Tag Archives: kosher

Our Top Easter & Passover Wine Picks

They’re two of our region’s most celebrated holidays, two that we look forward to all year. And even if you don’t honor the traditional Easter or Passover rituals, there’s lots to toast to this weekend. Spring has sprung, and our markets are bursting with the new season’s first produce. Here’s what our team recommends to accompany all spring occasions. Whatever you may celebrate – we hope you do so with great wine, family and friends.

OUR TOP EASTER PICKS

Quinta do Encontro Brut
A delightful, relative newcomer to the store that we can’t get enough of. This Portuguese sparkler is dry with vigorous bubbles, and tastes like a dream $25 Champagne, but is half the price! Pop it open to welcome your Easter guests or sip on it as a reward for spending all of Sunday in the garden. $10.99

Steininger Cabernet Sauvignon Rose 
This spring-in-a-bottle charmer will be spectacular with your Easter ham, lamb or vegetarian quiche. Our Wine Manager Kate just returned from a visit to this Austrian winery, where the winemaking family reveled that this past, warmer season was the best vintage they can remember in over 15 years.  Ask her to show you pictures of the lovely family and underground cellars. If you like Whispering Angel, you need to try this Austrian gem!  $19.99

Henri Perrusset Macon Villages Chardonnay 
A wine perfectly suited for spring holiday meals!  This light French white is easy drinking and a super classy selection from the Kermit Lynch Portfolio.  It’s easily one of our absolute favorites.  Crisp, like the morning dew on an early, spring morning. $21.99

Raul Perez “Ultreia” Mencia  
This wine is so special! It tastes like a delicious jam made from Scandinavian raspberries with hints of dried herbs, and a smooth, somehow refreshing finish!  Even, Eric Asimov, NY Times  Wine Critic  agrees, including it in his most recent roundup of value wines not to be missed. It’s a beautiful complement to the Easter mainstays of lamb, ham and roast beef. $21.99

And then there are the bottles below. They do double duty, what with their spring-themed labels and all. Never fear – we wouldn’t recommend them if we didn’t like what was behind the label a whole heck of a lot:

The Little Sheep
What an elegant rose, with notes of red summer berries and delicate floral notes. Smooth, and beautifully balanced with fruit-forward flavors and cherry hints that lead into a refreshing, enjoyable finish. $12.99

Lelievre Pinot Auxerrois
We brought this wine in last year and just had to include it again here, given its affinity to spring foods. It’s from Lorraine, near Champagne and Chablis. Though different from those two wines, if you like them, you’ll love this, too. It’s incredibly, beautifully aromatic, and round with pear and white-fruit flavors, all brought together with a delicate acidity. And did you notice the bunny on the label? Could it be more perfect for this spring and Easter?  $18.99

Le Poussin Rose
Made by by Sacha Lichine of Whispering Angel fame, the “Pink Chick” is a delicate, pale pink blend made mostly from grenache with a little dash of syrah to round it out. It has floral, rose petal scents on the nose and a dry, well balanced palate with supple summer fruits. It’s one of our most popular, packed full of flavor, at a great price. $11.99

OUR TOP PICKS FOR PASSOVER

O’Dwyer’s Creek Sauvignon Blanc
This Kosher for Passover and vegan beauty of a wine is made on a single estate in the iconic Marlborough region of New Zealand. It’s vibrant with juicy, tropical fruits and pairs perfectly with the Passover table. $17.99

The Butcher’s Daughter Bordeaux
A great wine that just happens to be kosher for Passover, this Bordeaux blend is ripe with a bouquet of cassis and raspberry fruit, and a deep cocoa character. Made to drink with your brisket or lamb roast. It’s a year-round best seller! $13.99

Terra Vega Malbec
From Chile, this silky and balanced wine pairs beautifully with brisket, what with its amazing aromas of plum, cherry and herbs, all followed by a fruit-sweet, biscuit finish. $9.99

Chag Pesach! Happy Easter! Happy Spring!
xoxo, Team Bottles

prices subject to change

Our Top 3 Wines That Just Happen To Be Kosher For Passover

It’s really quite exciting to see the year-over-year increase in the number of excellent wines available to us that just happen to be kosher for Passover. Our 2018 selection is larger than it has ever been, which made our choosing the top three a bit of a challenge. But we did it, and here they are: Our top 3 kosher wines for you this Passover season.

