Today is the first night of Passover. I’m going to try to get a bottle of Kosher Chianti to serve at my family gathering. The wine I am looking for is from the Terra di Seta winery. I first met with Daniele and his life wife Maria at the Kosher Fest run by Royal Corp in New York, I think the year was 2011. I have seen them in the intervening years at Vinitaly and just saw Maria and her nephew at the Anteprima in Florence in February.

I wrote extensively about them on this blog in 2011, click here to read the post, and it continues to be one of the most read articles on the site. They are a lovely couple that make a really nice Chianti at Italy’s only all Kosher winery. They are also organic.

On their website they state, “The laws of kosher food originate in the Bible, and have been observed by Jews for over 3,300 years. To be considered kosher, Sabbath-observant Jews must be involved in the entire winemaking process and any ingredients used must be kosher. Wine that is described as “kosher for Passover” must have been kept free from contact with grain, bread and dough. Established in 1935, the OK Kosher Certification is one of the world’s most respected symbols of kosher approval.”

I tried their Chianti Classico Terra di Seta 2015 and 2014 made from 95% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon as well as their Chianti Classico Riserva 2013 made from 100% Sangiovese and their Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Assai 2013.

They are located at 480 meters above sea level with southern exposure. The soils are Galestro. I enjoyed all of the wines but my favorite was the Riserva. It had the beautiful dusty cherry notes of Sangiovese together with beautiful earthy, forest floor aromas and great minerality and acidity, which I expect in a well-made Chianti Classico. It ages in barriques for a number of years before release. It had some of the teritary aromas and flavors of wood but not over the top by any means. The tannins were silky and the length was long. A lovely balanced wine it just  needs more time and I would have loved to try it with food.  Their oenologist is Enrico Paternoster.

Today as my family celebrates the Exodus I know my Dad will tell the story of when his two relatives showed up after the Holocaust during the Seder. in 1948 when he opened the door to let in Elijah, he found his long lost relatives standing outside Lillian and Samuel. They were the only ones to escape from Auschwitz. My great grandmother lost 7 sisters and their families during the Holocaust, 80 people, all Polish. Tonight, as always we remember them and all the others who perished because of their faith. I’m by no means a religious person but this is one holiday I always celebrate and a story I always will remember and pass on. As anti-semitism raises its ugly head ever more often in the U.S. and an 85-year old Jewish Grandmother is butchered in Paris by her neighbor, it is important to remember the perils and to remain vigilant.  We are not living in the climate that my great grandparents dealt with but we remember them and their struggles this holiday. Chag Sameach.