A Toast to Latkes, Lights & Miracles
It's time to celebrate Hanukkah, with some special wines.
Yatir
The Yatir winery, founded less than 20 years ago, is regarded as one of Israel’s most respected wineries, and recently introduced the celebrated Yatir Creek 2016 and Yatir Mount Amasa White 2017 to the U.S. market. This boutique winery releases about 150,000 bottles a year, which showcase the unique terroirs of Israel’s Yatir Forest in the southern tip of the Judean Hills.
We always feel unsure about which wine to serve with each food. And, yes, it does make a difference. We do like full bodied reds with meats, and whites or rose with fish and pasta, but what should we serve with latkes?
We asked Yatir brand manager Etti Edri COO of Carmel winery to share her pairing recommendations.
For Shabbos dinner, most homes serve chicken or a red meat, such as brisket. Which Yatir wine would you recommend for each?
Yatir Mt. Amasa white with chicken, and Yatir Mt. Amasa red with brisket. (Approx. $32, not mevushal)
Which Yatir wine offers the most luxurious sip?
Yatir Forest Rated over 90 points by Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator (Approx. $79, not mevushal)
'This is the flagship wine of Yatir Winery; It is aged up to 18 months in small French oak barrels and then has a further year's bottle aging before release. It has a deep purple-red color, an aroma of ripe forest fruits. Deep, firm tannins. Pairs well with richly sauced dishes."
Which Yatir wine would you recommend as a favorite for the Hanukkah?
Yatir Creek is a dry red, produced from grapes grown in the vineyards of Yatir Forest. The wine was aged for 12 months in large oak casks, followed by a two year maturation in the bottle
(Approx. $44, not mevushal)
Kedem
KosherEye has first-hand sipping experience with some excellent wines presented at KosherFEAST 2019. The wine list for the annual gathering of members of the kosher food media was curated by Gabe Geller, Kedem’s Director of Public Relations and Advertising. Some of our favorites include:
Herzog Lineage Momentus, a bright, light, elegant, medium bodied sparkling wine dry, with an almost creamy texture. $17 Mevushal
Tabor Cabernet Sauvignon Limited Edition 2014
The Tabor "limited edition Cabernet Sauvignon: is made from a single vineyard grown at a high altitude on Mount Malkia in the Upper Galilee. It is a full bodied wine with a dark ruby red color. (Approx $15, Mevushal)
Domaine de Panquelaine Sancerre 2018
The Domaine de Panquelaine Sancerre was a crowd favorite at the KosherFEAST event. It is a crisp, Sauvignon Blanc from France's Loire Valley.with citrus and tropical fruit aromas. It is to be served chilled, and goes well with fish and poultry. (Approx $28, Mevushal)
Yarden
We had the pleasure of tasting these selections, (thank you Yarden), and enjoyed every sip!
Yarden Blanc de Blancs 2011
The Yarden Blanc de Blancs is simply superb. It is a complex sparkling wine.. very delicate, fruity and crisp.
The wine is wonderful on its own served as an aperitif, or as a companion to hors d'oeuvres, poultry or fish. We think it is a lovely choice to serve with appetizers, and to toast a special occasion. According to a leading wine critic: " It's slightly fruitier than Champagne, but closer to France than California in style." A good value; Rated 90 From online wine review Non-Mevushal $28
Yarden Chardonnay 2017
This chardonnay is made exclusively from chardonnay grapes grown in the high altitude of the Golan Heights. It displays full body with citrus, smokiness and acidity It is said to be a classic chardonnay, flavorful and drinkable. Not mevushal..$19 
Galil Alon 2014
A red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.. It's color is deep, and the notes of plum, black cherry and fresh berry are rich and long lasting. not mevushal $19
Back to our original question, which wine goes with latkes? Our thoughts...If you are serving latkes with a light meal such as fish or chicken, we like the Blanc de Blancs, Momentus and Sancerre. If serving latkes with brisket or steak, the Tabor or Galil Alon is our choice.
If you are on a tight wine budget, the following are good wines at budget prices.
Herzog Selection Chateneuf Bordeaux is one of our favorite white wines at any price. It's a light, semi-sweet fruity wine. mevushal $14.99
Trader Joe's Givon Chardonnay and Givon Cabernet Sauvignon priced at $6.99 each. These are produced by Israel's Barkan vineyards. Each makes a pleasing table wine and we think they are well worth the BUDGET price. Both are mevushal. If you buy a bottle, do let us know what you think.
Drumroll: The most popular kosher wine in America – is actually from Italy. Bartenura Moscato. Thousands of drinkers have nicknamed this wine. “@Bartenura Blue” and “Out of the Blue”. We at KosherEye prefer our dry reds & whites, but many friends and family love their Blue. This fruity, sweet wine goes well with appetizers, poultry and dessert. However, according to its devoted fans, which is most everyone we know, and many in the hip hop world, BLUE is perfect anytime with anything.
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