ROYAL WINE Recommends Wines that Capture the Spirit of the New Year with Kosher Wines Under $20

Rosh Hashana is a time when Jewish people reflect on the past and look toward a brighter future, so it's only fitting to consider these themes when sharing special holiday meals with family and friends.

To that end, wine expert and blogger Gabriel Geller of the Royal Wine Corporation recently compiled a short list of wines for the Rosh Hashana table with two Israeli, two French, and one from California. These well-selected wines aren't necessarily fancy or expensive, but are worthy of the celebration.

Lessons from History

Geller's first recommendation, Carmel's SELECTED Mediterranean Blend 2016, is a great choice for the New Year. "If there was a single winery that has always known how to reinvent itself while retaining the lessons from its rich history," he explained, "Carmel is the one."

Carmel, one of Israel's very best wineries, recently released a line-up of eight wines in its Selected series that are "very much affordable and quite pleasantly drinkable," he said. The Mediterranean Blend in particular is a "delicious, inexpensive, food-friendly" follow-up to Carmel's successful, award-winning and high-end Mediterranean, which includes varieties such as Petite Sirah, Mourvedreand Viognier, and Petit Verdot. Pair it with lamb stew.

In the Spirit of Humility

The custom of taking inventory of the past year during the High Holidays requires a certain measure of humility. In that vein, Geller focused on two French wines that are not considered extravagant, yet bear the same features and qualities of some of the country's most prestigious vintages.

The new Château Royaumont 2014, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc from Vignobles Péré-Vergé in Pomerol, is remarkably complex and has the potential to be cellared for 10 years or more after harvest. Serve it with caramelized duck breast in a raspberry coulis.

Geller also recommends keeping an eye out for the Pascal Bouchard Le Classique 2016, from the Chablis appellation in Burgundy. "Unlike most kosher Chardonnay wines, this one is unoaked and radically different, style-wise." Showcasing a bright citrus and green apple profile with notes of saline and earthy minerals and "lip-smacking acidity," it's a perfect foil for Dover Sole in Almond Butter sauce.

Geller suggests comparing the Pascal Bouchard side-by-side with another excellent but very different Chardonnay, such as the Matar Chardonnay 2014 from Israel. Its slightly creamy texture and buttery notes work beautifully with Balsamic Glazed Chicken.

For a Sweet New Year

The tradition of indulging in sweet fruits and treats on Rosh Hashana represents hopes of being granted a sweet New Year. Geller turns to Herzog Wine Cellars for its stellar Late Harvest series dessert wines. His personal favorite is the Chenin Blanc 2015, grown in the Herzog Family's vineyard in Clarksburg, California from a variety originating in France's Loire Valley. He says the wine has "a luscious, almost oily texture reminiscent of quince jam, pear, and lemon drops with hints of dried apricots and honeysuckle," making it the perfect companion for an apple pie.

Great Values Under $20

Because Rosh Hashana is such a special time for family and friends, Kedem/Royal Wine asked Geller about affordable favorites to serve with festive meals or bring along as gifts. "The word is finally getting out that 'excellent' wine doesn't have to be 'expensive' wine," he agreed. His picks include the aforementioned Carmel Selected Series, Chateau Trijet,and Terra di Seta Chianti Classico as well as wines from the Herzog Late Harvest Series.

About The Royal Wine Corporation:

Founded in 1848, Royal Wine Corp. has been owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking roots date back eight generations to 19th century Czechoslovakia.

Today, Royal Wine Corp is the leading producer, importer and distributor of kosher wines and spirits, headquartered in Bayonne, NJ, offers more than 300 brands in its portfolio including Bartenura Moscato, the best-selling Italian Moscato in America (kosher or not) which they own.

Their portfolio of domestic and international wines hail from nearly every significant wine producing region in the world including California, France, Italy and Spain, as well as Israel, New Zealand and Argentina.

Additionally, Royal Wine Corp. imports, produces and distributes a growing portfolio of spirit and liqueurs which includes many sought after scotches, bourbons, tequilas and vodkas as well as hard to find specialty items such as flavored brandies and liqueurs.

The company owns and operates the Kedem Winery in upstate New York, with a tasting room and gift shop as well as Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard, California, a state-of-the-art-facility featuring guided wine tours, a fully staffed modern tasting room, gift shop and catering facilities. Additionally, the Oxnard winery houses the award-winning restaurant Tierra Sur, serving the finest Mediterranean inspired contemporary California Cuisine.

For more information on Royal Wine Corporation, visit their web site at: http://www.royalwine.com/. You can follow Royal Wine Corporation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Read our interview with Gabriel Geller of Royal Wine Corporation here: /bwwfood-wine/article/BWW-Interview-Gabriel-Geller-of-ROYAL-WINE-CORP-20170723.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Royal Wine Corporation

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