Posted March 13 2008
The ABC’s of Kosher Wine F-K : So You Like It Cheap
So maybe you’re not looking for a wine that requires you to open it a half hour before you drink it. Maybe you just want something cheap and easy that puts you on the express train to call Ralph on the big white phone. Well, bellow is a list of Wines that will have you Dean Martinized without putting a dent in your wallet.
Farbrengen Melody
Named after a weekly Lubavitch drinking ritual, Farbrengen has all the class of Thunderbird Bum Wine. It’s rich, naturally sweet, full bodied and smooth.
Best Served With: Full flavored fish, chicken dishes. cream filled snack cakes, movie theater popcorn.
Serve In: Paper Bag
Random Reviewer Says: Benign, sweet wine. Good for the seder for its low alcoholic content. More like a “souped” up grape juice. It was enjoyed by the “heavy sweet wine” drinkers of my family.
Alc/Vol: 4%
Cost: $4.99
Alright I know is that it’s a low alcohol by volume, but at 5 bucks a bottle you can afford to drink a lot of it.
Golan Sion Creek White 2005
Golan Sion Creek White was produced from a blend of white grape varieties grown entirely in the Golan Heights. The cool climate, rocky volcanic soil and unstable political atmosphere are ideal conditions for growing wine grape varieties. The individual lots ferment separately and are subsequently blended to achieve a fruity wine with nuances of wild flowers, shrapnel and fresh herbs.
Best Served With: Chicken dishes, pasta, grilled cheese
Serve In: Those mugs with the water inside that you put in the freezer
Random Reviewer Says: My daughter’s favorite - we were advised not to serve it at her wedding. We did find other great choices; however, this is a winner. (Classy guy.)
Alc/Vol: 13.5%
Cost: $7.99
Herzog Selection Chardonnay Vin De Pays 2006
This particular Chardonnay was chosen by Herzog Selections because of the careful conditions under which it was made: careful pressing, cool temperature and a controlled six day fermentation.The aroma, bouquet and body of the wine are excellent and a credit to the vintner.
Best Served With: Lightly flavored fish, veal, chicken, Philadelphia brand Cheesecake Filling.
Serve In: Yartziet Candle Glass
Random Reviewer Says: Aromatic, fresh, slightly sweet apple fruit (though the wine itself is dry), rich, smooth, nice mouth feel. Yes, it’s a simple and fairly one-dimensional - what were you expecting for under $8?
Alc/Vol: 12%
Cost: $7.99
There is no Brand that starts with I, so for the sake of staying alphabetical we will go by region for this one.
Israel: Kinneret Ohra Kiddush Wine
Much like its non-kosher brother “Communion wine,” Kiddush Wine has been designated for a specific purpose, but it is not exclusively for blessing the sanctity of the Sabbath. It can be enjoyed anytime you feel like drinking something with a cough syrupy texture and flavor. The grapes of this Kiddush wine were carefully selected from the vineyard in the outskirts of Jerusalem.
Best Served With: Shabbos
Serve In: silver cup…duh
Random Reviewer Says: A fine wine for Kiddush. It’s a cut above most sweet red wines. Not too much of a syrup flavor. No terrible aftertaste. Perfect slightly chilled. Great wine to use for the mitzvah.
Alc/Vol: 9%
Cost: $5.99
Joseph River Cabernet - Shiraz - Merlot 2005
50% Cabernet, 20% Shiraz, 20% Merlot, 10% Anti Freeze. This full bodied blend offers rich cherry, raspberry, plum and vanilla characters. The palate is well structured with soft tannins. The blend is supported by French oak influence.
Best Served With:Spicy foods, Lutefisk
Serve In: The bottle, with a crazy straw
Random Reviewer Says: The tastes of raspberry and vanilla collide in a Hiroshimic explosion of taste. The combo of shiraz, cab and merlot are a truly unique blend of three quality grapes that have thrived in the Australian 2004 summer harvest.
Z’s note: I didn’t make that up; the reviewer actually wrote “Hiroshimic explosion of taste.”
Alc/Vol: 13.5%
Cost: $10.99
Kedem Burgundy Royale
Allowed to ferment for over 48 hours, Kedem Burgundy Royale is dry, with a pleasing mineral (oil) and fruity character. This wine is exceptionally complex in its awfulness.
Best Served With: Scotch
Serve In: Sippy Cup
Random Reviewer Says: Most people just like to enjoy a decent enough wine or are looking for something to use to mix or cook with. Knowing which low-priced wines are OK and which stink is valuable. This was a decent wine.
Alc/Vol: 12%
Cost: $3.99
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5 Comments currently posted. 
Zechariah Mehler says:
Ezra Butler says:
In my house, we do not drink wine from sippy cups. That is degrading to the sippy cup, in many cases.
We drink appletinis from them.
Gadi Ian says:
Freakin tannins.
Seth Jacobson says:
Aren’t tannins those fairy-like things Scientologists believe are the spirits of psychiatrists or something?
Dudie Silberman says:
When cooking, you should never use a wine you don’t find fit to drink on its own. So called “cooking wines” are around for people who don’t know any better. As such, the Kedem Burgundy is a wine I wouldn’t cook with.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I wanted to title this article “Cheap as F-K wines” but I thought better of it.