The Butcher’s Daughter Sparkling Muscat
Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Popping open a bottle of this bright, sweet-ish sparkling wine would be a delightful way to kick off or end all spring celebrations. It’s lovely with fresh aromas of honeysuckle, passion fruit, subtle lychee, crisp Fuji apple, and a touch of mango. And its decent acidity assures that the ripe fruit-sweetness never gets cloying. $14.99

La Citadelle de Diamant “Mademoiselle” Rosé
Upper Galilee, Israel

It’s an Israeli rosé done Provencal style and we love it. It’s a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot that delivers grapefruit & melon flavors, with a hint of lychee. Try it with fresh goat cheese drizzled with honey while you wait for your perfectly roasted herbed chicken to come out of the oven. $24.99

Guillermo De Mendoza Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina

A luscious, dark purple wine loaded with big soft fruit, and lots of blackberry & blueberry jam notes that make our mouths water for brisket or a fatty steak. There’s a touch of spice and licorice on the finish, just to keep things interesting. $10.99

Drop by the store to peruse our greatly-expanded kosher section, or call for a delivery anywhere in Rhode Island.

We wish you a kosher and joyous Passover!

Great Wines – That Just Happen To Be Kosher!

Let’s face it. The star of the Hanukkah table isn’t typically the wine, but rather the amazing food served at the traditional Festival of Lights dinner. The brisket, the kugel, the salmon. The latkes, the apple donuts.

That said, there’s no reason – none, zilch – why wine should take a back seat to those festive foods. When chosen carefully, a good wine will make your Hanukkah celebration shine even brighter. Here’s our selection of the wines that will do just that. They’re all terrific, and they all just happen to be kosher.

Unorthodox Merlot/ Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
South Africa
$14.99 
This beautiful wine is a brilliant ruby red, and finishes with delightful, soft tannins. It has nice dried-fruit and herb aromas, and flavors of darker unripe cherries that make it a perfect pairing with your brisket.

Unorthodox Sauvignon Blanc
South Africa
$14.99
Forget the big, unbalanced grassy nose that has become so common in inferior Sauvignon Blancs, and instead delight in the bright tropical fruit flavors found in this bottle. We’re thinking salmon and latkes for sure.

La Citadelle De Diamant “Caesar” Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Shiraz Blend
Israel
$29.99
This one had us at Shalom. It’s big, with wonderful spice: think classic Bordeaux with a splash of Shiraz to shake things up. It has kugel and brisket and best-hostess-gift-ever written all over it.

Chag Sameach from your Bottles Family!

*prices subject to change

The Top 9 Spring & Kosher Wines, Part I

For some reason, it seems as if all of our guests are looking forward to the arrival of true spring weather this year more than ever before. We don’t have an in with Mother Nature, but we can certainly help you set a springtime mood with the wine you put on your table. Here’s what we think are the best of the bunch to do just that this year, as well as those that will be excellent at your seder.

spring22Our Kosher for Passover Picks

The Butcher’s Daughter, Bordeaux, France, $19.99
A great wine that just happens to be kosher for Passover, this Bordeaux blend is ripe with a bouquet of cassis and raspberry fruit, and a deep cocoa character. Made to drink with your brisket or lamb roast.

Notte Italiana Prosecco, Veneto, Italy $17.99
These semi-sweet, happy bubbles pack a punch of bright green apple, but finish creamy and smooth with hints of vanilla. Wonderful with light appetizer fare for any spring festivity.

Lanzur Chardonnay, Valle del Maule, Chile $11.99
A big, bursting, round and juicy chardonnay with an oaky backbone that lends tons of structure and depth. Serve chilled next to an overflowing platter of latkes or pan-fried potatoes.

Looking for more kosher options? Come by or call the store to shop our expanded selection of over 75 seder-friendly wines.

spring1Non-Kosher Picks

Elk Cove Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, Oregon $19.99
Pinot Blanc is a grape you need to try for its vibrant, round and fruity notes. The Elk Cove has a tropical fruit flavor tinge that is balanced by an underlying, subtle, lemon zing. We love this wine for its incredible food-versatility, especially with lighter fare.

