Who ordered kosher?

By The weekly winer 6 December 2007 02:42:00

December is finally here!! There's always something warm and cozy about this month even though it brings such cold weather. After all, ‘tis the season to be jolly. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind for most of us is Christmas. But today I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge another celebration that's also approaching.

If you've guessed Hanukah, you are correct. It's a very important holiday for the Jewish community all over the world and some of us, especially in Thailand aren't quite aware of it. I'm not here to talk about Hanukah, but rather the type of wine that is served in these special times. This type of wine is called kosher wines.

First of all, what does kosher mean? The word kosher means "fit" or "fit to eat" and is often certified by rabbinical authorities. Kosher wines have special regulations that are different from kosher foods. These special wines must be created, bottled, opened, handled, and poured only by Jews. If a non-Jew handles the wine, it becomes non-kosher. There is an exception however, if the wine is heated to near boiling, the wine can then be handled by non-Jews. Wines that have been heated in this fashion are called "mevushal" and should be marked somewhere on the bottle. Mevushal wines are usually served at catered celebrations since both Jews and non-Jews can be present and can handle the wine.

But how can we tell if a wine is indeed kosher? The bottle should have a reliable kosher certification by organizations such as OU or OK, or certified by the chief rabbinate. So if you are looking to give a Jewish friend a bottle of wine, make sure that it has these proper certifications and that the bottle is completely sealed, or better yet, if you plan on enjoying the bottle together, pick up a mevushal wine.

Here is a list of kosher wines

BARON HERZOG Chardonnay Central Coast 2005 87 $13 Pretty apple blossom and honeysuckle notes are fragrant, giving this softly juicy wine some character, with ripe peach and tangerine flavors. Kosher. Drink now. 17,082 cases made.

OPINIONI Umbria Verdetto 2005 86 $28 A fruity young red, with currant, raspberry and hints of flowers and mineral. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a fresh medium finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Kosher. Drink now. 1,300 cases made. -J.S.

TEPERBERG Meritage Judean Hills 2005 86 $16 There's plenty of firm red plum and berry flavors in this medium-bodied red, with chocolate and spice on the finish. Kosher. Drink now. 2,000 cases made. -K.M. YATIR Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot Yatir Forest-Judean Hills 2003 86 $65 Pretty berry and cherry flavors are balanced by a firm structure, with a lingering finish of sweet spice. Kosher. Drink now. 1,375 cases made. -K.M.

GOOSE BAY Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2006 85 $18 Green apple, lime and grass flavors have very good concentration and crisp acidity accented by lingering stone undertones. Kosher. Drink now. 4,000 cases made. -D.S.

OPINIONI Umbria Rosato Monte Olivo 2005 85 $18 Shows plenty of strawberry aromas and flavors. Medium- to full-bodied, with good acidity and a long finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Kosher. Drink now. 750 cases made. -J.S.

