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With Passover approaching, kosher wines are top of mind for Seders, as well as everyday drinking. Kosher wine has been around for centuries, and refers to a technique rather than a specific type of wine. Kosher wines range from crushable everyday drinkers to exclusive vintages for special occasions and everything in between. To clarify, there is a difference between kosher and what is consideredkosher for Passover. During Passover, foods that are leavened (wheat, rye, oats, etc.) are excluded. What that means for wine is that the yeast used for wine cannot be fermented on leavened foods like bread; this also means the use of most common preservatives is prohibited.
To learn more about this tradition of winemaking, we spoke with experts Jay Buchsbaum, executive V.P. of marketing and director of wine education atRoyal Wine Corporation, and Yiftach Peretz, chief winemaker atCarmel Winery, which is the largest and oldest wine company in Israel.
What Is Kosher Wine?
Kosher wines have been around since ancient times and have been evolving in the modern age of winemaking. “People should judge them like any other wine,” says Buchsbaum, noting that there are kosher wines from all over the world that are both high in quality and good values. “They aren’t different, just special in that they satisfy the needs of the kosher consumer. Kosher wine is a process, not a type.”
The Best Kosher Wines, According to Experts
These are some of Peretz and Buchsbaum’s favorite kosher wines. All of these wines are also kosher for Passover. Find these and many more at KosherWine.com.
Herzog Lineage RoséHerzog Special Reserve Lake County CabernetHerzog Russian River ChardonnayCarmel Winery Signature Mediterranean 2017This wine might feel a little pricy at $46.99. If you are interested, there are similar red blends that are much less expensive, though they won’t have the same flavor profile. Try the 2018 or 2019 from Carmel’s Selected series, both less than $15.Carmel Winery Gewürztraminer 2019Covenant Winery Blue C Adom Red
Herzog Lineage Rosé
Herzog Special Reserve Lake County Cabernet
Herzog Russian River Chardonnay
Carmel Winery Signature Mediterranean 2017This wine might feel a little pricy at $46.99. If you are interested, there are similar red blends that are much less expensive, though they won’t have the same flavor profile. Try the 2018 or 2019 from Carmel’s Selected series, both less than $15.
Carmel Winery Signature Mediterranean 2017
This wine might feel a little pricy at $46.99. If you are interested, there are similar red blends that are much less expensive, though they won’t have the same flavor profile. Try the 2018 or 2019 from Carmel’s Selected series, both less than $15.
Carmel Winery Gewürztraminer 2019
Covenant Winery Blue C Adom Red
Bottom LineFor your Passover celebration and beyond, kosher wines are worth exploring. “In my opinion, the most important things in wine production are the quality of maintenance in the vineyards. This includes the ability to choose the appropriate grapes and raw materials, the correct processes in creating the wine and, of course, the soul of the winery workers invested in the preparation process. This applies to all wines, both kosher and non-kosher,” says Peretz. “Kosher wines are always evolving and improving. The kosher and non-kosher consumer is always looking for the newest vintage, the newest varietal and the newest tastiest wine,” concluded Buchsbaum.
Bottom Line
For your Passover celebration and beyond, kosher wines are worth exploring. “In my opinion, the most important things in wine production are the quality of maintenance in the vineyards. This includes the ability to choose the appropriate grapes and raw materials, the correct processes in creating the wine and, of course, the soul of the winery workers invested in the preparation process. This applies to all wines, both kosher and non-kosher,” says Peretz. “Kosher wines are always evolving and improving. The kosher and non-kosher consumer is always looking for the newest vintage, the newest varietal and the newest tastiest wine,” concluded Buchsbaum.
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