meet with winemakers and wine tradespeople, as well as many of the other personalities in the business.” KFWE NY 2025 will feature nearly 1,000 kosher-certified wines, and a plethora of spirits, including whiskies, bourbons, vodkas, tequilas, rum, gin, and cordials for sampling and tasting.

Restricted to Media and Industry Professionals As With Last Year’s KFWE
As with last year’s KFWE, KFWE NY 2025 will host industry buyers, caterers, retailers, restauranteurs, hospitality, chefs and distributors who cater to the kosher-certified food and wine consumer, although, for the second year in a row, it will not be open to general consumers. While Gabriel Geller, Director of PR, Royal Wine Corp. (and guest on the 42nd episode of The Jewish Drinking Show) had shared last year that KFWE 2024 would be closed to the public, then alternating its openness to the public every other year, that is clearly not taking place, as KFWE 2025 will remain open only to media and industry folks.

While Geller says that had been the plan last year, “We did consider alternating, indeed”, there had been other wine-tasting events taking place last year: “independent wine enthusiasts stepped in last year and initiated some great kosher wine tasting events that are open to the general public.” Geller continued: “Most of these events are happening again this year, and following on last year’s successes we are happy to support these initiatives and participate. We will join these events with many of the great wines we represent, and some of the winemakers will participate, as well.”
New Change: From a 6-Hour Event to a 4-Hour Event

While it seems many of the changes KFWE made for last year’s KFWE will remain in place, a new change made for this year’s event will be cutting down the length of the program from six hours to simply four hours. “Based on our experience from previous events, starting earlier is not so convenient for a lot of people, and it demands a lot of energy from everyone involved,” Geller said. “We would better have a shorter, more focused event with winemakers and attendees feeling fresh and engaged.”
Remaining in New Jersey
As with most of their post-pandemic KFWE NYs (2022, 2024, & 2025), this year’s event will be in New Jersey once again. Having shared regarding last year’s event, I find that it provides a more approachable and accessible event. Moreover, I have enjoyed the varied areas of beverages: Israeli wines in one area, liqueurs and spirits in another area, and wines from the diaspora elsewhere, along with food being separately arranged, which is helpful for planning and navigating, as opposed to KFWE NY 2023, where the booths were scattered throughout.
Food to be Catered

As opposed to KFWE 2023, which featured a variety of restaurants showcasing their cuisine, KFWE 2025 will be similar to KFWE 2024 in that they will have the same caterer providing food for guests. While food is a part of the acronym for KFWE, it is not the featured aspect again. However, in my opinion, it does not seem that the food is what people are focussed on at KFWE. To be honest, I was quite happy with the dining fare for last year’s KFWE, including sushi, so that should be fantastic, yet also allowing for the wines and other beverages to shine through.
Highlights of New Wines Debuting at KFWE 2025
Speaking of letting the beverages shine through, we have received word of wines to be featured (although neither spirits nor liqueurs to be featured have been released yet). “We have great new wines from small Israeli boutique wineries, such as Gros and Naveh by Chateau Golan,” shares Geller. “We will have an exciting Italian table with many great wines from some of the countries’ most respected producers, including classic Italian varieties such as Barbera, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Aglianico, and many more. Herzog has a fantastic brand new dry Chenin Blanc in their Special Reserve series. And we have four new great Burgundy wines from Chateau Phillipe Le Hardi. And let’s not forget the Bordeaux wines, with an exceptional 2022 vintage.” Here is a listing of new wines that will be featured:
USA:
- Herzog Generation VIII Cabernet Sauvignon Double Creek Vineyard Chalk Hill 2021
- Herzog Special Reserve Chenin Blanc 2023
France:
- Great new 2022 vintage burgundy wines from Domaine du Château Philippe Le Hardi, including the first kosher-certified Grand Cru Clos Vougeot in nearly two decades.
- Château Le Gay Pomerol 2022 – most prestigious Pomerol to produce a kosher-certified run for the first time.
- J. de Villebois – Kosher-certified version of a great Pouilly-Fumé Silex Blancs 2023.
- Château Bellevue Morgon Grand Cras – highest quality Beaujolais first-time kosher-certified.
- Clos Triguedina Probus – First-time kosher-certified flagship Malbec wine from the best winery in the Cahors region.
Italy:
- The kosher-certified Italian wine offerings are growing at a fast pace. Among the wineries showcasing their first kosher-certified wine, the famous Rocca delle Macie with its signature Chianti Classico. Many other exciting wines from all of Italy’s prime regions will be available for tasting for the first time.
Spain:
- Clos Mesorah and Elvi Wines release a very limited new wine from Garnatxa Nera (Grenache Noir)
Israel
- Feldstein
- Gros
- Naveh by Chateau Golan
- Darom Cabernet Sauvignon- Vintage: 2023 | Dry Red Wine, Yatir Winery
KFWE Not Only in NY/NJ
The Kosher Food & Wine Experience began in 2006 as an intimate wine-tasting event for a handful of guests. It quickly exploded through popular demand and grows every year in terms of attendance, exhibitors, venues, and the sheer variety of products on offer. Today’s KFWE spans from New York and Miami to Los Angeles and London. Although there was no KFWE LA last year, it returns this year, only days following KFWE NY. It seems the other KFWEs will be open to the public. “For the events which are open to the public, it is a chance to eat some good bites while accessing an unparalleled bevy of wines to taste,” muses Friedman. “KFWE has grown and expanded, in most cases for the better, and in some cases, and out of necessity, for the worse. Additionally, KFWE has had to modify its aim in certain years.” The expansion to other cities for KFWE is driven by three recent food and wine trends, says Geller: “the phenomenal growth of foodie culture, the unprecedented mainstreaming of kosher food into the American market, and the burgeoning production of premium kosher wines from around the world.”