This ain’t Manischewitz we’re talking about. From Napa to Israel, Bordeaux to Morocco, these 15 expert-picked bottles prove kosher wine is drier, more complex, and more exciting than ever.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Best-Kosher-Wine-Recs-Pros-FT-DGTL0326-0dd6f756abba41ffb4b07c9fed04235d.jpg "Covenant Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Teperberg Inspire Art Series Israel Dabouki, Stoudemire Chenin")
As Passover approaches, with the first Seder beginning the evening of April 1, wine once again takes center stage for those who celebrate, as four ritual cups anchors one of the most meaningful meals of the year. Indeed, it’s no surprise that nearly 40% of kosher wine sales happen in the weeks leading up to the holiday. But today’s kosher bottles tell a much bigger story than tradition alone.
Gone are the days when kosher meant cloyingly sweet or one-dimensional. The category has undergone a quiet revolution, with exciting estate-grown and critically acclaimed wines emerging from some of the world’s most respected regions. From the sun-drenched vineyards of California’s Napa Valley to the limestone-rich soils of Bordeaux and the high-altitude terroirs of Israel, kosher wines have proven they can be deliciously dry, nuanced, and unmistakably place-driven.
For this year’s celebration and well beyond it, we asked a diverse group of wine professionals to share their go-to kosher bottles. The result is a globally inspired roundup of 14 standout selections that reflect the depth, quality, and excitement of kosher wine today, plus a bonus rec from this writer, who is ready to pour up the newly released Clarksburg Chenin Blanc from Stoudemire Wines, because what goes better with spring sipping — and gefilte fish — than Chenin!
But whether you’re setting the Seder table or simply restocking your rack, these bottles prove that kosher wine belongs in your glass all year long.
NV Cheurlin Brut Spéciale Champagne ($50)
“Finding a true Champagne that is kosher is special enough, but with former NBA star Isiah Thomas as a co-owner of the winery, it is also a black-owned winery in an industry that can stand to have more diversity of representation,” says wine writer and sommelier Jaime Mazur.
“The Cheurlin family has owned its land and grown grapes for over 200 years and nine generations, which continues to this day. It’s a grower Champagne, meaning that the Cheurlin family grows all their own grapes rather than purchasing grapes, base juice, or wine from someone else who did all the grape growing. Nine generations on the same plot of land allows a family to know exactly what to expect out in each slice of terroir on their property, how to adapt with inconsistent or unexpected weather phenomena, and how to maintain the standards set by the brand.
“With 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, the Champagne is extremely balanced, offering a rounder and richer mouthfeel than a blanc de blancs and more brightness and lift than a blanc de noirs. A true brut with only 5 g/L dosage, it has lively mousse. On the palate are notes of green apple, lemon, dazzling minerality, and the creamy, toasty notes that are indicative of Champagne. It’s one of the more affordable grower Champagnes, typically just under $50 before the tariff war started.”
Related: NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas Is Launching 2 Kosher Champagnes
2024 Domaine du Castel C Blanc du Castel Haut-Judée Chardonnay ($65); 2021 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Galilee Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
“One kosher wine I go back to often is Domaine du Castel C Blanc du Castel,” says Sanwar Mal Khokhar, mixologist and beverage program lead at Sanjh Restaurant & Bar in Dallas. “It is very easy to drink but still has character; not too sharp, not too heavy. You get citrus, a little bit of peach kind of feel, and a soft texture. It’s the kind of wine you can open without thinking too much, it works well with food or even just by itself.
“What I like is it does not feel different just because it’s kosher; it just drinks like a good clean white wine, something I would pour for any guest without needing to explain much.
“Another one I really like is Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon. This one is more on the structured side and full-bodied but still very balanced: dark fruit, a little spice, chocolate, and bit of oak, but not overpowering. It’s the kind of red that works across a lot of situations; you can pair it with food or just have a glass and sit with it. For me, this is a safe but strong recommendation because it shows depth without becoming too heavy or tiring on the palate.
“In general, I feel good kosher wines today are not about occasion anymore. They are just good wines that happen to be kosher, and these are the ones I’m comfortable recommending any day.”
2023 Teperberg Inspire Art Series Israel Dabouki ($28); 2023 Tulip Reserve Israel Syrah ($45)
"Dabouki is an indigenous grape to Israel and is one of the few surviving grapes from biblical days," says Erik Segelbaum, founder and chief vinnovation officer at Somlyay and GoodSomm. "This is one of the grapes that would have made the wines that Jesus and Moses drank respectively. It's a bouncy and bright white wine with a good balance of citrus and orchard fruits like ripe anjou pear and gala apple. A subtle white floral background and crisp acidity make this a perfect wine at the dinner table.
"Tulip's wines are incredible, but their story even moreso. The winery was built in 'The Village of Hope,' a special needs community. Their mantra is we 'label wines not people.' With that in mind, they go out of their way to hire individuals with developmental, emotional, and/or physical disabilities. Working for Tulip provides them with a sense of agency and pride.
"This Syrah is truly deserving of the term 'reserve.' It is dark fruited with notes of black olive and smoke. Savory components and a long juicy finish make it a perfect food wine."
2023 Broad Brush Bennett Valley Cabernet Franc Blend ($80)
“Sourced from vineyards in Sonoma County, I enjoy this wine for its combination of depth, freshness, and polish,” says Andrew Breskin, founder and sommelier at Liquid Kosher. “It brings dark fruit, a pleasing savory edge, and enough structure to stand up beautifully to the richness of the holiday cuisine, all while still feeling lively and inviting in the glass.
