JEWISH SENTINEL

26 JEWISH WORLD • FEBRUARY 11 - 17, 2022 types of wines, all completely pro- duced on-site. N ext, we went to the Kadma Winery in Kfar Uriah, the only winery in Israel to use large clay casks (amphorae) in the wine-producing process, reviving ancient traditions from the region and combining them with modern technology. Founder Lina Slotzkin told us about her roots in Georgia, where she moved mountains to obtain the clay casks. She explained the differ- ent processes using the jug method. “Fermentation in the casks is slower, more gentle and more even,” she explained. “It takes lon- ger. While in an ordinary winery the fermentation would take about 20 days, our method takes six weeks. The wine is then pressed and returned to the jugs. Micro-ox- idation that takes place is very dif- ferent from that in stainless steel.” Of course, the unusual-looking, 500-liter clay casks are an attrac- tion in and of themselves, and were, quite naturally, used in Kad- ma’s logo. The wine is not kosher. T he day ended with a tour of the Clos de Gat Winery, one of Israel’s most prestigious and one of the few chateau (estate) winer- ies, meaning they don’t buy their grapes elsewhere. We were given the tour by sales and marketing director Gideon White, who explained the singular process employed at the winery, where massive stainless-steel milk tubs are used to make the wine be- cause they use open vat fermenta- tion and need a large surface area for oxygen to help fermentation, which takes seven to 14 days. Be- cause of this open process, they keep everything closed and excep- tionally clean. Gideon explained that because the wine is not kosher, there are no restrictions on who can touch it so that the winemaker can handle the barrels and directly connect with the wine at any time. Thirty per- cent of their wines are exported to the United States, the United King- dom and even to Dubai in the Unit- ed Arab Emirates — one of Israel’s latest trading partners as a result of the 2020 Abraham Accords. Laura Ben-David is a writer for JNS. Wine continued from page 24 “Fermentation in the casks is slower, more gentle and more even. Instead of the usual 20 days, our method takes six weeks.” Wine and cheese on offer at Kadma Winery. Agustin Bolinches, Clos de Gat Winery director. All properties listed or sold recently by Rebecca Paul Rebecca Paul Realtor® The Troller Group, Brokered by Xcellence Realty Mobile: 863.393.4135 • RMPaulRealty@gmail.com • www.PaulRealty.org For all your Real Estate needs in Central Florida from Tampa and the Coast to Orlando. I specialize in helping buyers find and negotiate the best price and terms in a fast moving market. 1209 E. Cumberland, Tampa 306 W. Belmar St., Lakeland 811 Orange Ave., Meade 920 E. Lake Dr., Bartow 257 Canyon Crest Dr., Lakeland