What Is Kosher Wine?

Posted by Alan Boehmer May 23, 2006

When foods are prepared according to Jewish dietary laws they are said to be kosher, or ritually pure. Kosher laws are of

> Biblical origin and are very complex. They affect both ingredients used and manner of preparation. All Sabbath-observant Jews are required to adhere to them.

Wine is a traditional part of many Jewish religious rituals and has been so for millennia. In the New World kosher wines were traditionally made from Concord grapes, not the vitis vinifera species that other table wines are made from. Since wine made from Concord grapes carries some unattractive flavors, sugar was added to mask the wine's unpleasant characteristics. This practice has continued to the present day, particularly in East Coast kosher wines.

The kosher laws that apply to winemaking are relatively simple, compared to those involving meats. Non-Jews are allowed to grow, pick, and transport the grapes, but once crushed, Kosher wines must be handled only by Sabbath-observant Jews who personally adhere to strict Jewish dietary laws. Only authorized yeasts may be used.

The taste and character of kosher wine is indistinguishable from comparable non-kosher wine. When kosher wine is made by skilled winemakers from high quality fruit, there is no reason to prefer the non-kosher product. See our current article on Herzog's Kosher Wines.