'Tis the season to honor and celebrate tradition.  The festival of lights known as Hanukkah has just begun and Christmas is approaching.  Immediately following that begins the celebration of Kwanzaa.  All of these traditions focus on bringing together family, friends and favorite food memories.  

What we choose to drink alongside the meal can become a tradition in itself.  Kosher wines have suffered a bad rap over the years as a syrupy, sweet, grapey alcoholic beverage that was to be endured.  Not any more!  The following wines are all Kosher and all readily available throughout the country in grocery stores and your favorite wine shops.

As the old advertising slogan from the 60's said, "You don't have to be Jewish to love Levy's," so goes it with the world of wines offered below.

France:

’07 Delagrave, Dry White Blend, Bordeaux (Herzog Selection)…………………........$ 14.99

Pale yellow-gold in color; the two grapes are Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, very traditional for the Entre-Deux-Mers region it comes from (located between the two rivers Garonne and Dordogne). The aroma, also typical of this region is very fruity with gravel and mineral notes. Tastes of white stone fruits with good acidity and a crisp finish. Pairs with freshwater fish, chicken and creamy cheeses.

’07 Le Petit Chaban, Red Blend, Bordeaux………………………………………………$ 19.99

Dark garnet color. Medium bodied. Very slight bit of vanilla and oak with perhaps a hint of fresh flowers. Tastes of plums and blackberries, with very little tannin. Read to drink now with chicken,
Salmon and soft cheeses.

’07 Chateau La Mouline, Moulis……………………………………………………………$ 36.99

Needs lots of breathing time, about an hour. Dark garnet color, almost inky looking and purple. Nose has a little musk, hints of the traditional vegetal, softened by chocolate. The gravel from the soil in the area is present in the smell and taste, soft tannins. Very smooth, not a long finish.

’04 Chateau Fourcas Dupré, Listrac-Medoc……………………………………………..$ 36.99

Color of rubies with garnet rim. A nose of earthiness and dark fruits. Medium bodied,
Medium tannins. Serve with creamy cheese, roast fowl, vegetable-based meals.

’03 Barens Edmond and Benjamin de Rothschild, Haut-Medoc………………….......$ 59.99

Decant at least one hour prior to drinking, to develop the pedigree for which these wines are famous. Ruby-garnet in color, medium body. The nose becomes decidedly oaky and a bit smoky. The taste is of plums and blue/black berries. Very soft tannins. Eventually it develops a slight green pepper nose characteristic of the Cabernet Sauvignon from this region. Non-Meshuval.

’02 Chateau Rollan de By, Medoc…………………………………………………………..$ 68.99

Dark garnet color. Slightly plum nose. Aromas. Merlot scents come through strongly, ripe and without any vegetal smell. Very soft going down, but well balanced due to the acidity and enough tannin to grip the road. This is a wine to serve with Bistro food. Non-Meshuval.

’03 Chateau Pontet-Canet, Pauillac…………………………………………………………$125.00

This dark ruby wine opens with a mild black cherry, tobacco, smoky bouquet with a touch of oak. On the palate, this medium bodied wine is well balanced, smooth, and juicy, lacks complexity and displays cherry flavors and some integrated oak. The finish is dry, has fine tannins, and lasting oak that is nicely prolonged. Pairs with pork tenderloin or smoked meats. Non-Meshuval.

Israel:

’08 Golan Heights Winery, Chardonnay………………………………………………….$ 15.99

Beautiful pale gold color; subtle aromas of figs, pears and apples, toasty oak and then tropical fruit like pineapple; taste is creamy, lemon/orange peel, mineraly with a rich and full finish.
Pairs with roasted chicken, white fish, pastas with creamy sauces.

’05 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon…………………………………………………………….$ 32.99

Beautiful ruby-garnet color, nose of cassis, red berries; full flavors of plums, berries
and just a hint of mint. Pairs with red meats and strong cheeses.

’06 Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon…………………………………………………………….$ 32.99

A younger version of the above Cabernet, with a surprisingly long finish.

California:

’08 Weinstock Chardonnay, Sonoma…………………………………………………………….$14.99

Grapes are carefully selected from California's Russian River. Light gold in color with nose of citrus and tropical fruit. Taste of vanilla and citrus with rich mouth feel, from small barrel aging. Pairs with poached fish, chicken, turkey or pasta dishes with light sauces. Meshuval.

‘08 Hagafen Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc White………………………………………….........$13.00
Bright yellow gold in color; on the nose there’s apple, coconut, fruit, gooseberry, hay, lemon, lemongrass, mango, oak, papaya, pineapple, spice, spicy, straw, structured, toasty, tropical, tropical fruit. Pairs with salads, hard to pair with vegetables like asparagus, artichoke and spinach. Great with white meats and fish. Meshuval.

’07 2002 Hagafen Napa Valley Pinot Noir Red……………………………………………………$23.99
Cherry-red color in the glass, with a nose of cherries, dried red fruits, thyme. In your mouth more cherries and dried fruits. Food Pairings: burgers, chicken, lamb, pasta with tomato sauce, pork, risotto, salmon and other meaty fish, as well as, steak. Meshuval.

’06 Baron Herzog Merlot………………………………………………………………………………….$13.99
Bright Cherry Red color, with very distinctive strawberry jam and red berry aromas with notes of vanilla from French oak. The bright fruit flavors carry on, balanced by medium tannins and a satisfying finish. Pairs with red meats and mushroom dishes. Meshuval.

’03 Kiddush Hashem Cellars' Syrah………………………………………………………...................$28.00
Winemaker and Rabbi Samuel Perez's goal is to create a wine that is not only Kosher, unpasteurized (thus non-Mevushal), unfiltered and unfined, but a serious contender in the market of premium wines from the Central Coast. Using traditional methods and paying close attention to true fruit expression, Rabbi Perez is sourcing his Syrah grapes from Great Oaks Ranch Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley and handcrafting a wine with great balance and character.