What I've Chosen for Myself

Here's what I've chosen for the seders this year. This year I followed my own advice a little better than previous years. Some of these wines are ones I've tasted before, while others are new to me. I should probably also mention that a case of wine made up of the bottles below can be very expensive indeed.

Moshe's Personal Choices

• Covenant Cabernet Sauvignon 2005. (I'll write a review of this wine soon, which is one of the best available in the United States.) I realize that I should start off with a lighter-bodied wine, but I want to enjoy the first cup using the best wine I can.
• Pardess Merlot 2001. I'll probably use this for the second cup.
• Tishbi Cabernet Petite Sirah 2006. (Last reviewed in 2002.) I will offer this wine for the first cup for anyone who prefers a lighter wine, and this might be good for the third cup for anyone who wants to ease off for a bit.
• Chateau Labegorce Margaux 2001. I had this last year.
• Galil Mountain Pinot Noir 2005. I haven't had their Pinot Noir before, and the seder is a great excuse, but I am not certain I'm going to open this bottle just yet.
• Galil Yiron 2004. The 2000 vintage was outstanding, and the later vintages have always been excellent. Another good choice for the second and third cups.
• Recanati Shiraz Reserve 2004. A lighter wine for the first or third cups.
• Chassagne-Monrachet Les Charrieres 2001, a burgundy. I couldn't resist the idea of a change of pace.
• Herzog Black Muscat 2007, in case one of the sweet wine drinkers would enjoy something heavier.
• At the very end, I want something dry to clean my palate, but at the same time something that's reminiscent of a special after-meal treat. I've chosen Abarbanel's Cremant d'Alsace Brut.

To anticipate the inevitable question: These wines range in price from $15 per bottle to $85 per bottle. And let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy and Kosher Passover!

The most unusual question I've received to date is from Kehillat Beijing, the Jewish community of Beijing, China (with perhaps the best natural pun I've seen in a while: their web site is at "Sinogogue").

Given the difficulty of importing kosher wines, they can only choose one wine for Passover this year: The cost has to be reasonable; the wine must appeal to a wide range of palates; the prices must be reasonable; imports are available from only a handful of countries; and they can only choose one wine.

I'll reveal my selection here sometime soon. This is the closest I've ever come to the problem of "If you can only have one wine with you on a desert island..."

I've just received a request from someone who is traveling to Chile and Argentina for a list of kosher wineries to visit.

I don't have one; in fact, I'd be hard-pressed to provide the locations of wineries here in the US.

Here's two requests. First, if you know of kosher wineries in Chile and Argentina that tourists can (or even can't) visit, please leave a comment.

Second, if you'd like to help create a list of all such wineries for me to post on this web site, let me know and let's see if I can let you edit such a list directly. Use the contact form to reach me.