Jezreel Valley Argaman is something that I have opened during Passover the past few years. Argaman was created in Israel by crossing Carignan and the Portugese varietal, Sezão. Great brisket pairing. I am also a fan of Domaine du Castel Grand Vin if I have wine lovers joining us at the table.
What are others who celebrate opening?
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Manishewitz, but only for the haroseth
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2024 Hajdu Zinfandel Ancient Vines
2023 Matar Cumulus Bordeaux blend (Galilee)
2024 Gva’ot Vineyard Dance Bordeaux blend (Shomron)
Can’t remember another Hajdu, got it as a gift from a client.
Not Jewish myself (well, on father’s side but long story) but as the wine guy my friends expect me to bring the wine to the seder.
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I have to give that it’s due. Hate it for drinking but one year (during Covid) I didn’t buy it or any other concord wine and the harseth did not taste anywhere near as good.
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BTW, chag sameach Pesach
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Thank you. Likewise. I am on a ski trip and don’t have access to concord grape wine. I saved some Mondeuse from the Savoie that I opened for apres ski yesterday and added a little sugar to the mixture to achieve the desired taste.
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None. We do a Seder but aren’t so strict that we won’t serve non-kosher wine.
Of your more premium wines made in Israel (like in the quality levels that would interest us WBers independently of religious / cultural reasons), roughly what percentage are Kosher?
Although I’m not Jewish, it was a great surprise to me to learn that several Bordeaux estates make kosher versions of their Grand Vins, including Chateau Giscours.
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I am slightly abashed to admit that the wine we’re drinking tonight is neither Kosher nor mevushal. It is, however, delicious. 2019 Zurab Tseriteli “Mukuzani.”
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Leoville Poyferre as well
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Chateau Valendraud was one of the pioneers in making kosher wine. When I was in St. Emilion, I shipped a mixed case of kosher and non kosher wine from his storefront. Jean-Luc Thunevin was born in Algeria and his family had close ties to Jewish merchants. The other wines I tasted on my tours that I liked were ones I ordered on futures. Since he was the original Garagiste, his store was the way to go.
As far as wines that would appeal to other WBers, I would suggest Domaine du Castel, Flam, Jezreel, Recanati, Tzora, Yarden, Vitkin. If you are looking for reviews, I would suggest Adam Montifiore’s blog.
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I’ve always wondered if the Bordeaux estates that make kosher versions have their entire production facilities inspected by rabbis or if it’s just part of the winery. Either way you’d probably need to have a clearly demarcated section to make sure which workers are handling the wines where (though also, with modern technology at the scale they work at [eg: automated punch down machines and/or pumpovers, I wonder where the line for “handled” is during fermentation).
Also, for Passover this year I opened a wine that is not kosher, but was made by me, so at least I can be sure it wasn’t used idolatrously at any point.
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NONE. I drank a 2012 Williams Selyem Estate and it was EXCELLENT. Next year in Sonoma!
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It’s ironic that the pioneer of quality Kosher and Israeli wines, Peter Stern, was not able to actually turn valves or touch hoses, pumps, and tanks in the wineries because he wasn’t an observant Jew. He had to stand aside and direct people what to do. They would pour off samples and bring them to him to try. Ditto his right-hand man Andy Starr, but Andy at least was Jewish, if not observant.
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Two from Covenant: 2023 Blanc de Blancs Sparkling (okay) and 2024 Mensch Zinfandel (very ripe and jammy).
A Georgian kosher saparavi. I have taken this to Chabad events, and it has been well-liked.
Fascinating! Who carries it?
"Badagoni addressed Rabies from Israel, and asked them to come to Georgia "
That is one hilarious typo.
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