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had some of the best wines we’ve ever shown from Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and the US.

“The unlimited tasting was a good opportunity for attendees to identify the styles of wines they enjoy and make new discoveries. There were fabulous comments, too, on the food created by Arieh Wagner’s talented team.”

His view was that Jewish consumers were now “more appreciative of quality kosher wines of every origin. Our tastes in wine are becoming more modern and sophisticated.

“We are also seeing a greater willingness to increase the spend per bottle, as the community recognises that there is a distinctive difference in quality and complexity between low and higher priced wines.”

Although Jewish customers were driving the growth in the kosher market, Mr Gestetner reported that Israeli wines were popular in “Eastern Mediterranean-style restaurants, as well as non-kosher restaurants serving Israeli specialities, where the wines work so well with the flavours of the dishes.

“We are heavily promoting Israeli wines to the top hotels and restaurants, educating sommeliers to re-categorise their wine lists to include a wider range from the Eastern Med.

“Independent wine retailers are particularly interested in the Bordeauxstyle Israeli wines coming from the top wineries.”

KFWE has become something of a communal get-together with frum mixing with secular and guests spanning the age spectrum of alcoholic legality.

Among the younger visitors was North Londoner Shane Melnick, who had been persuaded to attend by his father. Not generally a wine fan, the tastings had afforded him a much greater understanding and appreciation.

“Things might change after tonight,” he predicted.

For others keen to expand their knowledge, there were also wine and whisky master-classes. The latter involved Iain Forteath from Tomintoul, producer of Speyside single malts, whose kosher certification was “very useful for Israel and America”.

His recommendation to the JC was its 16-year-old bourbon-casked offering, “crème brulée in a glass”.

Some lucky punters got to sample Tomintoul’s Five Decades, celebrating the distillery’s 50th anniversary and retailing at around £250. “You have to push the boat out,” he reasoned.

Our tastes in wine are becoming more sophisticated’