Author: Mark Etinger
Got some questions about kosher wine? First off, you have to understand what the word “kosher” means when it comes to foods and wines. A kosher item is a food product that is certified by religious authorities such as rabbis. However, it is not blessed by them. It simply means that it has passed certain criteria. Wine in general is considered kosher wine only if it is made, bottled, opened, and handled only by Jews who observe the Sabbath. If a non-Jew touches the wine, it is no longer kosher wine. The grapes can be harvested by anyone, however.
As with all things, there are exceptions to the rule, in this case when it comes to a meshuval wine. This type of wine is heated during production, which means it can be handled by a non-Jew and still be considered kosher. Oftentimes when heating the wine you are heightening the flavors and the smells of the wine. If a wine has been heated, it will say so on the bottle. Usually a meshuval wine will be served at celebrations where Jews and non-Jews are present like at weddings or at birthday parties.
How do you really know if a Jewish wine is kosher though? Just about anyone could put “kosher” on a bottle of wine and make you think it really is kosher, but there is another attribute you should be looking for when looking at a supposed kosher wine bottle, and this is the certification symbol. Unlike the word, this symbol is trademarked, so if someone puts it on a bottle it has to be kosher. For Jewish wine, this symbol is either going to be the OU or the OK. The OU symbol is a letter O with a U inside of it, while the OK will have a K inside of an O. You can actually find a picture of these symbols online to make sure you know what they look like. The bottle’s label might also contain the name of the rabbi that certified its production.
Some of the more popular brand names for official Jewish wine are Manischewitz wine and Kedem wine. The Manischewitz wine and food company is most well known for its wine and matzo-balls. The business was originally established in Ohio in 1888. Most Manischewitz wines are usually considered very sweet, however the brand offers some dryer options as well.
Kedem wine, a division of The Royal Wine Company, is solely known for its Jewish wine. The Royal Wine Company is much newer than Manischewitz, but still popular nonetheless. A few of the most popular Kedem wines include Cream Malaga, Burgundy Royale, Concord Grape, and Concord Kal, all of which are considered kosher wines.
Hopefully this guide has helped to get you started in your search for Jewish wines, and allowed you to better understand what kosher wine is really all about.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/what-is-kosher-wine-and-what-makes-it-kosher-1891275.html
About the Author
www.OnlyKosherWine.com is the premier online outlet for Kosher Wines from top regions like France, Italy, and Spain, as well as products from New York and California. We also stock classic kosher drinks like Manischewitz and Kedem wine , so go ahead and order an old favorite to go with your new favorites today!