Rabbi Dov Lior of Kiryat Arba and Hevron informed the Chief Rabbinate of Israel on Thursday that he has removed the kashrut supervision and certification of Yikvei Hevron (Hevron Vineyards) until further notice for not meeting rabbinical standards, as instructed by the local rabbinate. News One reports that the winery was warned a number of times did not correct the shortcomings.
Those shortcomings included the import of grape juice and other raw materials without rabbinical certification, the lack of rabbinical supervision during production and a misleading kashrut certificate. The winery said it was not ready to respond but promised a response in three weeks.
Yikvei Hevron generally makes grape juice and wines for kiddush from grapes grown in the Hevron hills.