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Why It's Good:
You may celebrate one or the other, or neither, or both (well, probably not both). In any case, these important holidays gather family and friends around, and accenting togetherness and meaning with a fine wine is always lovelier.
Why It's Green:
Not every wine is equally green—some contain grapes that are grown sustainably and naturally; others are made with organic grapes, meaning they were cultivated without the use of chemicals; and some were made under even more stringent measures of total self-sufficiency, and are certified biodynamic.
Raise a Glass to Easter and Passover, Y'all!
This year, Easter graces us this Sunday, March 23, and Passover is warmly celebrated from April 19 – 27. Why not raise a glass to genially usher in your religious holiday? I'm Michael Green, eco-wine consultant and founder of Liquid Assets, Inc., and below are my favorite organic and sustainable picks for these Spring special occasions.
Easter wines
When it comes to choosing wines for Easter, think about the combination of climates (cold, yet warming) and flavors (candy sweets and savory lamb) surrounding the holiday, and choose accordingly:
• If serving a sweet and salty glazed ham, a somewhat sweet wine can be a knockout pairing. Try Eugene Meyer's organic Alsatian Riesling or Gewürztraminers.
• If serving braised lamb with beans or roasted vegetables, a rich Cabernet, fruit-forward Zinfandel like the sustainably grown Ridge Vineyard Geyserville from California, or complex organic Château Couronneau Bordeaux will match up perfectly.
• As everyone knows though, dessert, especially chocolate, is the real Easter food. Finishing a meal with a full-bodied port like Fonseca (the only organic port produced) is the perfect way to end a meal, especially while nibbling on a nub of dark chocolate.
Kosher wines
Passover has a great tradition of wine-drinking, despite the bad rap that kosher wines have gotten in the past. After all, we're talking about a holiday that requires everyone to enjoy four glasses of wine at the Passover Seder, providing ample opportunity to make educated pairing decisions, not to mention simply drinking a number of great kosher wines (in moderation of course).
Before I suggest a few ideas for pairing traditional Passover foods with kosher wines, let's define the two types of kosher wine on the market:
Kosher wine
(or "yayin kasher") is wine produced according to Jewish law, without certain additives, with the supervision of a rabbi, and sold with a "hechsher," or seal of approval from a recognized rabbi or organization.
Mevushal wine
(or "yayin mevushal") is kosher wine that has been boiled or brought to a specific temperature, making it kosher regardless of who handles or pours it. Traditionally, these wines have not been very good (boiled wine anyone?), but recent technologies have changed that, and more than decent selections are now on the market.
Here are a few of my favorite kosher wines, all of which are well-worth rejoicing with:
• California has a wealth of kosher vineyards and bottlings, with one of the most sustainable producers being Herzog Wine Cellars. While not certified organic, many of the wines from this winery are produced from "sustainably grown/low spray" grapes in both kosher and mevushal varieties. Try their Late Harvest Riesling or Chenin Blanc, some of the best white kosher wine on the market.
• For a traditional touch, try wines directly from Israel, like the Yarden Chardonnay Odem.
• One of the most unique wineries I've ever come across, Four Gates Wine, bills itself as "the smallest kosher winery in the country," growing Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc on only 3.5 acres of land. Their splendid organically certified kosher wines are only available at the vineyard in Santa Cruz California. Look closely if you visit, or you just might miss it.—Michael Green
P.S. I know some of you are thinking: Easter? Passover? Today's St. Patty's Day! To that end, we Sprig editors say: Go green, and drink green—here's a video I did that taste-tests organic beers. And if you want to be really festive and dye your beer, check your local Whole Foods for natural or organic food dyes.
