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This bizarre year may have felt like it went by a little more slowly for many people in lockdown. Yet, we are finally here, and Rosh Hashanah is just around the corner!

Rosh Hashanah has always been a time for reflection, as well as celebration. For many the messages of the holiday may feel especially poignant this year. 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone in the world. There are so many of us who have been separated from family and loved ones due to COVID 19.

Therefore, it is extra important to take the time to celebrate, reflect, and to notice the good in the world around us, and the good we ourselves can bring.

The simple act of cooking a traditional Rosh Hashanah meal and calling your family, if you cannot be with them in person, can make all the difference.

It is also a wonderful opportunity to take more passion in the food that we cook and the wine we drink.

If you are planning to order a selection of kosher wine for Rosh Hashanah or to send wine to family/friends this year, don’t leave it until the last minute. COVID 19 has meant increased online ordering, and coupled with the encroaching holiday, we are already seeing increased demand, so be sure to order while stocks last.

Which Kosher Wine Should I Buy for Rosh Hashanah?

We believe kosher wine can bring remarkable joy, especially in these trying times. Many will want to fall back on old favourites but having the time to experiment and try something new can be a wonderful experience as well.

Selecting kosher wine online can also be a little intimidating when there are so many wonderful options to choose from, so we are here to help highlight some excellent wines that pair beautifully with traditional Rosh Hashanah cuisine.

First of all, Rosh Hashanah is a time of evocative and sumptuous flavour. Of course, there are the traditional sweet treats of the holiday, frequently apples and honey, or pomegranates will feature heavily. Yet, there is also a big place for savoury dishes of light fish or hearty meats too. So, do you choose a bold red, a dessert wine, or a contrasting acidic white?

Dry White Wine

Dry whites are an excellent solution if you want to contrast with sweet dishes, and not overpower fish or chicken dishes. When pairing wines with your Rosh Hashanah meal, always consider the rules of contrast or complement. You either want flavours similar to your dish or opposites, but never anything that will overpower the food.

The COVENANT Red C Sauvignon Blanc (€19.99) or the HERZOG Late Harvest Chenin Blanc (€23.50) are both beautiful examples of flavoursome, yet relatively easy drinking white wines. Easy to pair if you are serving a diverse selection of dishes at your Rosh Hashanah meals.

Dessert Wines

If you want to utilise kosher wines that complement and enhance the sweeter dishes in your meal, then you might consider going for a full dessert wine.

These sweet and semi-sweet kosher wines really bring out the flavours, particularly in fruity dessert dishes.

 A sweet, white dessert wine, such as the Yarden HeightsWine Gewurtztraminer (€19.99) also has a pleasant acidity to cut through extra sugary desserts. Laufer Blush Muscat Semi Sweet (€14.95) is delightful option if you really want to lean deeply into the sweet notes of your meal. If you want a deeper, sweet flavour with a symphony of spices and plums, then polishing off your meals with a kosher fortified wine, like the Yarden T2 (Fortified Wine) (€27)  is a good way to finish off an evening.

Red Wine

Of course, despite the traditional sweet dishes and lighter dishes, many will want to enjoy a rich meat-based meal for the main course. An easy drinking red can pack plenty of flavour, yet still work with lighter dishes and even bring a pleasant smooth texture when paired with sweet dishes. The RAMON CARDOVA Rioja (€13.99) or the Galil Mountain Merlot (€13.75) are both vibrant choices in this category.

If you’re opting for a deliciously rich slow cooked beef or lamb, a more robust red might be in order, such as a Château Hautes terre De Fourcas Dupre (€27.50) or a divine Château Lamoth Cissac Haut Médoc 2016 Magnum 1.5L (€57.99)

Champagne or Sparkling Wine

If you’re looking for something that easily pairs with a wide range of food and adds more celebration to your holiday, then Champagne or sparkling wine is a superb option.

We recommend exploring our kosher Brut Champagne and sparkling wines. The Brut label means it is among the driest Champagnes, even drier than extra dry. Dry sparkling wine contrasts beautifully with hyper sweet, fruity desserts at Rosh Hashanah. It cuts through the sweet flavours and makes it easier to enjoy second helpings without any sickly feelings.

Effervescent kosher wine is also at home with chicken and fish dishes, as it tends not to overpower them. It is a great all-rounder option for the Rosh Hashanah meal or as an aperitif before other wines with your meal.

For those in the Northern hemisphere, Rosh Hashanah falls during the beginning of autumn. The changes in the landscape show the first signs of the autumn season. Now rosé wine is traditionally associated with spring and summer, but we believe that rosé Champagne or sparkling wine is also a very special celebratory kosher wine for early autumn.

We have several subtle or fruity rosé Champagnes that bring an extra enhancement of taste to the holiday. Browse our kosher rosé sparkling wines for a special Rosh Hashanah treat.