Chanukah Wine – Popping the Question

Edited by Madelyn Miller, the Travellady

As Chanukah (the Festival of Lights) approaches, the atmosphere in Jewish homes turns festive. Everyone enjoys Chanukah, a popular time of giving, celebrating with friends and family.
Wine is always a traditional part of the celebration. Aside from the latkes (fried potato pancakes) and jelly doughnuts, families light the candles just prior to sitting down together and enjoying a hearty meal.

This year, when it comes to a wine, the choices are a-popping. . This refers to light, low-alcohol effervescent choices such as Bartenura Moscato ($13) in its attractive blue bottle. This sweet and sparkling wine from Italy has become a big seller after rave reviews by major publications.

A must-buy would be Rashi Puglia Malvasia ($12) with its alluring red sleeve. It pops a sparkle into a premium Italian wine. Demonstrating aromas and flavors of strawberry, raspberry and cherry, Malvasia bursts with crisp and satisfying essence. Not too sweet but definitely refreshing as a pairing to a meal of lightly flavored fish or chicken.

Rashi extends this line to feature a Moscato D’Asti ($12). This festive, light, sparkling, white wine contains purely Muscat grapes from Piedmont Italy. Crisp and sweet, it displays lingering pear, tangerine, nectar and melon flavors on the finish. Best served with hors d’œuvres, pizza, dessert, fruit or sipping ice cold at poolside
Concluding the set, a, simmering Pinot Grigio($12) that delights in understated. fashion. The remarkable colors of Rashi provide a reliable answer to your Holiday celebration.

Carmel are a-buzz over their newly-released Young Moscato ($9) using a bright contemporary label design. A deliciously light wine, it shines with perfumed floral aromas and wonderful hints of peach and citrus flavors.
Equally tempting, would be the fine, yet moderately-priced, Sforno Pinot Grigiio($10) from Italy. It is a distinct example of fine wine, fruit-forward, with a celebratory sparkle.

Also consider Bartenura’s Proseco($15) with its milder taste, as notes of ripe peaches, and melons mingle well with the bubbly texture of this just off-dry, medium-bodied wine. Tropical flavors balance nicely with the acidity and a creaminess that leads to a pleasant lingering finish.

Laurent Perrier Rosé Brut- ($105)is the best selling rosé ever, bottled in France. The deep-salmon colored champagne bristles with very fine bubbles showing notes of strawberry and black cherry. Recently voted, in France, the 8th best champagne in the world, forming a required part of any connoisseur’s collection. Tips the $100 scale, but well worth the trip.

And if your preference lies outside the bubbles, may I suggest Baron Herzog’s Jeunesse ($13) a not-too-sweet, not-too-dry Cabernet with youthful exuberance. This rising star is a great introduction to better class wines. With the recent Harvard Medical School study suggesting red wines contribute towards improved health and prolonged life, this is just what the doctor ordered.

A final recommendation is a Baron Herzog Chardonnay($13), a winner among wines from California. Winner of a recent “Top value” award by Wine Spectator, it shows elegant while possessing distinct fruity overtones that linger in the finish. Expect to pay under $14
Any of the above, will surely add “pop” to any Chanukah party… Happy Holidays

OTHER HOLIDAY TIPS

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING

SOUTH BEACH DIET PARTIES & HOLIDAYS COOKBOOK
Healthy Recipes for Entertaining Family and Friends
By Arthur Agatston
Rodale Books
www.rodale.com

Chrismukkah
The Merry Mish-Mash Holiday Cookbook
By Ron Gompertz
www.chrismukkah.com
recipes by Kathy Otark
Photographs by Larry Stanley

Over 55 heavenly hybrid-holiday recipes. Even if you are not in the mood to cook, you will enjoy browsing through this cleverly written book. With this book, you do not have to choose. You can have it all and celebrate diversity

Everyday Traditions: Simple Family Rituals for Connection and Comfort
by Nava Atlas
Amberwood Press, 2005 

Festivus: The Holiday for the Rest of Us
By Allen Salkin
Warner Books
This hilarious book, which includes a forward by Jerry Stiller (also known as “Seinfeld’s” Frank Costanza), recounts the history of Festivus - from advent of the ceremonial aluminum pole to the newly created Miss Festivus pageant.

Joan Nathan’s Jewish Holiday Cookbook
Schocken Books
www.randomhouse.com

Madelyn Miller is a travel, food and wine writer who loves sweet bubbly wines.

Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com