Business of the Month: Earth & Air

What is the connection between wine and Kabbalah?

How does wine embody how we connect with ourselves? How does wine connect our mind, body, and soul? Some of the answers to these questions can be found from Rabbi Amichai Cohen, a wine producer and co-owner of the Earth & Air boutique winery, which he opened to practice the deep connection he found in the Kabbalah teachings with his passion for wine.

It all started in Boca Raton when Rabbi Cohen connected with one congregant of his shul,  the Vice President of one of the largest wine distributors in the US. Rabbi Cohen started to dream about bringing Israeli wines to the nonkosher market and to achieve this,  he moved to Israel to begin his journey. He explains: “Wine is the most elevated beverage in Judaism in which many religious ceremonies revolve. According to the Kabbalah, wine has the numerical value of 70 which equals Sod- secret and thereby represents the secrets of the Torah. The land of Israel and the Upper Galilee have a rich tradition of winemaking. The Zohar says that the best wines of Israel come from the Upper Galilee”.

Located in the foothills of Mount Meron, which sits at 800 meters above sea level, the wines that emerge from this winery have an exceptional terroir. This is down to the microclimate. The soil is volcanic, it is cold at night – intensely so in the winter, yet in the summer, it is warm during the day. These contrasts are optimal for the grape development of the wines.

The wines are highly identifiable in their varietal sense. There are many red varieties, including Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec, and Pinot Noir. Each varietal is unique – identifiable as an actual case of the red. Lately, the winery released some whites, most notably a fantastic Chardonnay, unoaked and unfiltered, with fruity acidity and a taste of pears and butter. The Sauvignon blanc is a light and refreshing wine that offers a hint of green apple while it is incredibly smooth on the palate. Rabbi Amichai Cohen even created a customized jug, a replica of a wine jug found in Megiddo Valley 4000 years ago. Designed by Shimon Bader of the Betzalel School of Art, the non-porous and glazed jug is meant to be a talking piece about the contradiction of the elements. More importantly, a talking piece about the contradiction of our lives, body, and soul, a marriage of opposites, the results are nothing less than divine.

The wines can be found online and are shipped directly to the consumer.

For more information, visit earthandairwines.com