Making Kosher Wine On His Own

Benyamin Cantz runs a tiny kosher winery on three acres in the mountains outside Santa Cruz.

Advertisement

On a remote hilltop in the Santa Cruz mountains, Benyamin Cantz runs what is likely the smallest kosher vineyard in the country. A graduate of nearby UC Santa Cruz, Cantz came here in the 1960s and today runs the entire three-acre operation virtually alone. Because kosher wine must be produced by a Sabbath-observant Jew, and because Cantz was practically the only Sabbath-observant person in the area for years, he designed his operation so he could run it by himself, doing all the bottling, labeling and shipping by hand. Today, his small-batch certified organic wine is available only by mail order and sells out hundreds of cases every year within weeks.

Support My Jewish Learning

Help us keep Jewish knowledge accessible to millions of people around the world.

Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish discovery. With your help, My Jewish Learning can continue to provide nonstop opportunities for learning, connection and growth.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Discover More

Ashkenazi Cuisine

European Jewish food developed along with the migration of the European Jewish community -- from West to East.

Shabbat Chicken with Dried Fruit Recipe

This go-to chicken recipe, with a glossy and delicious sauce, is perfect for Rosh Hashanah or Shabbat.

Recipes for Hanukkah

The ever-popular potato latke heads the list of traditional, oily Hanukkah treats.

Advertisement