By Wine Enthusiast

Jonathan Hajdu

Winemaker, Covenant Wines

Keeping it kosher

A sabbath-observant Jewish winemaker, Hajdu’s high-quality bottlings challenge preconceived notions about kosher wine. He was bit by the wine bug—specifically, a glass of Shafer’s 1996 Hillside Select—when he was just 21. From there, he took jobs at a number of wineries around the globe before settling in northern California and accepting a full-time position as associate winemaker at Covenant in 2008. Today, Hajdu runs the operation’s 7,000-square-foot urban winery in downtown Berkeley, which produces about 10,000 cases per year. He also creates certified kosher wines under his namesake label from vineyards located in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

Check him out and the other fascinating tastemakers in the October, 2018 print issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine or online now!