Zorzal ‘Terroir Unico’ Pinot Noir Rosé, Tupungato Valley, Argentina, $14.99
The grapes for the lovely Zorzal rosé were picked earlier than usual for this region, thus resulting in a wine with zippy acidity and a young (aka ‘green’) vibrancy. It’ll be superb with grilled or roasted meats & veggies, legumes and fish.

Tune in next week for the remaining bottles on our Top 9 list.

Cheers & Happy Spring!

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Top Hanukkah Wines for 2016

In selecting the wines we feature each Hanukkah, the first thing I consider is the same thing I think about when selecting any of the wines we sell at Bottles: taste. Does the wine taste good, will it fit my customers’ tastes. The second is how it will pair with a traditional Hanukkah menu. Will it enhance the flavor and textures of fried latkes and donuts, will it stand up to a rich brisket. Will it add to festivities and celebration at the table. Once a wine has hit those benchmarks, then and only then do I check to see if the wine is kosher.

Here are my picks for wines that will be great for Hanukkah this year.  It’s my hope that they’ll bring much joy and happiness to your Hanukkah table.

eric_instaNotte Italiana Prosecco, Italy – Perfect bubbly for the holidays and great with brunch, or just standing around the kitchen and talking. But this extra dry bubbly really shines when it’s paired with latke!  $17.99

Dalton Rosé, Israel – Who says that rosé is just for warmer weather?  This is a perfect party wine – dry and light and a good way to start a celebration or to pair with lighter first courses. $19.99 (on sale from $22.99!)

Chateau La Colonne, Lalande de Pomerol, France – A big, powerful wine from one of the best areas of Bordeaux.  This full rich wine calls for big hearty mid-winter celebratory meals and can be enjoyed by everyone at the table, connoisseur and novice alike.  $39.99

Happy Hanukkah!

-Eric

So, You’re Having A Seder

A Wine Buying Guide

Don’t let your guests’ wine glasses run dry. Follow our handy guide to ensure you have enough for the 4 cups of wine for each of your Seder guests.

Our math is based on each Seder participant having 4 cups of wine, each containing 3.3oz.

Bottles is stocked with a huge selection of delicious wine from all over the world that just happens to be Kosher for Passover. Call or visit the store to let us help you select the best for your Seder table.

Don’t forget: we offer generous case discounts, 5% back on every purchase, and statewide delivery!

A special thanks to Rabbi Barry Dolinger of Providence, RI’s Congregation Beth Sholom, who double checked our information to ensure that it’s all …well… kosher. Thank you Rabbi Barry!

Happy Passover from your friends at Bottles.

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Top 3 Holiday Kosher Wines to Please and Delight

Quality, delicious, well-priced kosher wine is available to us more so now than ever before – a trend we thankfully don’t see waning anytime soon. Below are the 3 we think would will be perfect on any winter table – kosher or not.

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2011 Savia del Sol Rioja, Spain $17.99

An excellent value and a great example of the power and elegance that can come out of Spain. Loaded with black fruit flavors like plum and blackberries and chock-a-block with chocolate, pipe tobacco and cedar. Great with rich dishes like puttanesca or roast lamb.

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2011 Arfi Winery ‘Gabriel’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Israel $21.99

Some of the best wine to come out of Israel, especially at this price. Aging in French oak barrels for 8 months leaves a wonderful balance of vitality and softness. Pair with any red meat dish, especially a rich beef stew.

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2012 Domaine La Ferrage Cote de Brouilly, France $21.99

A very charming lighter style red wine from the Beaujolais region of France. Silky texture and notes of red cherries and violets. This is a great wine for sipping with cheese and appetizers but would be excellent with roast chicken or salmon.

Happy Hanukkah!

