Our story
A winery built on a bracha
Wine is so central to Jewish life that it has a blessing all its own. Joseph Zakon believed it deserved to taste that way.
Growing up in yeshiva, Joseph was taught that wine was meant to be special. But the kosher wine available at the time was thick, syrupy and nothing like the wine served everywhere else. He decided to change that himself.
In 1981, at the age of 21, he opened Joseph Zakon Winery — becoming the youngest person to own a winery bonded and licensed by both New York State and the federal government. He and his wife Michelle named the first label Kesser, Hebrew for “crown,” a symbol of leadership in Judaism.
Joseph was the first to offer low-alcohol kosher wine, making wines that are easier to enjoy through long Shabbos and Yom Tov meals. Working with New York State vinifera grapes, he also produced the first-ever kosher Chardonnay — which won a gold medal at his very first competition in 1984.
More than four decades later, the winery is still family-owned, and the approach hasn’t changed: natural wines, no sugar added, made under strict rabbinical supervision and kosher for Passover and all year round.
May we speedily merit world peace and harmony. L’chaim!
— The Zakon Family
Milestones
- 1981Joseph Zakon, 21, opens his bonded winery and launches Kesser.
- FirstsThe first low-alcohol kosher wine, and the first kosher Chardonnay.
- 1984Gold medal for that Chardonnay at Joseph’s first wine competition.
- TodayThree labels — Kesser, Joseph Zakon and Farbrengen — plus Nature Screaming, a natural wine with no added sulfites.