The race is on in 1999 to corner the kosher wine market, as Normans’ much-publicised venture has been joined in the chase by the small Victorian operation, The Heathcote Winery. It’s too early to assess the quality from both makers, but much of the work in both wineries has had to be performed by a rabbi or orthodox Jew acting under winemaking instructions. Strenuous standards of cleanliness are also paramount if the wines are to comply with strict kosher standards, in addition to which by the time the wine is in bottle it must have been pasteurised, a process which has been associated with a compromise to quality. Although it’s early days, winemakers involved in the Heathcote operation must have been pleasantly surprised to discover that when carried out properly, pasteurisation apparently has little obvious deleterious effect. While drinkers of kosher wine have not been the most demanding of markets, The Heathcote Winery believes it can change their perceptions and has already received firm export orders from Israel. Kosher competitor Normans has also purchased the Mount Helen Vineyard from Mildara Blass. First established in 1976 by Dr Peter Tisdall, Mount Helen is planted to 84 ha of vines, with a capacity to go to 100 ha. From time to time it has produced first rate fruit from both red and white Bordeaux varieties.