Top Wines for Easter & Passover

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Spring is nearly here! At Bottles, we are always happy to help you select the perfect wines for your holiday menus, ensuring maximum holiday enjoyment with minimal stress. Our holiday display is a sampling of our favorite picks for your festivities, whether you’re serving a honey glazed ham, roasted rack of lamb or a poached cod with a sage sauce.

easterwine-butchersdaughterbordeaux

Butcher’s Daughter Bordeaux (Kosher for Passover)
A Bordeaux with black cherry and raspberry that happens to be kosher, the house wine of “La Fille du Boucher” a Parisian restaurant located a few blocks from the vintner’s father’s butcher shop.

easterwine-lesdaronslanguedoc

‘Les Darons’ Languedoc
A seamless blend of Grenache and Carignan, with notes of fruit and spice from one of the most underrated regions in France. 

easterwine-haicab

Hai Cabernet Sauvignon (Kosher for Passover)
Red currants, plum, vanilla notes, and an example of a great wine that just happens to be kosher. 

easterwine-oysterbay

Oyster Bay Pinot Noir
A light wine with plum and cranberry notes that will meet the sweetness in ham and not overpower lighter dishes.

easterwine-domanewachauriesling

Wachau Riesling
A wine with bright acidity and hints of apricot and peach enhance the smoky, salty flavors in pork, making this a perfect Easter wine.

easterwine-lasperdices

Las Perdices Malbec
Plum, black olives, spice flavors with tons of bold character and a smooth dry finish.

easterwine-lamaialinachianti

La Maialina Chianti
Red wine with fish? Yes! The acidity in this classic Italian red will meet the salt in your favorite fish dish, with a smooth, enjoyable finish.

easterwine-borgopinotgrigio

Borgo M Pinot Grigio
A remarkably dry Pinot Grigio, notes of honeysuckle and melon are woven through this complex yet completely approachable wine.

easterwine-grinaldavinhoverde

Grinalda Vinho Verde (Kosher for Passover)
Light and tart, with a slight effervescence, a great wine with fish and sunny days.

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Happy Spring Holidays!

-Joanna

Kosher Wines for Passover Recommendations

kosher wine store providence



Happy Passover from the Bottles team! We are stocked with a plentiful selection of Kosher wines from all over the world, with many wines under $15 dollars. Looking for a dry Bordeaux, spicy Spanish Tempranillo, a Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon or a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc? Visit us at our Providence, Rhode Island wine store to shop our international selection of Kosher wines for your Passover Seder. And please, if you have any questions, or need help with your wine selections, staff at Bottles are here to help! www.bottlesfinewine.com


kosher passover wine store "rhode island"

 

Over at O’Dwyer’s Creek in the heart of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc country, a team of rabbinical students were given a crash course on winemaking, and entrusted with their own parcel of land to create a great Sauvignon Blanc. The wine with its cool climate varietal’s distinctive fruit flavors was so rewarding for the students and winemaker that they plan to return every year!

Senorio Aldaz Tempranillo is a classic, full-bodied red wine from Spain that pairs well with braised chicken and olives. Enjoy the intense burgundy color, violet tones, lovely open fragrance, and aromas of ripe fruit.

Chateau La Cheze is a traditional French chateau producing this impressive Bordeaux that is dry and earthy, pairing well with a leg of lamb and rosemary.

Hai Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Judean hills in Israel has a nice hints of cherry and oak to compliment roast beef and vegetables. 

These are just a few examples of the diverse offerings in our Kosher wine section. Don’t forget something on the sweeter side for the haroset!


L’Chaim!

-The Bottles Team


Kosher Wine List for Hanukkah

Kosher Wine recommendations for Hanukkah: Hanukkah is just around the corner, and the Bottles team is here to help you choose wines. We have a wide selection of Kosher wines and unique gifts such as custom wine gift baskets and wine bottle etching! Stop by or order wine by calling (401) 372-2030 or emailing us at info@blog.bottlesfinewine.com.

Try Cantina Gabriele Dolcemente White, which is a blend of Chardonnay & Malvasia grapes and delightfully sweet and smooth. A perfect pairing for traditional latkes and applesauce!

The Don Guillermo Pinot Noir is a lovely light & dry Pinot Noir that pairs well with roast turkey. Senorio Aldaz Tempranillo pairs well with pot roast with caramelized onions, and Chateau Chéze is a wonderful, dry, earthy Bordeaux that will impress without costing a fortune.

For something a little more special, consider a Kosher wine gift bakset. Perfect gifts for loved ones, hosts and friends, we are more than happy to create custom gift baskets with special chocolates and treats, along with quality Kosher wines.

Happy Hanukkah!
– from the Folks at Bottles