More than 600 people came in from the cold in central London on Monday evening for a warming taste of the best in kosher wine and spirits.

The drinks were on Kedem Europe, which hosted the Kosher Food and Wine Experience at the Park Lane Hotel. As well as the opportunity to sample award-winning wines from around the globe, guests were catered for by a gourmet kosher buffet, which attracted almost as much comment as the alcoholic offerings.

Top sommeliers and wine writer and broadcaster Oz Clarke were also among the crowd, reflecting the growing influence of kosher wine in the general market. Prices of the wines on show ranged from £20 to £150.

Kedem Europe is the UK's biggest importer and distributor of kosher wine, supplying supermarkets, local shops, restaurants and caterers.

Its director, Morris Herzog, said it had been "a pleasure to see so many wine enthusiasts join us in celebrating the extraordinary variety of kosher wine out there.

"Kosher wine now competes with the world's finest wines and they are equally recognised for their distinct flavours and superior taste."

Wines from Israel, Europe, North and South America, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand were showcased. Drappier launched its first kosher champagne and the port from Porto Cordovero was a popular post-prandial tipple.

There was also supervised whisky, ideal for clearing the palette after the gravadlax and halibut sushi starters.

There was a 14-year-old single malt with a kosher port finish from Tomintoul, the highest village in the Scottish Highlands. Also up for tasting was the LiaFail selection, offering malts including the 13-year-old Dalmore, which has been specially prepared under supervision from kashrut authorities in America, London and Manchester.