When it comes to truly festive occasions, Purim runs unopposed. The joyful holiday is celebrated every year on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, this year on Saturday night, March 23 and continuing through Sunday, Mar. 24.
The familiar adage, “They tried to kill us. We survived. Let’s eat,” once again fits the bill here. But to provide a little more depth, Purim is the commemoration of the salvation of the Jews from the hand of the evil Haman in ancient Persia. Our heroine, Queen Esther, ends up as the new wife of the Persian King Ahaseuerus and must take matters into her own hands to save her people.
When she is unsure, her cousin Mordechai sends her a message, “If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this?”
These words seem to echo as loudly as ever. Let us use our voices to stand for the Jewish people in these dark times.
We have the opportunity to support Israel with our hard-earned dollars, and I know I will be buying Israeli wines for my Purim table.
While Israel is considered an up-and-coming wine region in modern terms, it is perhaps the most ancient and original wine region in the world. For more than 5,000 years, and many generations before Bordeaux became noteworthy, Israeli land has been cultivated to provide wine for both secular and religious purposes, for the enjoyment of the beverage and for the sacrament. The Old Testament mentions the word yayin (Hebrew for wine) over 130 times, with its first mention when Noah would immediately plant grapevines following the Great Flood. The Book of Numbers tells of Spies returning from the Promised Land with clusters of grapes so large, they were carried on a pole. Carmel Winery, one of the two biggest wineries in Israel, with production close to 15 million bottles annually, uses the depiction of this event as their logo.
Archaeological digs continually find remnants of an extensive wine industry from ancient times. King David was said to have had vast cellars of wine and men to maintain them.
The Roman destruction of the Second Temple laid waste to Jewish winemaking in the Holy Land, and the Muslim conquests of the seventh century fully ended viticulture with the uprooting of vineyards due to Mohammed’s prohibition of alcohol. The last half century has seen a rebirth of these storied lands, bursting forth with the nectar still resting within its long-serving soil.
We will highlight some great Israeli wines in various price categories, all available locally, to grace your Purim festival table.
Under $12
Carmel, Buzz, Peach Moscato, 2021 ($10-$12)
For your less serious wine-drinking crowd, those who prefer a sweet drink, or for a bubbly, refreshing palate-cleanser, this flavored Moscato will provide a delicious low-alcohol alternative. Tremendously aromatic, with a nose of peach (obviously), honey, and sweet melon. Enough acid to offer some crispness with the bubbles.
$10-$20
Segal, Fusion, Red Blend, 2021 ($15)
Year after year, when it comes to choosing an inexpensive, consistent, mevushal wine, Segal’s Fusion offering remains reliable. This Bordeaux blend from Barkan-Segal Winery, one of Israel’s two largest wineries, is produced from 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon from Israel’s Upper Galilee. It is meant to drink now, offering abundant red and black fruit with good balance and length for a wine at this price.
$20-$40
Recanati, Reserve, Manara Vineyard, Merlot, 2018 ($32)
Merlot from Israel? Indeed. Israel’s high-altitude Upper Galilee offers a cool climate for this lush variety. Recanati does it as well as anyone. A bountiful nose of red and black fruit, vanilla and tobacco, full-bodied on the palate, with excellent balance in its acidity and round tannins. A staple of my own wine cellar for many years now.
Over $40
Shiloh, Mosaic, 2020 ($65)
Shiloh celebrates its connection to ancient Israel. The bull logo is a reference to Tribe of Joseph as Shiloh was contained within its biblical territory. While Shiloh remains boutique in size and nature, the medals and international honors have piled up. One can taste why in the winery’s flagship wine, Mosaic. Dark purple in the glass, with hazy density.
Pronounced nose of dark fruit, blackberry, chocolate, leather, some earth. On the palate, full-bodied with medium acidity and tannins. Pronounced dark fruit and oak. Well-structured. Mosaic differs in composition with each vintage, and the 2020 is 40% Merlot, 25% Petit Verdot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 20-months in French barrels. Unfiltered.
A big wine lover’s delight.
Dr. Kenneth Friedman, WSETIII, is a longtime wine writer, historian, and consultant. He channels his passion for food and wine into creating exploratory tastings, having hosted many international winemakers along the way. His wine columns and reviews can be found on Instagram @kosherwinetastings.
Journalists bear a responsibility to go beyond the headlines and social media posts to understand the past and present, writes New York University student Lucia Alonso.
Dara Bunjon talks with culinary content creator, food stylist and photographer Kristen Hess, host of The Artful Gourmet podcast.
Despite security challenges and limited flights, hundreds have made aliyah in 2026.
When the Jews were exiled during the Spanish Inquisition, they fled far and wide, bringing their love of eggplant with them.