A Kosher Toast to the New Year
When serving meals to our Yom Tov, Festival, and Shabbos guests, we try to be both creatively traditional and seasonal in our menus. To complement our food and toast the New Year, we select our wines carefully. And, there are so many from which to choose! Our panel of tasters has enjoyed the following wine selections, which reflect varying types and price ranges. Most are new introductions to sip and savor in the upcoming year.
From the lower Galilee in Israel, a new winery, Domaine Netofa, has produced 2009 Domaine Netofa Galilee. A blend of Syrah and Mourvedre grapes, this dry, red table wine is fruity and medium-bodied. It is an enjoyable accompaniment to meat or poultry. At around $20 a bottle, it makes a nice gift for those who enjoy red wine.
The popular Italian winery, Bartenura has recently released a new line of wine, Ovadia Estates. We sampled the Ovadia Morellino di Scansano. Made from the Sangiovese grapes grown in the south of Tuscany, this dry, red table wine is fruity, smooth, robust and is a wonderful compliment to meat or hearty dishes. Selling for around $20 a bottle, this import is well worth the price.
From Herzog Wine Cellars comes 2009 Herzog Selection Chateneuf Bordeaux. A delightful blend of Semillon and Sauvignon white grapes has produced a soft, mild, semi-dry white Bordeaux with a fruity bouquet. Made in France, the taste far exceeds the reasonable price of approximately $12 per bottle. Serve chilled with fish, poultry or cheese. This wine can easily become a favorite.
2006 Crescendo! The label is colorful, lively, and friendly, the name emphatic. And that is exactly how we would describe this exciting red table wine—perfect for happy occasions, any time, any day. From the vintner: “Crescendo! Is all about combining fruit and spice in an explosive combination. You will smile when you finish the bottle and open another.” (We did.) $24
2005 Hagafen Prix Melange, Napa Valley. The Hagafen Prix wines are made in small lots, with limited availability and noted by many experts for their excellence. Several wine experts give this very special wine high scores and consider it a joy to consume. Only 300 cases were produced. It was awarded 93 points by Daniel Rogov; 92 points in the world wine championships, and double gold in the Tasters Guild competition. A treat to try in the new year! $75
From Haroz Vinters – Sol De Chile Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 is one of our newest discoveries. Made from grapes grown in the volcanic soil of the Maule Valley of Chile, this wine is described as “full bodied with well developed tannins”. The grapes are Estate grown and harvested by hand in April with the goal of producing “concentrated and elegant” wines. Our tasters recommend letting this robust wine breathe before drinking. Compliments meats, hearty dishes and aged cheeses. ($13)
Petite Sirah Reserve 2009. 70% Petite Syrah 30% Zinfandel Aged for 17 months in French oak barrels, this is a full-bodied choice from Recanati, made from select grapes from the slopes of the upper and lower Galilee. Excellent with red meats, hearty dishes, aged cheeses. Decant one hour before drinking and serve at cool room temperature. $26
Recanati Chardonnay 2009 From Israel’s upper Galilee – comes this full-bodied, “pale straw gold wine, with a long, smooth finish” It is an enjoyable accompaniment to fish and poultry dishes, pasta in cream sauce, appetizers. Lovely, white, fruity everyday selection. A value- Serve chilled $15
To learn more about kosher wine, we suggest visiting renowned kosher wine expert Daniel Rogov's forum. Gift yourself or gift others with his book, Rogov's Guide to Kosher Wines 2010
Great Grapes:
Glendale Farm Kosher Grape Juice
Glendale Farm is located on a hillside near Seneca Lake, in the town of Burdett, in the Finger Lakes region of upstate NY. The juice is made from certified organically grown grapes, and is OU kosher.
Each year’s vintage reflects the unique character of the particular growing season. It is a simple product blended from several types of New York grapes such as Concord, Catawba, Delaware, and Niagara. It is minimally flash pasteurized and as pure as grape juice can be – no sulfites, no concentrates, no water, no additives, no chemicals, no sweeteners. Even the bottle is special! Glendale Farm Grape Juice is packaged in decorative glass bottles for both environmental and health reasons.
Drink to the New Year with this healthful, organic product! It is available around the country at natural food stores and Whole Foods Markets.
We raise our glasses to toast our KosherEye friends!
For Rosh Hashana – Our Favorite Martini, the Pomegranate Martini – or as some call it, the Mitzvah-Tini.
May the New Year 5771 be sweet; filled with the blessings of good health, peace and renewed spiritual inspiration for the Jewish people, and for all good people, everywhere. May we all rejoice in our lives, in our relationships, and of course, in our kosher kitchens!
Shana Tovah from KosherEye!