Here are a few I’d like to see in my four cups this Pesach:
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Sydney Back Kosher Merlot 2022 £18.99
A South African-made mevushal which celebrates the Lithuanian Jewish roots of the winemakeing Back family. A very easy-to-drink Merlot that’s full of red berry and plummy flavour. A good pick with lamb so save some to go with your Seder meal if lamb’s on the menu.
Vina Memorias Magus Duopole £37.90
This very special and rich red made from Spanish Bobal grapes blended with Shiraz is new this year from this Valencian winery. The two grapes are pressed and aged separately — one in oak barrels and the other in the winery’s signature huge clay jars (tinajas) — before they are blended. The name duopole refers to the two wines, aged in two different ways before being blended.
Ephod Gesher Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah £39.99
A chance to support Israeli wines at this incredibly hard time for them. French winemaker David Suissa made Aliyah in 2014 after 20 years of making world-renowned fine wines in Bordeaux. He took a couple of years after arriving in Israel to work out where his winemaking would take him and now produces a range of wines the Galilee under his Ephod Winery label. This dry red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah (Shiraz) is aged in oak barrels. It will be delicious for your Seder but if you want to hang onto any bottles it will also age well.
Har Odem Nebiollo £39.99
Another Israeli option is from one of the country’s highest wineries — Har Odem (Odem Mountain). It’s another family-run operation, run by the Alfasi family who have blended Nebbiolo and Syrah (Shiraz) grapes all grown up the upper Golan Heights on Mount Odem. It’s an elegant and dry red wine full of sour cherry and strawberry flavours. Although too late for this year’s Seder, it’s worth a visit to their website. I immediately wanted to support them.
Cantina Giuliano Sweet Vermentino £17.99
A Tuscan sweet wine (also mevushal) which is made by Eli Gaulthier at his Cantina Giuliano winery using Vermentino grapes. Plenty of zingy citrus flavour and bubbles make this a fun pick for your first Seder cup. If you have any over after Pesach it makes a fabulous aperitif over ice with a slice of orange or paired with a tot of zesty limoncello liqueur topped up with lemon Pellegrino.
Vina Memorias Brut Reserva Cava £23.90
Celebrate freedom with more bubbles in this Spanish fizz from a family-owned Valencian winery. It’s made from 100% Macabeo grapes from ancient vines planted at high altitude using the traditional champagne method and then aged for 24 months in the traditional method used for champagne making. We’ve seen it on offer on a few kosher wine sites so worth looking around.
