Yes, I know it is Dry January, and yes, once again, I am participating in the effort to replace my cherished wine with non-alcoholic beverages, just to take a break from the weeks of indulging that took place during the holidays. That doesn’t mean, however, that I am not thinking about wine and looking forward to emerging in February enjoying a beautiful glass of wine at dinner.

As a wine enthusiast, I am always intrigued by regions of the world that produce excellent wines, but just may not be top of mind.

Thanks to the Feldstein Winery, early last month, I was invited to attend the launch of this Israeli producer in the American market. The Feldstein Winery is located in central Israel in the Upper Galilee Region. The terroir, as you can imagine, is quite conducive for wine making.

As I entered the lovely private event space at Bison and Bourbon in Brooklyn, I wondered how the wine would taste. More on that later. Bison and Bourbon, by the way,  is a very cool Kosher restaurant housed in a former warehouse, with a lively bar and tables in a super modern space. Their private room next door featuring a fabulous brick wall, the length of the space, is available for events, and served dishes that were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend!

Avi Feldstein, the founder and winemaker at Feldstein Winery. Photo credit: Shalom Ross.

Avi Feldstein, the founder and winemaker at Feldstein Winery was at the event and gave some background on his business.  A dashing individual, Avi is known for being a poet with degrees in literature and philosophy. Years ago, while pursuing a career as a writer, he became involved in the wine and spirits industry as a way to support his writing profession. However, Avi was bitten by the Bacchus bug, and so he immersed himself in viticulture, becoming one of the pioneers of winemaking in the Galilee region of Israel.

Photo credit: Shalom Ross.

At this festive wine tasting event, the four Feldstein wines offered were: a lovely rose, a white, made from the ancient and indigenous to Israel and the Middle East Dabouki grape, a robust Cabernet and an intriguing blend named Gilgamesh, featuring 5 varietals from 6 different vineyards in 3 regions of Israel. A Cabernet Sauvignon base is blended with Syrah, Merlot, Carignan, Grenache and Roussanne grapes to craft the ear-catching name of the blend. Gilgamesh refers to a story in ancient literature and a protagonist who seeks the meaning of life while struggling with the concept of mortality. I love wines with unique names and back stories!

Now to answer my question, how would the wine taste? The answer: truly excellent. Starting with the rose, a light and refreshing wine that I can see becoming my goto summer or warm weather wine. Then Dabouki, a white wine I had never tasted before. Dabouki is perfectly balanced and would be a delightful accompaniment to a fish or chicken dish, and anything in between. But I am primarily a red wine drinker, and the Feldstein reds did not disappoint. While I loved the nuances of the Gilgamesh, upon tasting the Feldstein Cab, I was smitten. Each wine has its own character and unique properties that would pair beautifully with different foods at different times of the year.

You can purchase these wines at McCabe’s Wine and Spirits on the East Side of Manhattan, and 67 Wine on the West Side. They are also available on various Kosher wine websites.

A big thumbs up for Feldstein wines, as well as Bison and Bourbon, 191 7th St, Brooklyn.

And now, back to Dry January…I’ll have a club soda with a splash of cranberry juice and lime, please.