Mevushal wines

Adulam Sauvignon Blanc 2002	Barkan	Israel	White	Dry	4	10	√
Aude Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2003	Abarbanel	France	Red	Dry	3		√
Beaujolais Villages 2002	Abarbanel	France	Red	Dry	3	10	√
Beaujolais Villages Nouveau	Abarbanel	France	Red	Dry		12	√
Beaujolais-Villages 1999	Etienne Bailly	France	Red	Dry	3		√
Blanc de Blanc Brut	Bartenura	Italy	White	Dry	3	11	√
Bordeaux 2002	Graveyron-Carrere	France	Red	Dry	2		√
Cabernet Merlot 2002	Altoona Hills	Australi	Red	Dry	3	7	√
Cabernet Petit Syrah 2000	Tishbi	Israel	Red	Dry	2	18	√
Cabernet Saugivnon Merlot 2003	Segal	Israel	Red	Dry	4	14	√
Cabernet Sauvignon 1996	Carmel	Israel	Red	Dry	2	12	√
Cabernet Sauvignon 2002	Noah	Israel	Red	Dry	3	16	√
Cabernet Sauvignon 2004	Gideon	Israel	Red	Dry	4		√
Cabernet Sauvignon 2004	Noah	Israel	Red	Dry	4	13	√
Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve 2002	Teal Lake	Australia	Red	Dry	2	17	√
Cabernet-Merlot 1998	Laylya	France	Red	Dry	3	20	√
Canaan 2003	Dalton	Israel	White	Semi-Dry	4		√
Carmenere 2003	Terroso	Chile	Red	Dry	2	10	√
Chardonnay 2000	Teal Lake	Australia	White	Dry	3	10	√
Conditon	Hacormin	Israel	Red	Sweet	4		√
Contour Clarksburg 1999	Weinstock	USA	White	Dry	3	10	√
Coteaux du Tricastin Special Reserve	Cellier des Dauphins	France	Red	Dry	3	9	√
Cremant d'Alsace Brut	Abarbanel	France	White	Dry	4	18	√
East Coast Pinot Noir 2005	Goose Bay	New Zealand	Red	Dry	4	20	√
Grand Prince Bordeaux 2000	Roberto Cohen	France	Red	Dry	3	9	√
Kindzmarauli	JSC	Georgia	Red	Semi-Sweet	3		√
Merlo 2002	Ben ami	Israel	Red	Dry	4	8	√
Merlot 2000	Charmes de l'Autre Rive	France	Red	Dry	3	10	√
Merlot 2001	Abarbanel	France	Red	Dry	3	10	√
Merlot 2003	Terroso	Chile	Red	Dry	4		√
Merlot Cabernet 2002	Victor	France	Red	Dry	4		√
Moscato D'Asti	Villa Santero	Italy	White	Sweet	3	12	√
Moscato D'Asti 2004	Borgo Regalle	Italy	White	Semi-Dry			√
Moscato d'Asti 2003	Rashi	Italy	White	Sweet			√
Napa Valley Johannisberg Riesling 2002	Hagafen	USA	White	Dry	4	12	√
Ohra Kal	Ohra		Red	Sweet			√
Paso Robles Gamay	Baron Herzog	USA	Red	Dry	3		√
Pinot Noir 2001	Teal Lake	Australia	Red	Dry	2	15	√
Pinot Noir 2000	Bourgogne	France	Red	Dry	3	14	√
Pinot Noir 2004	Barkan	Israel	Red	Dry	4	8	√
Pinotage 2004	Eshkol	South Africa	Red	Dry	4	19	√
Primitivo di Manduria 2001	Borgo Reale	Italy	Red	Dry	4	13	√
Sangiovese Di Puglia 2002	Borgo Reale	Italy	Red	Dry	4		√
Select 2003	Ella Valley Select	Israel	Red	Dry	1	10	√
Shiraz 2004	Rothberg Cellars	South Africa	Red	Dry	3		√
Shiraz 2000	Teal Lake	Australia	Red	Dry	3	12	√
Shiraz Special Reserve 2004	Teal Lake	Australia	Red	Dry	4		√
Shriaz-Cabernet 2002	Kolobarra Hills	Australia	Red	Dry	4	12	√
Soave 1996	Bartenura	Italy	White	Dry	4	10	√
Sonoma County Chardonnay 2001	Weistock	USA	White	Dry	3	17	√
Special Reserve Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2000	Herzog	USA	White	Dry	4	24	√
Spumante Malvasia	Tonnelli	Italy	Blush	Sweet	2	10	√
Terras De Belmonte 2003	Adega Cooperative	Portugal	Red	Dry	3	13	√
Tevel Merlot 2002	Noah		Red	Dry	3	15	√
Tonnelli Asti	Cossano Belbo	Italy	White	Sweet	2	7	√
White Merlot 1999	Carmel	Israel	Blush	Semi-Dry	3	10	√
Zimra	Dalton	Israel		Sweet	3		√
Arche d'Alliance Merlot 2000	Roberto Cohen	France	Red	Dry	3	13
Berlinka 1996	Vin de Tekoa	Israel	Red	Dry	4	20
