Kosher for Passover- Revisited

• Posted on 18 April 2024
• Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, grenache, Israel, merlot, petit sirah
• 0

At City Vino, we take pride in our annual tradition of featuring Kosher for Passover wines, aligning with the spirit of both Easter and Passover celebrations. Our diverse community of wine enthusiasts eagerly anticipates this time of year, and we delight in serving their needs with a curated selection of exceptional wines.

Among our offerings this season are a few remaining bottles from esteemed vintages, including the 2020 Recanati Merlot and the 2021 Recanati Cabernet Sauvignon. With their captivating flavors and impeccable craftsmanship, these wines are sure to enhance any holiday gathering, inviting guests to raise a glass in celebration of tradition, community, and the joy of the season.

2020 Recanati Merlot: The wine is 100 percent Merlot that was destemmed but not crushed, so that some whole grapes start some internal fermentation. This method of winemaking produces a wine with a more prominent, fruitier characteristic. Aromas and flavors of berries plums, cherries, spices, and gentle oak are found in this medium-bodied red wine. Meat dishes like roasted beef, lamb, or veal would be a great companion for this wine.

2021 Recanati Cabernet Sauvignon: Like the previous wine, this is made from 100 percent of the varietal, and again fermentation was started with whole berries. Darker fruits are experienced in this wine, with aromas and flavors of black currant, blackberries, blueberries, and black plums. This wine, too, will pair well with beef or lamb dishes, and perhaps even roasted poultry or duck. 

Passover, a poignant and deeply significant holiday observed annually by Jewish communities worldwide, serves as a profound testament to the enduring story of liberation from bondage, and is rooted in the biblical narrative of the Exodus from Egypt. From the lighting of candles to the sharing of symbolic foods, each ritual act reaffirms the timeless message of Passover: that through faith, perseverance, and collective action, liberation is attainable. Monday, April 22, 2024, starts the eight days of reflection, celebration, and tradition.

Beyond its religious essence, Passover carries immense cultural and historical weight for Jewish communities globally. Across centuries, the Exodus tale has illuminated paths of hope and resilience, inspiring countless generations to persevere through adversity. Today, Passover stands as a universal symbol of liberation and freedom, echoing the aspirations for justice and equality cherished by people from all walks of life.

At the core of Passover lies the Seder, a richly symbolic ritual meal that serves as the focal point of the holiday's observance. This meal is held on the first two nights. The Seder plate, adorned with a selection of symbolic foods, serves as a visual tableau of the Exodus narrative. The accounting of the story is told through the lens of the Haggadah as the dinner progresses.

There are six core elements of this meal. The Charoset, which is a mix of apples, walnuts, raisins, and wine represents the mortar that Jewish slaves used for building. A hardboiled egg symbolizes the cycle of life. A shank bone represents the lamb used as a paschal sacrifice before the Jews fled Egypt. Maror, which are bitter herbs—often horseradish—that symbolize the suffering of the Jews while they were in slavery. Chazeret, which is another bitter herb. Finally, Karpas, which is a green vegetable, often represented as parsley, that symbolizes spring. There are other symbolic items that have meaning, which include three pieces of matzah, saltwater, and of course wines. As participants engage with these elements, they are reminded of the trials and triumphs of their ancestors, fostering a profound connection to their heritage.   

As the sun sets on the eve of Passover, families gather around tables. There are four Questions, traditionally asked by the youngest participant, which prompt reflection on the significance of the rituals and the overarching themes of liberation and redemption. Through this interactive dialogue, participants are encouraged to engage deeply with the story of Passover, ensuring its continued relevance and resonance in contemporary times.

Throughout the eight days of Passover, observant Jews adhere to dietary restrictions that eschew leavened grains and certain other foods, symbolizing the haste with which their ancestors fled Egypt. Matzah, the unleavened bread of affliction, becomes a staple of the Passover diet, serving as a tangible reminder of the hardships endured by the Israelites during their exodus from bondage.

Beyond its ritual and dietary observances, Passover is imbued with a spirit of joy and celebration, as families come together to mark this auspicious occasion. Yet, even amidst the festivities, there is a solemn recognition of the suffering endured by both the Jewish people and their Egyptian counterparts during the biblical plagues. This duality of joy and solemnity underscores the complex tapestry of emotions woven into the fabric of the Passover experience.

If you really wish to explore wines, especially for this month Kosher wines, City Vino has a Wine Club or as we like to address them our City Vino Wine Cru that will be exploring Israeli wines this month with two very special wines, 2020 Recanati Petite Sirah from Galilee and 2021 Hai Wines Rosé from the Judean Hills. What is special about the City Vino Wine Cru is that we will take a deeper dive in a monthly topic to discover the geography, topography, climate, perhaps even the economics, history, and appellation requirements of a region and why all that makes it a special place to make and enjoy wine. There are other perks you can explore here.

We hope you will enjoy these very familiar grape varieties, but from a different wine-producing region—Israel.  The three wines are also Kosher for Passover, and can grace your table during the holiday of Passover.