I view the holiday of Passover as an opportunity for adults to fulfill the rabbinic dictates of consuming 4 cups of wine at the Seder in a holy way-with "Kosher for Passover" wine. What a great opportunity to celebrate Passover, arguably the most important holiday of the year, and financially support a Jewish winemaker here in California or abroad (Israel, Europe, South America.)

Kosher wine is distinguished from non-kosher wine in a number of ways. All of the steps of vinification, from grape harvest, crush, fermentation, aging and bottling must be performed by religious Jews. Yeasts used during the fermentation harvest must be of a kosher strain. Fining agents (for clarification of the wine) must be rabbinically approved.

Kosher wine falls into two categories: Mevushal and non-Mevushal. Mevushal wine means the juice has been flash pasteurized. An Israeli winery recently developed a means of pasteurization that is done prior to fermentation as opposed to after fermentation. The winemaker believes this improves wine quality. Non-Mevushal wine has not been flash pasteurized. The label will indicate (often in Hebrew) if the wine is Mevushal or non-Mevushal.

Whether or not you keep kosher, and whether or not you drink kosher wine, look at Passover as an opportunity to try some new wines. I enjoy drinking slightly more expensive wine at the Sedarim (wines in the $20-$30 range are not uncommon, and you can easily spend more) and more inexpensive wines during the week of Passover. Kosher wines are available all over town. Feel free to speak with me if you need a suggestion.

I also invite you to come to the Kosher wine tasting here at the synagogue on Saturday night, April 9, for our next kosher wine tasting featuring the wines in the Royal Wine Co. portfolio. Check the newsletter for specific details, or call the office, (310) 829-0566 for more information.

Have a Kosher Passover.