The Best Kosher Wine for Your Passover Seder
Updated: Apr. 08, 2024
Planning a Passover Seder? We've rounded up the best kosher wine brands to serve at your meal.
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A Note About Passover and Wine
Passover—a weeklong Jewish holiday—begins with the Seder. During this special meal, four glasses of wine (or grape juice) are drunk at specific times to celebrate the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt. (If you’re new to hosting, check out our first-timer’s guide to the Passover Seder).
What Makes Wine Kosher?
Wine that is “kosher” has been produced following strict guidelines from the time the grapes enter the winery to the moment the wine is bottled. In most cases, certified kosher wines require Sabbath-observant Jews to either supervise or entirely manage the winemaking process. Any ingredients used in the wine, like yeasts or fining agents, must also be certified kosher.
All kosher wine that is produced, marketed and sold commercially will have a hechsher on the label, the official mark of kosher certification.
Is kosher wine sweet? Some are, but a growing number of producers are making high-quality dry kosher wines. Read on for our top picks!
Flam Winery Rosé: $35
This rosé comes from Israel’s Judean Hills region, and is crafted from 100% cabernet franc grapes. Flam’s vibrant rosé boasts a citrusy aroma with notes of red grapefruit, as well as peach, nectarine and a slightly spicy finish that will complement many classic Passover dishes.
Hagafen Chardonnay 2018: $30
Napa Valley-based Hagafen Cellars was the first kosher winery established in California. Their signature oak-aged chardonnay is a stunning wine, featuring heady aromas of honeycrisp apple, pineapple and lemon zest. It has a lush, balanced finish, which makes it a perfect pairing for matzo ball soup.
Capçanes Peraj Ha’abib Flor de Primavera 2017: $60
Capçanes’ Flor de Primavera is a serious wine that’s a million miles away from the Manischewitz most of us associate with a Passover spread. This Spanish red is a blend of grenache, cabernet sauvignon and carinena and has rich notes of black and red fruits, coffee and toast. It’s elegant, with a lush texture and well-integrated tannins that are made for Passover lamb dishes.
Covenant Blue C Viognier 2018: $33
Covenant’s Viognier is full of bright, expressive tropical notes and ripe peach, and has a generous, lush body, thanks partially to time spent in neutral oak barrels. Those beautiful fruit flavors are ideal with your favorite Passover chicken recipes.
Gilgal Brut NV: $21
Start off your Passover celebration by popping open a bottle of Gilgal Brut. This sparkling wine hails from Israel’s Golan Heights wine region. Made in the same method as Champagne, it’s a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir. With vibrant notes of Granny Smith apple, strawberries, citrus and white flowers, Gilgal Brut is an exquisite example of well-made kosher wine. Serve it with salmon or chopped liver.
Baron Herzog Lineage Choreograph 2017: $20
Choreograph is a stunning red blend featuring 12 grape varieties, each complementing the others to produce a fantastic food-friendly wine. Red and black fruits, spice and a hint of espresso dominate the nose and palate of Choreograph. Pair it with your Passover brisket.
Yatir Winery Mt. Amasa Red Blend: $47
Another gorgeous red blend based on petit verdot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, malbec and a dash of tannat, Yatir’s Mt. Amasa is an exquisite wine from Israel’s Judean Hills. Aromas of raspberry, cherry, currants, baking spice and smoke leap out of the glass, while the wine itself is velvety and beautifully balanced.
Galil Mountain Winery Rosé: $15
Rosés are phenomenally versatile wines, and with its delicate notes of crushed rose petals, lemon and orange zest and spice, the Galil Mountain rosé is a brilliant choice for your Seder. It’ll pair well with everything from roast chicken to gefilte fish.
Barkan Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2019: $14
Full of fresh dark cherry, cassis, red flowers, cocoa and spices, the Barkan Classic cabernet sauvignon is wonderfully rich, with a bold flavor that is absolutely amazing with lamb chops. This cabernet offers excellent value—plenty of complexity at a great price point.
Terra di Seta Chianti Classico Riserva 2015: $35
This terrific Chianti Classico comes to us from the organic vineyards of Terra di Seta, in Tuscany. The wine is crafted exclusively from sangiovese, with layers of cherry, ripe berries, dried violets, earth, oak and spice.
Laurent Perrier Kosher Brut NV: $70
Kosher Champagne? Yes, please! Laurent Perrier’s brut Champagne boasts ample complexity, with lovely notes of lemon, orange blossoms and a touch of white nectarine, with a crisp, mineral-driven finish. Enjoy on its own or with potato kugel.
Tzafona Vidal Ice Wine 2016: $33
If you’ve never tried ice wine, you’re in for a treat. Tzafona’s outstanding vidal ice wine has so much to offer, with intense aromas of tangerines, red grapefruit, peach, nectarine and honey, balanced out by a clean, bright acidity. Serve it with lighter fruit-based Passover desserts.
Herzog Late Harvest Orange Muscat 2019: $24
No Passover meal is complete without dessert, and Herzog’s late harvest orange muscat is the ideal wine for sweets. Floral, with bright citrus notes and hints of tropical fruit, we love it with homemade apple cake.
Binyamina Reserve Sauvignon Blanc: $16
With its vibrant citrus and stone fruit notes and elegant minerality, Binyamina’s take on sauvignon blanc is a delightful bright white wine to serve on Passover. There’s a slight herbal note to this wine, making it a top choice for pairing with vegetable dishes or as something to sip before you sit down for your meal.
Originally Published: April 14, 2022
