Debuted last month to our club members, Kingsmark Cabernet Sauvignon stands as a milestone: the first kosher wine created by renowned Napa winemakers Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky. Rooted in a century-old family tradition, the 2021 vintage merges legacy with innovation, setting a new benchmark by combining acclaimed Napa expertise with dedication to kosher excellence and redefining what kosher wine can achieve at the highest level.
Kingsmark Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021 $380
The story of Kingsmark begins with founder Whitney Skibell. Her family’s legacy is firmly planted in entrepreneurship and dedication to quality, spanning generations. This history inspired her pursuit of excellence and innovation. Her great-great-grandfather, Joseph Rudnitsky, was an immigrant entrepreneur. Her grandfather, Samuel Rudd, built Standard Mercantile and helped shape the Kansas wine and spirits industry. Her uncle, Leslie Rudd, left an indelible mark on Napa Valley as a vintner (Rudd Estate), philanthropist, and innovator. For Whitney, this wine is the realization of a personal dream. It embodies her family’s values, respects their history, and sets a new standard for kosher winemaking.
Kosher wine is often overlooked in the boutique category, but Kingsmark changes that perception. Every step of its production follows the strictest kosher protocols: from harvest to crushing, only Sabbath-observant individuals handle the fruit; no animal products are used in fining; and every detail, from fermentation to bottling, meets the Union of Orthodox Rabbis standards. Unlike many kosher wines, Kingsmark does not undergo high-heat pasteurization (Mevushal), preserving the natural complexity, depth, and elegance of Napa Cabernet.
This is kosher wine elevated to its rightful place among the world’s finest.
Whitney takes these rigid Kosher winemaking rules and integrates them into the Napa Valley palate by using world-class fruit and top winemakers. The fruit for the 2021 Cabernet comes from Georges III and Roy Estate vineyards and is brought to life by Philippe and Maayan whose expert knowledge of Napa Valley’s winegrowing and decades of cellar experience show in the eye-popping quality of this gorgeous wine. On the nose, Kingsmark 2021 offers black cherry, cassis, and ripe plum, with hints of mocha, graphite, and baking spice. The palate is bold yet refined, with structured tannins and flavors of dark chocolate, blackcurrant, and espresso. It finishes with lingering cedar and violet. This wine is powerful and elegant—a Cabernet for collectors, connoisseurs, and devout dreamers.