Rosé wines for Passover: A diverse palette for the festive table

• Published date: 20 April 2024
• Author: ZIV LENCHNER
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Familial, spring-like, splendid, inviting, and steadfast. Zeev Lansner recommends, as only he knows, five rosé wines for the holiday table

As known, we are not biased, and we are open to all colors. True to our pluralistic worldview, we will continue to guide you through the leading path of wine for Passover. After the whites, we have arrived at the rosés, with the red line still ahead of us.

Rosé wines are produced from grape varieties used for red wines, in a process where white wines are made; short maceration of the must (grape juice before fermentation) on the grape skins. This is how the color is obtained, which is neither white nor red, but something in between, rosy, with various shades.

And now, let's paint a picture. Rosé, until a few years ago in Israel, was perceived as "serious enough" wine only for people, mainly women, who don't drink much. Light, delicate, and subtle. No more! Rosé is beginning to assert its (historical, by the way) status as a wine that can be complex, interesting, and undoubtedly of quality.

Even I, I must admit, have connected more with it in recent years. Perhaps it's a late wisdom that comes with age. Not of the wine, but of mine.

So, I'll stop doing what bothers me most about wine, to dig, and I'll present five suitable rosé wines, each in its own way, for this spring holiday. And actually, for every day. Just that the wine will be chilled.

Familial: Carmel Winery, Regional Series, Rosé 2023

What's in it: Sira grapes from Modi'in's Judean Hills, from which the wine born spent three months aging in stainless steel tanks before bottling.

Why it: Rosé for the whole family. Light and refreshing, both in the nose and on the palate, and very user-friendly. Not surprising, and not daring. With a clear intention.

For whom, when, and where: For the holiday meal, as a quiet accompaniment to not heavy dishes. For all the table guests, including non-experienced or demanding drinkers.

Price: NIS 60.

Spring-like: Tabor Winery, Adama, Barbara Rosé 2020

What's in it: Barbara grapes from a vineyard in the Galilean Siron region.

Why it: Fresh and pleasant spring scents, with a dry, tangy taste, distinctly acidic and balanced. Not a particularly complex wine, but one that stands on its own. Surprisingly good, for its price.

For whom, when, and where: It could be an original opener for the barbecue on the intermediate days, with a group of thoughtful people who will open up to the wine...