The Jewish holiday of Passover — and perhaps more importantly, the Passover meal — is a thing of tradition. There’s brisket (yum!), matzo ball soup (oh, yeah!), and kosher wine (um … ew). Well, hold on a moment: Kosher wine has undergone a major renaissance in recent years. Gone are the days of cloyingly sweet wines with all the finesse of stale cherry cola.
Today’s kosher winemakers are utilizing advanced techniques to craft high-quality wines that are suitable for more than a Seder, and both the public and the wine press has taken note (that includes us here at Best of NJ). Following are a few ideas for your Seder table this Passover.
2010 Goose Bay South Island Sauvignon Blanc from Spencer Hill Wines
Budget: $$
This award-winning wine is from Marlborough, one of New Zealand’s most well-regarded wine-growing districts. It’s crisp, refreshing, and bright, with a smooth finish, making it an ideal companion for green salads, and, of course, gefilte fish.
2013 Yarden Viognier from Golan Heights Winery
Budget: $$
This wine, made from Viognier grapes, grown in the Golan Heights in Israel, is full of ripe fruit, white flowers, and spices such as ginger. It opens with a bouquet of peach and apple blossom, and on the palate opens to reveal notes of apricot and citrus. Pair with grilled fish and vegetables, salads, and rich cheeses.
2013 Yasmin White from Recanati Winery
Budget: $$
Recanati makes what are widely considered some of the finest kosher wines in the world, and you can see why in this blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay from Upper Galilee in Israel. Golden apple and pear aromas open the wine, accented by notes of ginger and fennel. On the palate, the wine is crisp, clean, and deceptively light. High in acid, the wine works well with roasted chicken or quail, ceviche, creamy cheeses, and fruit.
2011 Recanati Special Reserve Red from Recanati Winery
Budget: $$$
Produced only in extraordinary vintages, the Special Reserve Red is a custom blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Carignan with lush balance of acidity, firm tannins, and fruit. This is a brisket-friendly wine, rich in blackberry, raspberry, red plum flavors, baking spices, and dark chocolate.
2013 Peraj Ha’abib from Celler de Capçanes Montsant
Budget: $$
“Wine, more than any other food or drink, represents the holiness and separateness of the Jewish people,” reads the Cellar de Capçanes website, and it’s with similar care and reverence for tradition that this Spanish winery approaches its kosher wine. A rich, earthy blend of Garnacha (Grenache), Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carignan, the wine features notes of baked, ripe strawberries and blackberries, currants, and red plums. An undercurrent of complex baking spices, freshly roasted coffee and cocoa nib, as well as silky tannins carry this wine through to a silky finish. Pair with roasts and richly flavored stews.
2012 Hagafen Cabernet Franc from Hagafen Cellars
Budget: $$$
Cabernet Franc is having a moment right now, and this estate-grown wine from Napa Valley is a prime example why. Rich dark fruit and firm — but smooth — tannins anchor this wine from the first sip to the last. Savory herbal notes help make this wine an excellent companion for spinach and arugula salad, olive tapenade, roasts, and cheeses.
Hero (Top) Feature Image: ©TKname / Dollar Photo Club
Additional Images (in Order) Courtesy:
Kosher Food & Wine Experience 2016
Royal Wine Corp
Golan Heights Winery
Recanati Winery
Recanati Winery
Celler de Capçanes Montsant
Royal Wine Corp