Delicious Kosher Wines for Your Seder Table and Beyond

 

Select wines to try this Passover.  Photo: Wicker Hamper by Fortnum & Mason's Picadilly, St. Jame's, London, UK. Hand painted, silk matzo and challah covers by artist Esthie Netanel, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Passover is a very special time on the Jewish calendar of high holy days. It commemorates God's deliverance from Egyptian bondage and slavery with promises of a real and everlasting homeland.  So, it's no wonder that the seder or traditional Passover meal looks both to the past to re-tell the account of Exodus, "Why is this night different from all other nights?" to the future, "Next year in Jerusalem!"

A seder ceremony as prescribed by the Mishnah, starts with a blessing and four glasses of wine or grape juice to be consumed at different points of the meal. There are: 

The Kadeish - starts with blessings and first cup of wine.

Maggid - second cup as a reminder of the freedom from physical bondage.

Birkat - third cup, grace after eating matzoh.

Hallel - fourth cup, gives praise and thanks for the land of Israel.

Caramel Black, Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel

Passover begins at sundown on April 22nd this year.  Considering all the cups of wine served at a seder meal, one would do well as a guest to bring at least a few bottles for the host.  This Caramel Black Cabernet Sauvignon is aged 14 months and is a delicious Israeli wine that's not too dry but very aromatic.  Keeping in mind, any wine brought to the seder table should be labeled as "Kosher for Passover" there is nothing wrong with looking ahead to enjoying them beyond the holiday.  The following are all Kosher labeled wines to be enjoyed any time of the year including Shabbat:

Herzog Lineage 2022 Rose Clarksburg

Some may consider white or rose non-traditional to serve at a seder meal. Not so.  Some seder hosts serve a different wine with each portion of the meal.  Breaking up all those deep reds with a rose comes as a welcome inclusion.  Herzog Lineage is Kosher for the Passover holiday making it the perfect complement to the upcoming warmer summer months and outdoor picnics.  This is due to its refreshing yet earthy hints of strawberry, melon and candied fruit.  The finish is that of Mediterranean pomegranate, reminiscent of vacation season to come. Therefore, it makes the perfect host-gift for nearly every other occasion as well.  

Lovatelli Monferrato Nebbiolo 2022, Italy

This northern Italian wine is a robust, full-bodied ruby red in all its complexity. Infused with notes of dried red fruits, floral accents and fragranced of sweet spice. The palate offers ripe cherry and berry fruits balanced by a lightly toasty, savory complexity.  A dry Kosher wine, the tannins are finely grained and not overly sedimentary.  Stands up to and compliments stews and red meat dishes.

All wines shown above provided and distributed by Royal Wine Corp., New York, NY