What makes a wine kosher? Actually, wines are inherently kosher, but for them to remain kosher, the winemaking process has to be handled by a Sabbath-observant Jew. Although most restaurants now serve meshuval wine, considering that it can be handled by even a non-observant Jew or even by a person who is not a Jew (yeah, religion does have its quirks), it is definitely not the type of wine we’d recommend if you are looking for kosher vintage.
The old method of producing meshuval wine — boiling the juice of grapes in a big pot or tank — did not improve the wine’s taste. Boiling wine even ruined the wine’s potential for prolonged storage. Flash heating was recently developed to limit the damaging effects that the process of boiling imparts to the taste, aroma, and overall quality of the wine. There are numerous kosher wines available these days, meshuval and non-meshuval alike, and many are of high quality. Nevertheless, you will not find any meshuval wine on our list today. Here are the (non-meshuval) kosher wines that we are happy to recommend as wonderful complements to your meals:
Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon from Golan Heights Winery (Israel/Galilee, 1999) — Won the Silver Medal at the Vintitaly International Wine Competition in 2006. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. It looks very heavy, with its purple-black hue. It has a flavorful combination of black cherry, tobacco, plum, and smoke that becomes a medley in the mouth. It goes well with steak and will also be a wonderful complement for any pasta dish.
Domaine du Castel Grand Vin from Domaine du Castel Winery (Israel/Judean Hills, 2002) — Appeals to those who gravitate toward Bordeaux wines. It is garnet colored, and its rich, fruity complexity is filled with the flavors of blackberry, currants, and plum combined with the undertones of smoky cedar, leather, and tobacco. This wine goes well with meat dishes.
Yarden Merlot Ortal Vineyard from Golan Heights Winery (Israel/Upper Galilee, 2001) — The folks at Golan Heights truly know their kosher wines! This wine was aged in French oak barrels for 14 years and is 2001 schmita sanctified. It has a luscious crimson color with a tinge of gold at the rim. It is very dry (which is perfect for a Merlot) and creates a flavorful explosion of blackberry, plum, licorice, oak, and spices, subtly underscored by the earthiness of mushroom. This wine emphasizes the flavors of a spicy meat dish.