Kosher Wines for Passover
Passover is almost upon us and unbeknownst to most, it’s a holiday where a significant amount of wine is supposed to be consumed. Passover is a holiday celebrating the Jews exodus out of slavery in Egypt. As part of the seder, four glasses of wine are consumed, and I would imagine that in some families, it’s much more. The four glasses of wine symbolize a part of the ceremony: the Kiddush (sanctification of Passover), the recounting of the Exodus, Birkat Hamazon (blessing of the nourishment after the meal) and Hallel (a prayer used to give prayer and thansgiving).
To celebrate Passover, we have come up with a list of some of our favorite Kosher wines to help you celebrate. You might be bowled over when you see favorite and Kosher wine in the same sentence, but it’s true. There is so much more to the world of Kosher wine than what you might think. For most people, Kosher wine is syrupy sweet wines that are synonymous with Manischewitz and Kedem, which interestingly enough, aren’t usually Kosher for passover as they are allegedly sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. But, fear not. There are some amazing Kosher wines that are also Kosher for Passover coming out of Israel and France. In addition to the ones listed below, do some research and seek out other Kosher wines you like.
To celebrate Passover, try some of our favorite Kosher wines. We were mindful in selecting wines that were inexpensive, as well as expensive. We recommend big red wines for your brisket or lamb, pinot for those who don’t like big reds, whites for your chicken and an amazing wine for dessert if you have room in your budget for it. Oh, and we would never forget to include some bubbles. Here is our list:
Laurent Perrier Champagne – an incredible Champagne from France. Use for the Kiddush and to enjoy the seder platter.
Dalton Sauvignon Blanc – this wine is from the Upper Galilee in Israel and is picked early, both factors that help the wine preserve the acidity that Sauvignon Blanc is known for. Unlike its counter-parts from cooler growing regions, this wine reflects the grapefruit and tropical notes, such as pineapple, of a warmer growing region.
Willm – this winery is located in Alsace France and produces a number of still and sparkling white wines. The bonus is that most of them sell at very good prices. Try the Pinot Blanc or Gewurztraminer to spice things up.
Gamla – one of my favorite Israeli wineries. Gamla produces a range of red and white wines. The wine was initially recommended to me by a friend during one of my visits to Israel. Now, we buy it at home as well. These wines are very reasonably priced.
Margalit – the boutique winery that started the Israeli wine renaissance. Margalit makes some outstanding Bordeaux style wines. Think Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and a blend of them. This wine will be sublime with brisket or lamb.
http://margaritavilleblenderinfo.com/
Chateau Giscours Margaux – a fine wine out of the most famed region of Bordeaux. This wine is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and is sure to make your brisket sing.
Barons Edmund & Benjamin De Rothschild – this wine is named after the Edmund De Rothschild, the man that re-started the Israeli wine industry in the late 1800′s. He also founded this winery in the Haut Medoc, which was then taken over by his son Benjamin. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Chataeu Guiraurd Sauternes – one of the finest Sauternes with a price to match. This is literally liquid gold. If you can afford it, splurge. There is no better way to end a seder.
For some more options, check out Kosherwine.com and Onlinekosherwine.com.
Willm Pinot Blanc – Alsace
Pearl Street Grill offers up brunch for both Easter and Mother’s Day
The Pearl Street Grill is located in the Holiday Day Inn right next door to the Public Museum.
3 Temples Not To Miss in Beijing
Published by Johnny on April 06, 2012
Beijing is too big to try and see everything unless you have a month or so (like me!), so I thought I’d list some of the stuff you really can’t miss. Along with the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, Beijing’s modern buildings, Donghuamen Night Market and the Silk Market (phew), below are the 3 temples that you won’t want to miss out on. If you plan your day well, you can do all three of them before dinner time:
Lama Temple:
This place is tailor made for speedtourism. In all probability, you’ll be in and out within an hour. The Lama Temple, or Temple of Peace, is a Tibetan Buddhist temple with Tibetan Buddhist monks still in residency here. It’s claim to fame is the 18m statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single piece of sandalwood, although pics throughout the Lama Temple are frowned upon, that being said, they are a few places where it’s acceptable. Subway lines 2 and 5 can take you to Yonghegong Lama Temple subway station. 25RMB ($4) to enter the temple.
Temple of Heaven:
If Beijing’ chaos is weighing you down, or you’re fed up with touts selling you tickets to the Great Wall, then follow my lead and escape from the madness at the Temple of Heaven. The temple itself is an awesome sight, you need to get into the inner compound for the best pics. Around the temple though are loads of parks where older Chinese people are practicing Tai Chi, calligraphy, dancing – especially early in the morning.
Give yourself at least 2 hours to walk around, if it’s warm throw a book in your bag and chill all day, it’s really peaceful. To get here, take the Subway Line 5 to the Tiantandongmen Station. It’s less than 5 minutes from there. Tickets are 30RMB ($5) to enter.
Summer Palace:
There are some great buildings and pagodas dotted around the grounds, and you’ll never feel like you’re more in China than when wondering around, bear in mind though that this place is huge, so expect to get lost! Buy a map outside to minimise the time you spend going around in circles.
The majority of tourist (me being one of them) spent all my time in the front hill area, if you’re keen to go hiking, or to spend the entire day at the palace, carry on west or beyond the front hill, you’ll have the place to yourself.
There are various places within the palace that you have to continue to pay entrance tickets for if you buy the 30RMB ($5). Pay the 60RMB ($10) and you have access to everything.
To get here, take the bus No. 690 or 808 from Tian’anmen Square to the last stop, Summer Palace. Or if you’re feeling motivated, you can check out the Temple of Heaven in the morning and jump on the 862 direct to the Summer Palace for the afternoon.
We are dancing, cartwheeling, and performing all manner of spectacular acrobatics at YA Highway. Why? Because YA Highwayer, the brilliant Sumayyah Daud, has sold her debut novel to Dutton! From Publishers Marketplace:
Sumayyah Daud’s debut BEGIN AGAIN, about a seventeen-year-old girl
trapped inside a pseudo-reality of her own making, trying to discover
what secrets she has locked inside her own mind, before it’s too late,
to Julie Strauss-Gabel at Dutton, byAmmi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency (World).
Doesn't that sound epic?