Related: Kosher Wine Deserves a Better Reputation
2022 Château Malartic-Lagravière Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru ($60)
“I love the art of blending — the quiet alchemy that defines the brilliance of great Bordeaux,” says Zev Steinberg, founder of Kosher Wine Journeys and director of market development for idrinkkosher.com. “It is the pursuit of harmony between grapes, each contributing its defining character in exact measure to achieve balance, even when its role is just a single percent of the final blend.
“Château Malartic-Lagravière consistently achieves this magical symbiosis, crafting sumptuous yet elegant, ageworthy reds and terroir-driven whites that bathe the palate in minerality and unfold in hallmark layers of citrus and honey. These wines honor both the millennia-old history of Pessac-Léognan and the enduring legacy of this cherished estate.
“I often point out that Bordeaux is a lesson in relationships. They are not about partners contributing equal and identical measure in every area — income, child-raising, errands, or home life. They are about each person offering their best strengths in the right proportion to create wholeness and harmony. It’s about contributing the right amount, not the same amount. The key to great Bordeaux is the key to great relationships: a masterclass in balance, complementarity, and trust. Truly, Bordeaux is a lesson in a bottle.”
2023 Covenant Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($120); 2022 Barons Edmond & Benjamin de Rothschild Haut-Médoc ($35)
“For the type of serious wine lover and collector that make up Benchmark Wine’s customer base, finding a great high-quality, ageworthy, even kosher wine is no longer difficult,” says David Parker, CEO and owner at Benchmark Wine Group. “While wines of the past made to the kosher standard were often from lesser grapes, like Concord, and often made sweet, now there are full-dry, carefully made wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties from both California and France.
“Covenant Wines of Berkeley, California, makes excellent kosher Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes sourced from top plots in Napa, Sonoma, and Lodi counties.“And Barons Edmond & Benjamin de Rothschild produce a kosher Bordeaux from Haut-Médoc, which is likewise a consistently high-quality Bordeaux. Some of the top producers of Bordeaux also produce special batches of their wine that are kosher. These are arguably equally as good as the world-renowned non-kosher wines that they produce: Château Giscours, a Third Growth from Margaux; Château Lafon-Rochet, a Fourth Growth from Saint-Estèphe; and Château Valandraud, a Premier Cru Classe B from Saint-Émilion, are among the most highly regarded.
“There is an important consideration for anyone who intends to age kosher wine. So-called mevushal wines are flash-pasteurized. This process, while technically purifying them, tends to limit the wine’s ability to age. The higher-end producers often offer non-mevushal options that have a solid history of aging well.”
2019 Domaine des Ouled Thaleb MD Excellence Kinor Kosher Zenata Red Blend ($25)
“My favorite kosher wine is Domaine des Ouled Thaleb MD Excellence Kinor,” says Jill Weber, founder at Sojourn Philly Hospitality. “I love the winery and its offerings, as well as the history.
“Ouled Thaleb is one of the oldest wineries in Morocco. This historic land is in the AOG Zenata, which is found between Casablanca and Raba, Morocco’s capital. The vineyards are in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, in Benslimane. This is a red blend of Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Arinarnoa, aged for 3 months in French oak.
“The wine hits big, but keeps the elegance of altitude. There is a lot of blackberry, black currant, plum, and a little raisin. You’ll also find some earthy tobacco leaf, coffee, and a hint of vanilla.”
Related: The 12 Israeli Wines You Need to Drink to Be an Expert
2024 Capçanes Peraj Petita Montsant Kosher Red Blend ($20)
“Capçanes is one of the few producers specializing in high-quality kosher wines, with a strong focus on Garnacha,” says Retheesh Mohanan, Head Sommelier at Vakkaru Maldives. “This particular expression is a great choice for light meat dishes, offering vibrant red-fruit character and soft tannins. It pairs beautifully with Italian pasta in tomato-based sauces and meatballs with Mediterranean herbs, complementing the freshness of the tomato while maintaining balance and a medium-bodied profile.
“The blend is produced under strict kosher winemaking standards from old-vine slate and granite vineyards on the steep terraces of Montsant. The result is a wine with remarkable concentration, purity, and elegance, combining intensity with a smooth, seductive character.
“Expect bramble and cherry fruit, layered with subtle herbal nuances and a distinct mineral edge. The tannins are light to medium, making it approachable, well-balanced, and highly versatile for food pairing.”
2024 Psagot Sinai Jerusalem Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz ($28); NV Bartenura Brachetto ($20)
“Produced by the Psagot Winery in the Judean Hills, this wine reflects high-elevation vineyards rooted in ancient limestone soils — conditions that help preserve acidity and structure,” says Brian Gelb, senior vice president of wine at Total Wine & More. “The Sinai blend is medium-plus bodied with dark berry fruit, soft tannins, and subtle spice, making it both approachable and food-friendly. It’s a natural pairing for brisket or roasted meats and represents the modern rise of premium Israeli winemaking.
“From Bartenura, one of the most recognizable kosher wine brands globally, its Italian Brachetto offers a lighter, more elegant take on sweet kosher wines. Gently sparkling with vibrant strawberry and raspberry notes, it balances sweetness with freshness rather than heaviness. It’s a perfect finish to the Seder alongside flourless chocolate cake or other Passover desserts, adding a celebratory and slightly unexpected twist to the final cup.”
2022 Kingsmark Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($380)
“Kingsmark’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a landmark kosher wine, born from the vision of Whitney Skibell and crafted by top Napa winemakers Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky,” says Liz Murray, managing director at ACME Fine Wines. “What makes it truly unique is how it merges the strictest kosher protocols with world-class Napa expertise, showing that kosher wine can achieve the same complexity, elegance, and prestige as any top-tier non-kosher vintage. Beyond the wine, it’s a statement that tradition and innovation can coexist at the highest level.”
* This article was originally published here
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