Black Muscat 1998	Gan Eden	USA	Red	Sweet	4	12
Blanc des Blancs	Kraemer	France	White	Dry	3	10
Blaufrankisch Barrique 2000	Hafner	Austria	Red	Dry	4
Bonarda 2002	Tierra Salvaje	Argentina	Red	Dry	3	9
C'est Bouilli! cuvee	Gan Eden	US	White	Dry	4	12
Cabernet Petite Sirah 2002	Tishbi	Israel	Red	Dry	5
Cabernet Saugivnon 2002	Anav	Israel	Red		3
Cabernet Sauvignon 2003	Saslove	Israel	Red	Dry	3	12
Cabernet Sauvignon 2002	Amiad	Israel	Red	Dry	3	18
Cabernet Sauvignon 2003	Ella Valley Vineyards	Israel	Red	Dry	3
Cabernet Sauvignon 2002	Recanati	Israel	Red	Dry	4	12
Cabernet Sauvignon 2002	Golan Heights Winery	Israel	Red	Dry	4
Cabernet Sauvignon 2000	Segal's Galilee Heights	Israel	Red	Dry	5	16
Cabernet Sauvignon 2002	Galil Mountain Winery	Israel	Red	Dry	5	11
Cabernet Sauvignon 1999	Yarden	Israel	Red	Dry	5
Cabernet Sauvignon 2000	Yarden	Israel	Red	Dry	5
Cabernet Sauvignon 2003	Golan Heights	Israel	Red	Dry	5	14
Cabernet Sauvignon 2001	Hevron Heights	Israel	Red	Dry	5	28
Cabernet Sauvignon 2001	Judean Vineyards	Israel	Red	Dry	5	30
Cabernet Suvignon	Plateau du Vin	Moldova	Red	Dry	0	5
Cadence Red Table Wine 2002	Anav	Israel	Red		3
Chadonnay Mendocino County 2000	Gan Eden	USA	White	Dry	4
Chardonnay 2003	Anav	Israel	White	Dry	2
Chardonnay Special Reserve 2002	Segal's Galilee Heights	Israel	White	Dry	5
Chateau Champs de Gaillard 2000	Roberto Cohen	France	Red	Dry	2	9
Chateau Grand Noyer 1997	Chateau Grand Noyer	France	Red	Dry	4	22
Chateau La France 1999	Chateau La France	France	Red	Dry	0	22
Chianti Classico 2000	Villa Branca	Italy	Red	Dry	4
Clos de Vouget 2000	Clos de Vouget	France	Red	Dry		325
El Rom Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001	Yarden	Israel	Red	Dry	5
Fleurie 2001	Roberto Cohen	France	Red	Dry	4	17
Gamay Nouveau 2004	Golan Heights Winery	Israel	Red	Dry	3	10
Golan Mount Avital 2002	Golan Heights Winery	Israel	Red	Dry	1
Graves de Vayres 2000	Chateau Cantelaudette	France	Red	Dry	3	12
Lalande de Pomerol 1999	Chateau du Quint	France	Red	Dry	3	32
Laurent-Perrier Champagne	Laurent-Perrier	France	White	Dry	5	42
Malvasia Di Castelnuovo Don Bosco 2003	Bartenura	Italy	Red	Sweet	2
Mendoza Malbec 2002	Valero	Argentina	Red	Dry	3	10
Merlot 2001	Terra Salvaje	Chile	Red	Dry	2	9
Merlot 2002	Anav	Israel	Red		4
Merlot 2002	Galil Mountain	Israel	Red	Dry	4	15
Merlot 1999	Yarden	Israel	Red	Dry	5	18
Merlot 2000	Yarden	Israel	Red	Dry	5	18
Monopole Blue Top Champagne	Heidsieck	France	White	Dry	5	50
Moscato 2005	Golan	Israel	White	Sweet	3
Napa County Cabernet Sauvignon 2002	Weinstock	USA	Red	Dry	5	18
Organic Grape Juice 2002	Golan Heights	Israel	White	Sweet	4	5
Pardess Merlot 2001	Hevron Heights	Israel	Red	Dry	4	32
Petit Verdot Cabernet 2002	Teal Lake	Australia	Red	Dry	2	9
Pinot Noir 2002	Gamla	Israel	Red	Dry	2
Pommery	Pommery	France	White	Dry	5	50
Prosecco	Bartenura	Italy	White	Dry	3	12
Syrah 2003	Valero	Argentina	Red	Dry	4	12
Vasnes Romanee 2000	Vasnes Romanee	France	Red	Dry		170
White Reisling 2002	Golan Heights Winery	Israel	Red	Dry	4
White Zinfandel 2003	Weinstock	US	White	Dry	3	9
Yiron 2000	Galil Mountain Winery	Israel	Red	Dry	5	17

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Who ordered kosher?

By The weekly winer 6 December 2007 02:42:00

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