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Don’t Miss Out…Rosh Hashanah is Early!This year Jews will celebrate the earliest Rosh Hashanah in over a decade. Typically, the two-day holiday of Rosh Hashanah (which is determined by the lunar cyclic Jewish calendar, as opposed to the solar cyclic secular calendar) has taken place at the end of September. However this year, the holiday will begin on September 6th. Since many Jewish consumers will be expecting this shift in their calendar when purchasing traditional kosher food and wine before the holiday, operators of wholesale and retail food and wine businesses are stocking their shelves earlier than usual to meet the early rush for high quality kosher foods and wines. Realizing that the key to obtaining the best wines for the holiday is shopping early, many consumers are already searching for what’s hot among wines this year. Thankfully, the selection of premium wines that have achieved kosher certification continues to grow steadily and wine buyers should have no problem finding superior wines. The “Big Four” wines that have received considerable attention (and for some, ratings as high as 90) recently from such esteemed wine publications as Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, and which are sure to be heavy hitters this Rosh Hashanah are: Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc, Teal Lake Chardonnay, Barkan Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bartenura Moscato D’Asti. Of particular interest this year will be Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc, winner of the Chairman’s Award at the 2002 Riverside International Wine Competition. Recommended by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and noted wine writers nationwide, Baron Herzog’s delicious Chenin Blanc is a champion among wines. Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc from the famous Clarksburg appellation is a smooth tasting white wine that has a fruity flavor, with hints of peach and nectarine. Baron Herzog Chenin Blanc is best served chilled with entrees of veal, poultry, oriental dishes, or alone, as an aperitif. Teal Lake Winery, South Australia, produces excellent wines that go extremely well with traditional Rosh Hashanah fish and meat dishes. Australian wines have been growing rapidly in popularity, and one brand in particular that has really come into fashion is Teal Lake. Teal Lake Chardonnay is a wonderful white wine that tastes terrific with roasted chicken. Its velvety-smooth texture and rich fruity aroma make this an elegant, dry wine for both newcomers to the world of fine wine, as well as for seasoned wine connoisseurs. Barkan Wine Cellars is situated next to the Israeli cities of Barkan and Ariel. The winery is the second largest in Israel and produces over 8 million bottles of wine annually. Barkan Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied, robust, easy-drinking wine that has repeatedly won gold medals in elite international wine competitions such as Vinexpo and Expovina Internationale Wein-Pramierung. This Cab tastes absolutely wonderful with a succulent steak and poached potatoes. And last, but certainly not least, Bartenura Moscato D’Asti is showing the world that blue is in. Nicknamed, “Westside Blue” due to its increasing popularity on the west side of Manhattan, its signature cobalt-blue bottle has spread its fame and popularity beyond its Italian homeland. As if the bottle weren’t intriguing enough, Bartenura’s semi-sweet Moscato D’asti tastes absolutely divine. Crisp, clean and refreshing, this low-alcohol wine has won the hearts of kosher and general market consumers. Consumers will absolutely adore the hard-to-find Herzog Special Reserve collection of wines that are available in three Cabernet Sauvignon appellations and one Chardonnay appellation: Herzog Special Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Herzog Special Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Herzog Special Edition Chalk Hill Cabernet Sauvignon and Herzog Special Reserve Russian River Chardonnay. A number of these wines’ recent vintages received ratings above 90 from Wine Spectator magazine. Herzog Special reserve wines are perfect for that special father-in-law, if you like him, that is. With such truly exceptional wines available as the ones mentioned above, this Rosh Hashanah season is expected to be very promising- as long as supplies last. Edited by Dave Shultz |
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TM