Drinking in knowledge about kosher wines

From gathering the grapes and learning about diverse types of wines to appreciating fine vintages and ensuring they’re kosher, “The Kosher Grapevine,” written by Lawrence resident Irving Langer, covers boundless information about wine.

Langer explains how to truly enjoy the taste of wine, by following a set of directions in the book. Drinkers must swirl, taste and smell the wine in certain ways, as well as say the proper blessings. “People can follow the instructions, pick up knowledge and use it and feel more comfortable when they order wine at restaurants,” Langer said.

In the book published in Israel by Gefen Publishing House and released earlier this year, Langer discusses the specific wines to drink with certain foods in order for them to be particularly enjoyable, such as drinking Merlot with meat or Zinfandel with fish. He said his tips will enhance drinkers’ dining experience.

“There’s a piece of history as well,” said Langer, whose book includes portions of the Bible and descriptions of wines from the holy temple era, along with the information that only Jewish people who observe the Sabbath can be part of the wine making process in order for it to be kosher.

“The unique part of this book is that it shows that although some consumers think kosher wine is “inferior to other ‘world’ wines-actually there are many kosher wines that are a pleasure and have won many prizes,” said the book’s publisher at Gefen Publishing House, Ilan Greenfield.

Israel and California are the “premiere areas where you get excellent kosher wines,” said Langer, and Jerusalem has vineyards that produce great wine. The book also highlights the Galil, a popular area for wine making in the mountainous northern part of Israel, because of its high altitudes, clear temperature shifts and rich soils.

Langer has acquired his knowledge about wines through about two and a half years of intense research. “I feel I pretty much covered endless information,” Langer said. The book “could have been thousands of pages, but I didn’t want it to be boring.”