Passover Wines

Because we're in the Spring holiday season, we'll postpone our usual Mixology Monday to another time. The Jewish holiday of Passover begins at sundown next Monday, April 14, so we wanted to offer a quick primer on wines that are Kosher for Passover.

For a wine to be Kosher, certain conditions apply. The wine must be created under a rabbi's immediate supervision, with only Sabbath-observant Jewish males touching the grapes from the crushing phase through the bottling.

Kosher for Passover wine, however, must be made with fermenting yeast that has not been grown on bread and must exclude several common preservatives. That's maybe a little technical, but you can look at it this way: All Kosher for Passover wines are Kosher, but not all Kosher wines are Kosher for Passover. For example, not all of our Manischewitz wines are Kosher for Passover, but they are all Kosher.


There are specific symbols to look for on the wine labels. Here are the most common:

The U in a circle is a kosher certification from the Orthodox Union. The P stands for Passover. A wine with these two letters, arranged this way, is Kosher for Passover.

This states in plain English that the wine is Kosher for Passover. Immediately above the English are the Hebrew words.

You may also find the term "Mevushal" on some Kosher for Passover wines. That means the wine remains Kosher regardless of who handles it. Here's what that looks like on a wine label:

At Joe Canal's, we keep all of our Kosher wines in one section, so that they're easily found. But whether you're the host, or trying to be a considerate guest, please do seek out the appropriate Kosher for Passover wine. And, as always, our staff will be happy to assist you with your purchase.

To help you plan your shopping, the following wines are in stock, and are Kosher for Passover:

-Barkan wines (all varieties)
-Bartenura Moscato and Pinot Grigio
-Goose Bay Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir
-Hai the Patriot Cabernet Sauvignon

That was simply a select few of our Kosher for Passover choices. If your taste preference runs toward spirits, may we suggest a vodka made from potato, such as Luksusowa, Blue Ice, LIV and Chopin, to name a few. While they may not carry the Kosher for Passover symbols, there is no issue in enjoying them during Passover.

And if you need mixers, some Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Minute Maid Orange Juice (No Pulp and Some Pulp) and Simply Orange (Pulp Free and High Pulp) products will have the Kosher for Passover designation. The symbols tend to be hard to find, but we hope this primer can be helpful to you.

Of course, with our Kosher for Passover wines, please shop early for the best selection.