Best Kosher Wines For Hanukkah
- By Katie Curley-Katzman, CBS Boston
Here are our picks for best kosher wines for Hanukkah
1. Alate Temparanillo, 2011, Navarra Region of Spain
This will give you a lot of bang for your buck and sends thoughts of rich chocolate gelt rushing through your head. It's full-bodied with black cherry and coffee notes. The wine itself is almost black in the glass.
2. Herzog Special Reserve Cabernet, 2009, Alexander Valley, California
A more traditional cab, this is made in a French-style. Very earthy, you will taste notes of berries. Herzog is well-known in the Kosher wine circle for the stringent following of guidelines but also making elegant California varietals such as chardonnay and cabernet available for those who keep Kosher.
3. Taperberg, Terra, Malbec, 2010, Israel
This is an interesting one that will get the family talking around the Thanksgivingukkah table. There is a very-low production of Israeli malbecs but each year, they are showing improvement. Since Israel has both desert and tropical climates, there are some areas where malbec can work. The nose on this wine is what will strike you first - be alert for licorice, oak and cassis berries. Notes include cinnamon, eucalyptus and dates.
4. Recanati Chardonnay, 2009, Israel
Recanati Chardonnay is new to the Kosher wine scene but likely to be a household name in the coming years. The grapes for this chardonnay come from the sloping vineyards of Israel's Kerem Ben-Zimra section. Tropical fruits, hazelnut and caramel complement your Thanksgivingkkah table. If you're not fond of oaky chardonnay, this one's for you. It differs slightly from traditional Israeli chardonnays. It's a wonderful wine to pair with just about anything you're serving on the 28th but it's also a great wine to serve with appetizers as your guests warm up.
5. Goose Bay Pinot Noir, 2010, New Zealand
This is another conversation piece as you won't find many kosher wines coming out of New Zealand. The wine is very similar to a fine French Burgundy think - very earthy. This is the perfect wine for gamey-meats. If you're a foodie and looking for the perfect wine to go with your turkey, this is the one to pick up.
Katie Curley-Katzman loves learning, collecting and writing about wine. She holds a certificate in wine tasting and education from the Institut d'Oenologie in Aix-en-Provence, France and is a graduate of Salem State University with a degree in English and French. Her wine writing has appeared in the Quarterly Review of Wines Magazine.
