Kosher doesn't mean sweet

1 servings

Ingredients

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KOSHER DOESN'T MEAN SWEET
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Directions

The term "kosher wines" used to be an oxymoron. They were sweet and syrupy, and tasted like alcoholic grape juice. These wines still exist as Manischewitz (18 on the (*) LCBO's sugar scale) and Mogen David ( a mere 15). In comparison, the sweetest port is 11 on the scale. There is no Talmudic injunction that says kosher wine has to be sweet. Today, the top producers in Israel, California and Europe are using the noble grapes (Chardonnay, Cabernet, Sauvignon and the like) to produce fine dry wines that are also kosher. To be kosher, a wine must be under rabbinic supervision. Currently at Vintages there are several kosher wines worthy of the Passover table.

HAGAFEN WHITE TABLE WINE 1993: (Can.$13⅘) From Napa is "MEVUSHAL" - that is 100 per cent kosher. It has a soft peach-floral flavor with a hint of residual sweetness.

HERZOG JOHANNISBERG LATE HARVEST RIESLING 1991: A medium-sweet dessert wine from California (Can.$9.70 half-bottle) is kosher but not MEVUSHAL.

YARDEN FROM ISRAEL: Yarden of Israel offers two white varietals.

CHARDONNAY 1993: (Can.$14.95) Chardonnay has a spicy-apple-lemon taste with a toasty finish.

SAUVIGNON BLANC 1993: (Can.$13¾) The Sauvignon Blanc is elegant with grassy, green bean and green pepper flavors, very true to the grape.

YARDEN: CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1991 (Can.$16.95) In red, Yarden does a Cabernet Sauvignon which has a herbaceous blackcurrent and bell pepper flavor, very much in the California style.

On general listing, the Carmel wines from Israel are MENVUSHAL. In whites, there's FRENCH COLOMBARD and SAUVIGNON BLANC (Can.$7.05 for each) and the sweet CHATEAU RICHON (Can.$6.95). There is CARMEL GRENACHE ROSE (Can.$7⅒). In red, CARMEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON (Can.$7.05) is dry, but CARMEL CONCORD and SACRAMENTAL are 23 and 18 respectively on the sweetness scale. From Article: Kosher Doesn't Mean Sweet by Tony Aspler Published: Toronto Star - april 5, 1995 Submitted By SAM LEFKOWITZ On 04-13-95

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