KOSHER FOR PASSOVER WINE

Passover commemorates a Jewish story where Moses leads the people of Israel out of the dominating regime to hunt for the Promised Land. This Jewish celebration commences with 'seder' - a meal which includes the consumption of 4 cups of wine accompanied by unleavened bread, also called 'matzoh'. The 4 cups are really not much different in dryness, sweetness or alcohol content - two will be partaken of before the food and two after. They contain 3.3ozs.each. The fifth cup all filled, is ritually left for Prophet Elijah.

In Hebrew, 'kosher' just means “fit and proper”. Any wine, red or white, conforming to Jewish traditional laws and whose preparation has been supervised by a Rabbi or priest or persons who are observing Sabbath is kosher. Tradition calls for the use of 'kosher' wine at Passover. The legendary kosher has changed its composition coming through generations and migrations. It is now made from available varieties of grapes. Migration of Jews into America has exposed them to Concord and other native grapes. Slowly kosher began to be made from them and now 'kosher' designates a wine with grape-jelly flavor. It is presently described as a thick, sweet and ‘grapey’ drink.

Kosher does not have any animal ingredient. It should be prepared in pans used solely for its preparation. If the wine has been boiled then it does not matter who prepares it. It will be deemed fit for consumption. Somewhere down the ages these directories were incorporated so that contamination is least. Once boiled, it is renamed 'mevushal'. Grapes from vines which are older than 4 years are selected for the wine. These grapes are not 'orla' or mature. Immature grapes obviously do not make the best of wines.

Competitions have enhanced drinking of kosher wine. International companies have diverse kosher wines which have gone beyond the taste buds of Jews. Anybody can drink kosher wine .Traditions do not prevent the international production of kosher wine.

Kosher for Passover wine can be a light straw-colored wine, having small bubbles lining the glass, a light peach scent and herbal highlights. Crisp, sweet, sour and refreshing may describe kosher wine. It is of low alcohol content. Yeast is not added. Mold which has grown on bread is not used. Sugar or fruit causes the fermentation. Several preservatives as is the norm today are avoided in kosher. The cask containing the kosher for Passover wine should be left open sufficiently early to let it 'breathe'. Wines made in Israel are considered kosher wines but not all kosher wines are kosher for Passover. With more experimentation, the quality of kosher wines has increased and there are better wines each passing day. The wines are named Kasher L’Pesach in Hebrew.

Studying the tastes of your guests would help you serve the right wine to them. American customers like the syrupy, sugary wines so it will not do to serve them a wine like Chateau Giscours. Beaujolais wines are fruity in taste and would be savored by people who like sweet wines. Manischewitz is a popular kosher Passover wine.