But if I had to choose one wine, just for the Seder at least, I would go with the Herzog Lineage Rosé 2022. Why? Well, first of all, this wine is made from Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Herzog family’s estate Prince Vineyard in Clarksburg, California. Even red Pinot Noir wines tend to have a softer mouthfeel and often lighter body than other classic red varieties such as Merlot and Cabernet. It’s also mevushal, and since we might have guests that are not observant, I prefer to serve a mevushal wine to avoid any issues.
But let’s get to the point. My minhag, so to speak, for the past 6 or 7 years is to drink only rosé for the 4 cups of the Seder. Rosé wines are lighter, easier to drink, fruity, and refreshing. When following the requirement of drinking a significant amount of wine at a fast pace, I don’t enjoy gulping down red wine. In my family, we only use red wine for the 4 cups, and since rosé is considered a shade of red for that purpose, it works out nicely. The Seder, and Passover generally, celebrate our redemption from slavery in Egypt. Forcing myself to drink a lot of red wine so fast, without having the time to swirl and savor it, is not only pointless if you ask me. It’s almost a form of slavery and thus totally defeats the purpose and makes no sense.
The Herzog Lineage Rosé is bright, refreshing, and delightful, with notes of freshly picked strawberries, peaches, and cherries. It remains very enjoyable even if you gulp it down. After drinking the first cup at the Seder, it puts a big smile on my face, and that smile stays on throughout the night, enhancing my feeling of freedom. Whether you try it for the Seder or any other meal or occasion, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. And please let me know your thoughts too. L’chaim, Chag kasher v’sameach!
Photography by Sara Goldstein
