Kosher Wine Podcast

After hosting an unforgettable evening in Montreal, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath sits down with legendary winemaker Yaacov Oryah and world-class private chef Yossel Backman for a behind-the-scenes conversation.

What started as a perfectly curated night of wine and food quickly turned into something deeper, a dialogue about creativity, risk, and what happens when wine and cuisine are allowed to truly speak to each other. From bold...

With Purim approaching next week, Kenny and Rabbi Bernath delve into the idea of drinking wine on Purim.

Halakhic Perspectives
Purim Night vs. Purim Day
Types of Wine we Drink on Purim
Purim vs. Pesach Wines

We rely on Rabbi Bernath's rabbinic knowledge and discuss some beautiful ideas of what makes Purim special and how we consider "ad delo yada" and drinking wine until one cannot disti...

In The Kosher Wine Podcast Superbowl Halftime Show, Season 2 Episode 8, Dr. Kenny Friedman and Rabbi Bernath discuss their observations of the recent KFWE held on February 3, 2026 in the Meadowlands, NJ.

They each have critiques on what could be improved and chat on the following topics:

Length of the event
New Wines
Trade vs. Public
Location of Show
Crowd
Food
Personalities

Dr. Ke...

In Season 2 Episode 7, Dr. Kenny Friedman and Rabbi Bernath discuss the annual wine holiday "Four Gates Day," which just occurred. They discussed what makes Four Gates special and what qualifies any wine as a cult wine.

Dr. Kenny and Rabbi Bernath chat about a host of other new wines on the market and some that they have recently tried. They talk about upcoming wine events they are hosting in various cities and t...

In Season 2 Episode 6, Kenny and Rabbi Bernath review many of the wines they had over the last couple months, covering many of the new wines and regions available in the kosher marketplace.

They discuss such wines as Chablis Grand Cru, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a Premier Crus Beaune, and many others.

Rabbi Bernath talks about his special house guest, Dr. Moises Cohen of Elvi Winery. Kenny immediately gets jealous.

In this wide-rangi...

In a laid-back and wide-ranging interview, Dr. Kenny Friedman and Rabbi Yisroel Bernath shmooze with Chaim Hillel, Rabbi at Chabad of SLO (serving Cal Poly), and hands-on cellarmaster and Levi Chitrik, NY native, who now lives in Atlanta. Chitrik started making wine as a teen, and went pro at Brooklyn Winery in 2010.

In 2012, Chitrik partnered with Chaim (his cousin’s husband) and moved production to California. For years ...

In the (too) long awaited Episode 4, Kenny and Rabbi Bernath cover a lot of ground and discuss many of the hot topics of the day in the kosher wine world.

Among them:

• The impossibility of getting kosher wines in Quebec
• The effect of tariffs on international wine and the kosher market
• The price increase on the Royal portfolio
• The difficulty in finding quality kosher wines under $35 or $40 and the detrimental effect on the casual wine...

What do Lucasfilm, Pixar, and kosher Cabernet have in common? One man: Dan Levin. In this special edition of the Kosher Wine Podcast, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath sits down with Dan Levin, affectionately known in the Valley as “Kosher Dan”—for an unforgettable conversation that flows like a fine barrel sample.

Recorded under the starlit skies of OneHope Winery, this episode uncorks Dan’s incredible journey from the world of audio engineeri...

In Episode 2 of Season 2, Dr. Kenny Friedman & Rabbi Yisroel Bernath get back to basics, reviewing wines they have been drinking recently and discussing what makes them interesting.

Kenny's Wines:

• Bodegas Vizar, Roble, 2023
• Chateau Les Graves de Lavaud, 2020
• Dalton, Galilee, Sauvignon Blanc, Fumé, 2024
• Clos 15, Brut Nature, Cava, NV
• Dalton, Galilee, Alma, Deep Red, 2020

R' Yisroel's Wines:

• J. de Villebois, P...

In this first episode of the second season of The Kosher Wine Podcast, join Dr. Kenny Friedman and Rabbi Yisroel Bernath as they sit together for the first time live on the podcast.

