Wine’s sacred seat at the Seder table
Mimi Magazine’s own wine expert, Jim Sperk of the Northern Ohio Wine Guild, was curious about the importance of wine at Seder meals.
On the first two nights of Passover, there is a ritual meal called a Seder during which those present are supposed to drink four glasses of wine.
In the Jewish tradition, wine is a central part of the Passover Seder meal, a Jewish ritual that celebrates freedom and redemption. Mimi Magazine’s own wine expert, Jim Sperk of the Northern Ohio Wine Guild, was curious about the importance of wine at Seder meals.
“My West Coast friend and independent wine consultant Betty Kaufman wrote a blog a few years ago on the subject of Passover,” Jim says. “She has graciously agreed to let me use parts of that treatise here to acquaint Mimi’s non-Jewish readers with the tradition of wines for Passover.”
From the wine blog of Betty:
“On the first two nights of Passover, there is a ritual meal called a Seder during which those present are supposed to drink four glasses of wine. The traditional wine served for some Jewish families is the very sweet Manischewitz made with Concord grapes. There are many other Passover wines available, but the sweet Concord wine is also used as an ingredient in a delicious food called charoset, an apple/cinnamon/nut/wine mixture.”
In her blog, Betty details the only acceptable kosher wines for Passover must meet certain certifications. There are three levels of “kashrut,” the act of being kosher, for the wine that Betty describes below:
“Non-kosher wines: These wines do not have to be created under the supervision of Sabbath-observing Jews and may contain ingredients that are not kosher.
Kosher wine: Kosher wines must be created under the supervision of Sabbath-observing Jews and only contain ingredients that are kosher.
Kosher for Passover wine: For this Jewish holiday, besides being kosher, kosher for Passover wines is specifically prepared using yeasts from a source other than bread mold. These yeasts are from fruit or sugar. Passover wines also don’t contain preservatives commonly used in winemaking like potassium sorbate. Additionally, kosher for Passover wines must be kept away from grains, dough and breads. This is in keeping with the Passover leaven-free diet commemorating the haste in which the Jews left Egypt after being enslaved for 400 years.”
For information about the Northern Ohio Wine Guild, contact Jim Sperk at tinymoonwines@usa.net.
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