Affordable Kosher Wines for Passover: An Examination of the Finest Picks by Wine Press

Passover starts (or started, depending on when you’re reading this article) at sundown on Monday, April 22.

The annual Jewish holiday commemorating their liberation from slavery continues until the evening of April 30.

During this annual holiday, there are many special, traditional feasts, including Seder on April 22 and April 23.

As part of the Seder, many people drink wine. And for many Jewish people, that means drinking only kosher wine.

There are many rules about what makes a wine kosher. There’s also a fair bit of confusion.

This week, you can learn all about kosher wines, as well as tasting notes for a few suggested kosher wines, many of which cost less than $16 a bottle.

Hope you enjoy.

WHAT IS KOSHER WINE?

First, let’s discuss some common misconceptions about kosher wine. Contrary to what many believe, making kosher wine doesn’t involve a rabbi. The wine just needs to be produced by people who adhere to the Jewish Sabbath, a traditional day of rest observed on Saturday.

There are also other regulations for kosher wine, such as ensuring that all the components used in the wine are kosher. This implies that no animal products can be added to the wine. Furthermore, kosher wines must not get into contact with any bread or grain products.

There are additional rules to be followed. However, you don’t need to stress about memorizing these rules. Many liquor stores have specific sections reserved for you to easily locate kosher wines. Also, numerous winemakers produce wines that are certified kosher, indicated clearly on the label.

WHO PRODUCES KOSHER WINE?

Another myth about kosher wine is that it only comes from certain producers from parts of the world. The truth is winemakers anywhere in the world can make kosher wine. And many winemakers do just that. As a result, there are kosher wines from Israel, Australia, Argentina, California and France, including certain wineries in Bordeaux and Champagne.

TASTING NOTES

2021 Barkan Vineyards Classic Chardonnay ($15.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield)

Country – Israel

Grape – Chardonnay

Tasting Notes – If you love bone-dry white wines, you will absolutely love this outstanding, understated wine. This subtle white wine has a fascinating blend of soft, understated flavors ranging from peach to sea salt, roasted butter and a slight hint of green apple. Highly recommend.

2021 Barkan Vineyards Classic Pinot Noir Negev Israel ($13.99 at Table & Vine)

Country – Israel

Grape – Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes – Soft, subtle, fruit-forward red wine that really hits its stride the day after you open the wine. The first day, I found the wine a bit too fruity (almost raspberry like) for my taste. The second day, the wine really smooths out and the fruit flavors are less intense and more subtle and cherry like.

2021 Teal Lake Cabernet Merlot ($12.99 Suggested Retail Price)

Country – Australia

Grape – Blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot

Tasting Notes – This light, refreshing, flinty dry red wine from Australia absolutely blew me away. Flavorful and extremely dry, this wine tastes great straight out of the bottle and the next day as well. With flavors ranging from toasted almonds to dried raspberries, my wife and I adored this wine right from the start. Let me add that the flavors linger long after each sip.

2022 Domaine Bousquet Alavida Malbec ($16.99 at Table & Vine)

Country – Argentina

Grape – 100% malbec

Tasting Notes – For those of you who prefer slightly bigger, earthier wines, this robust yet smooth malbec from Argentina just might be the red wine for you. Bold fruit flavors include hints of plum, cherry and blackberry. There are also slight hints of nuts, particular almonds, on the finish that give this wine a distinct, delightful taste.

2019 Domaines Barons de Rothschild Legende Bordeaux Rouge (available at Table & Vine for $17.99)

Country – Bordeaux, France

Grape – 50% cabernet sauvignon, 50% merlot

Tasting Notes – This delightful blended red wine illustrates why France’s Bordeaux region has such as well-earned reputation for making elegant, charming wines. Made with a classic Bordeaux blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot grapes, the flavors here are soft and subtle with hints of fresh fruit (blackberry and cherry) without being overpowering.

Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee Brut Champagne ($64.99 at Table & Vine)

Country – Champagne, France

Grape – 50% chardonnay, 35% pinot noir, 15%, pinot meunier

Tasting Notes – A classic bone-dry Champagne from one the oldest Champagne houses (founded in 1812) in France’s Champagne region, this delicious sparkling wine hits all the right notes. Its flavors are crisp, dry, slightly nutty (think roasted almonds) and refreshing.

Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.

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About the Author: Chris Lehoux

Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored!