Review: Four Kosher Wines for Passover 2025
There was a time, not too long ago, when pouring kosher wines meant suffering cheap, sweet swill that was virtually undrinkable. Happily, those days are gone and vintners in Israel and around the world have dedicated themselves to making quality kosher wines.
A primer for those new to the world of kosher wine:
When choosing a kosher wine, it is important to determine if you need one that fulfills stricter Mevushal rules or one that is merely Kosher. To be labeled “Kosher,” a wine must be made exclusively by Jews who observe the sabbath and do not work from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. Also, no non-kosher additives may be used to make the wine. Strict hygiene must be maintained throughout the winemaking process. Finally, only new bottles may be used to store the wine. To guarantee that the rules are followed, the wines must be made with the oversight of a stipulated Jewish supervisor. If a wine is to be labeled Mevushal, it must also have been flash-pasteurized, essentially boiled. This allows the wine to be served by non-Jewish people and maintain its kosher designation. Today we are looking at four kosher wines, two from Israel, one from Italy, and one from California. Let’s open some bottles and give them a try.
2021 Psâgot Peak – 51% Petite Syrah, 49% Shiraz. Made with grapes from the northern Jerusalem Mountain range, this bold, balanced wine is Kosher but not Mevushal. On the nose and palate it offers integrated fruity notes of plum, raspberry, and blueberry, along with tobacco and dusty cocoa. The wine shows good tannic structure and medium-high acidity that promises it will pair well with food, but it is approachable enough to enjoy on its own. The finish is long as blueberry and cocoa notes fade away into drying tannins. I was impressed. This is one of the better Kosher wines I have had to date. A- / $58
2022 Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico – This well-balanced Chianti is Kosher but not Mevushal. It has enjoyable notes of musky black cherry, blueberry, and leather that are held in check by firm tannins and medium-high acidity. The finish is dry but not overpoweringly so. As a style, Chianti often demands more time or needs to be tamed by being paired with heavy food like a meaty ragu. This one can stand up to hearty fare, but it is also drinkable on its own. It is not overly complex, but it is a steal for the price. B+ / $12
2023 Darom Cabernet Sauvignon Judea – Made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Syrah, and 5% Shiraz, this wine is Kosher but not Mevushal. It was made with grapes drawn from vineyards across southern Israel. On both the nose and palate, it offers forward notes of musty plum and cassis along with some raspberry, earthiness, cinnamon, and a touch of green pepper. The notes are enjoyable but not as well defined as they could be. Gentle tannins provide a nice mouthfeel and medium acidity provides structure, but the finish is shorter than I would have liked. Nevertheless, this is a solid Cabernet that would pair well with brisket. B / $33
2022 Herzog Lineage Pinot Noir – Made with grapes from Clarksburg, CA, this wine is Kosher and Mevushal. I was massively disappointed by this wine. It presents a nose of acidic cranberry and sour cherry along with a light musky smell. The palate offers light notes of cranberry along with wet cardboard. It has high acidity and a touch of woody tannins, but the various notes don’t really come together. The requirements for Mevushal wine, which include boiling the wine, may explain the wine’s defects, but I can’t recommend it. F / $20
2021 Psâgot Peak
USD58
