Another fine vintage for Kedem’s Kosher Food and Wine Experience

This week, more than 800 people — a combination of interested amateurs; wine writers, restaurateurs, caterers and members of the wine trade converged on the Sheraton Grand Park Lane for the annual Kedem Kosher Food and Wine Experience.

In the 19 years since Morris Herzog, managing director of Kedem Europe Ltd, and kosher caterer, Arieh Wagner co-founded the simcha-style exhibition it has grown exponentially. In its inaugural year, the event attracted 50 guests and was staged in a hotel boardroom.

Today guests fill the hotel’s grand ballroom to capacity. On display were 500 fine and speciality wines from more than 60 old and new world producers as well as liqueurs; whiskies; and even alcohol-infused fruits.

Such is demand that for the last few years the event has been divided into two sessions — an afternoon slot for trade guests then the evening hours those who simply want the opportunity to sample a wide range of what’s on offer in an increasingly sophisticated and wide-ranging kosher market.

This year, for the first time there was an opportunity for keen amateurs to buy a ticket for the daytime session together with trade visitors and enjoy an afternoon of tasting.

All on show - Kedem brought all its labels to the show this year Photo: Leivi Saltman[Missing Credit]

The wines on offer came from France, Italy, Spain, Eastern Mediterranean, USA, New Zealand, Argentina, Hungary, Portugal and South Africa and many of the winemakers were on hand to chat to visitors. 

As well as additional wines from many of the regular wine producers were new labels including the Californian Yesod wines produced by the Herzog family – their first foray into fine wine making from grapes grown in Napa Valley’s Pritchard Hill. There were also the Feldstein unique Israeli varietals, and a new Chateau Le Gay from the best plots in Pomerol — one of several fine Bordeaux wines being showcased.

Dalton were showcasing their smooth and aromatic gin created by owner Alex Dalton — who shared it was his answer to having been frustrated at not being able to find a gin on the market that he enjoyed. The Galilee-based winemaker was also offering tastings of its Asufa, a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc aged in clay jars — asufa in Hebrew.

At the lower alcohol end of the market, Cantina Giuliano were showcasing their Sweet V — a lower alcohol (6%) sweet white while Spanish winemakers, Elvi have introduced a fun and fruity Sangria that’s bound to be popular for summer parties — or for that fourth Pesach cup.

For the first time, the whisky selection had outgrown the main room and taken up residence in an adjoining section. Thirteen whisky brands were on offer alongside fruit liqueurs (and those fruits in liqueur) from French company Massenez and a range of sweet liqueurs.

Also new on the menu this year were trays of meaty canapes brought round by Wagner’s team during the day to soak up some of that alcohol and giving it even more of a simcha style atmosphere. The trays, which were also offered to evening guests included mini beef arayes; duck spring rolls with plum sauce; fried filo cigars stuffed with shredded spiced beef; eye-catching salmon pani puri (gorgeous-looking globes of art) and indulgent slabs of brisket schnitzel served in a jaw-challenging sandwich.

The burgeoning whisky selection meant that in the evening, buffet stations opened up on both floors — the usual spectacular sushi display on the ground floor and (moving upstairs to the mezzanine level) above a meaty buffet and (also new) a ramen station serving bowls of noodle-filled soup as a lighter option.

In simcha style, diners were queuing up for slabs of brisket, prime rib and salt beef, plus Flintstone-style marrow bones for hard core carnivores as well as mounds of juicy of smoked chicken as well as various lamb variations, all served with the theatre of chefs carving the meat fresh for you.

Sweet treats simcha style Photo: Leivi Saltman[Missing Credit]

In keeping with the bar mitzvah vibe dessert included there a chocolate fountain — although the bottles of chocolate liqueur alongside it may not have been teen-appropriate. Trays of dessert canapes were also circulated.

Benjamin Gestetner, Kedem Europe Ltd’s General Manager told the JC “We are thrilled with how KFWE London 2025 went. It’s such a fantastic celebration for our community and it was really wonderful to see people from all backgrounds come along and try our exceptional wines and spirits from around the world, as well as getting to try the very best Jewish style food from Arieh Wagner’s excellent catering team. KFWE London gets better and better every year!”

A sentiment mirrored by guest Nathan Goldstein who said “We love coming to KFWE London, it really is a highlight of the year. The food, the wine, the cocktails, the people. Everything! It truly feels like a simcha and is a wonderful opportunity to experience some of the best wines in the Kosher market. We just love it and will be back next year!”