Posted at 19:58h in Wine industry by David Rhodes 0 Comments
The holidays of Purim & Passover and the weeks in between are a great time to explore Israeli wines whether at home or by visiting the wineries. Many smaller wineries not typically open to the public open their doors to visitors who might be looking for wines for two of Judaism’s most traditional drinking related holidays.
While Purim is more like Halloween or Mardi Gras or St. Patrick’s Day in that revelers are encouraged to get drunk ( and often forgetting the cultural and religious origins of the celebration, Passover is much more about reclining and having at least four glasses of wine (over a Seder, which means “order”… a traditional Passover dinner which can go on for hours as the story of Passover is recounted in a certain order and has been for over 3000 years).
So, with Purim good but inexpensive wines might be a better bet because great wines are far better appreciated with less distractions than a drunken free for all but Passover where music isn’t allowed and is a festive but relaxed setting lends itself to impressing family and friends (whether you’re a guest or a host) with the best wine your budget can allow.
As a Sommelier, I often provide wines for family seder once they tell me their budget and what their serving. Although, I get paid for the service it’s really a treat because even though I can only attend one Seder an evening it allows me to feel like I’m contributing to each person’s experience.
With Purim, I still try to drink good wine but end up selling and often suggesting less expensive wines to drink as is or a base for Red or White Sangria.
I hope for all of Hakem’s readers a Happy Purim & Passover in 2011 and many more…
for any suggestions I, David Rhodes, can be reached at [email protected] or 052-702-WINE (9463)
as the holidays near I’ll make some suggestions but to best suit your needs and budget feel free to contact me directly