They welcome their wives, special guests, family and friends, drink wonderful wines, and celebrate the holiday of Pesach (Passover) with happiness and special friendship. 

Kenny and Rabbi Bernath enjoy the:

Nana Estate, Mitzpe...

In the highly anticipated 2025/5785 Second Annual Pesach episode, Dr. Kenny Friedman and Rabbi Yisroel Bernath make their Seder Wine Picks. They choose exclusively red, non-mevushal, and easy to drink wines for the Four Cups. They emphasize the importance of choosing Israeli wines for the Seder and supporting the Israeli wine industry.

In this conversation, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath and Kenny Friedman discuss their top wine picks for Pa...

In Episode 27 of the Kosher Wine Podcast, Dr. Kenny Friedman and Rabbi Yisroel Bernath sit down for a wide-ranging discussion with Gabriel Geller, WSETIII, Director of PR and Manager of Wine Education for Royal Wine, Inc.

Gabriel recounts how he got into the wine industry and his current position at Royal.

Kenny & Yisroel discuss a wide variety of topics, including current wine trends in the kosher industry, wine pricing and its ...

The Soul of Four Gates: A Deep Dive with Benyomin Cantz

In this unforgettable episode of the Kosher Wine Podcast, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath journeyed to the breathtaking Santa Cruz Mountains to meet the legendary winemaker Benyomin Cantz of Four Gates Winery. We walk the vineyards, explore his hands-on winemaking process, and step into the sacred stillness of his barrel room, where patience and devotion transform grapes into some of the...

In this captivating episode of the Kosher Wine Podcast, Dr. Kenny Friedman and Rabbi Yisroel Bernath sit down with Rabbi Michoel Gershzon for a deep dive into the world of Georgian wine.

Rabbi Gershzon shares his firsthand expertise on Georgia’s rich winemaking heritage and his work with Bam Wine and Spirits. Together, they explore what makes Georgian wine so distinctive, the history behind its ancient winemaking traditions, and the...

In Episode #24, Dr. Kenny Friedman and Rabbi Yisroel Bernath discuss their visit to the Kosher Food & Wine Experience NY, Royal Wine's major trade show and annual tasting events, held at the Park Hotel Meadowlands on February 10, 2025. They discussed their thoughts on the big event, talking about timing of the show, the new wines they tasted, and all of the people they met.

Kenny & Rabbi Bernath read listener ...

In Episode #23, Dr. Kenny Friedman and Rabbi Yisroel Bernath chat about Kenny's recent visit to Israel, and his visits to wineries in the north of Israel, among them:

Recanati Winery

Dalton Winery

Netofa Winery

Jezreel Winery

They discuss upcoming kosher wine events around the globe. 

Rabbi Bernath reviews the four wines he had over the past week: 

Clos 15 Cava

Few wine experiences linger in memory as vividly as a day spent at Elvi Wines and Clos Mesorah in Montsant and Priorat Spain. My wife Sara and I had the privilege of an extraordinary visit — a masterclass in hospitality and winemaking — hosted by Moises and Anna Cohen. The rain, relentless throughout the day, provided a dramatic backdrop to what turned out to be one of the most enriching vineyard experiences I’ve ever encountered.

N...

In Episode #21, Dr. Kenny Friedman and Rabbi Yisroel Bernath discuss their visit to the Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE) in Miami, one of Royal Wine's annual tasting events, run by WIZO in Miami. They talk about their favorite aspects of the event and the wines and food.

Kenny & Rabbi Bernath put the podcast on pause to check out Four Gates Winery's annual sale, the prices, the limited availability, a...

In this inaugural episode of the Spain Series, Sara and Rabbi Yisroel Bernath reflect on their fascinating journey to Celler de Capçanes, a historic winery nestled in the heart of the Montsant region of Spain. 

The episode begins with an exploration of the region's breathtaking landscape and the history of the Capçanes winery, which dates back over 500 years. The focus shifts to their kosher wines, crafted with meticulous care ...