The High Holidays are approaching, and wine is an essential element on every family's festive table.
I'm used to drink with my meals (not only on holidays) , red wine, which is actually 100% red grapes juice, with no addition of water, sugar, coloring. It's produced by Carmel winery, the largest brand in the Israeli wine market, and it's called Tirosh Carmel.
I like to mix it in my glass with some sparkling soda water (mixture known as 'spritz'), and it's almost like drinking champagne. Tirosh Carmel is very popular as it is considered a 'family wine', suitable even for children.
Tirosh red wine
I've often asked myself why is it marketed in a glass bottle and sold at the supermarket in the wine department? After all, it's different from the other bottles on the shelf, which have alcohol, and perhaps other additives. Even in the Wikipedia, it says "wine is an alcoholic drink, typically made from fermented grapes".
wines and beers at the supermarket
'Well, alcohol is just one factor regarding wine. There are other important factors such as : variety and quality of grapes, fermentation reactions, the whole wine production process, of which I know very little.
Anyway, red wine is said to decrease risk of cardio-vascular disease by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. That sounds great! It's due ,however, to the polyphenols (anti- oxidants) in the red grapes, not due to the alcohol. Alcohol might block them from working effectively.
Oh..the key is moderation. I will confess not long ago I drank a whole bottle of Marlow one Friday night. Actually, it was a test to see if could still hold my liquor. I had tried this my Freshman year in college and ended up smoking my boyfriend's pipe..and then I threw up. So thinking, it might have been the pipe instead of the wine and a decade or so later and no place to go with some cheap wine from Trader Joe's I thought I'd just see. Now I know..just one glass of wine with dinner will do ever once in while. The wine you mentioned does sound wonderfully sweet.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid the word 'moderation' regarding wine is rather misleading. Alcoholic wine is not healthy in any quantity.
DeleteThe sweetness of Tirosh comes from the grapes only. There's no sugar addition.
Good to know. I think it's important that one figures out how much is too much. Usually, a glass of red wine with a meal isn't that bad for you. But have you seen the size of wine glasses lately?
Delete'How much is too much' - exactly.Even if the wine is not alcoholic - the sweetness of the grapes could be too much. That's why mixed with soda water makes it an ideal drink; it neutralizes the sweetness.
DeleteBack when I used to go to bars a white wine spritz used to be my drink of choice.
ReplyDeleteSo, you're familiar with the word 'spritz' (spray, flash); amazing!
DeleteThe word has its origin in the German language, but it became very popular in Italy with several versions of cocktails.
For me, a spritz is only a mixture of wine with sparling soda water.
Enjoy your wine!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christine. I will.
DeleteVery interesting! I didn't know this. I did look up Tirosh Carmel and did some more reading about it. I bet it would taste good with sparkling soda water. Do you think the High Holidays this year will be celebrated with less restriction than last year? (I hope so!)
ReplyDeletebetty
Oh, things look bad here. Restrictions have again been imposed. They don't know what to do with schools. Personally, I think schools should be kept closed. Kids are the greatest virus spreaders - asymptomatic and without masks. I doubt it whether their vaccination would help.
DeleteI've always heard wine or a bit of liquor everyday is good for you. When I travel, I always have an alcoholic drink a few days. I'm not that inclined to inbibe. So it is for medicinal value.
ReplyDeleteI suppose, a bit of wine can't be wrong. People believe it has medicinal value, and they probably know a thing or two about that.
DeleteSounds interesting your red wine.
ReplyDeleteDon't drink red wine at all doesn't agree with me. Do have 1/4 of a glass of white wine for dinner every/most evenings only.
Wine isn't sold in our supermarkets only at 'bottle' shops and maybe a pub or two.
The wine shops specialize in high quality, expensive wines of certain places and harvests. At the supermarket they sell the simpler and cheaper brands, I suppose.
DeleteMy parents didn't drink red wine, so I never learned to drink it either. We have cold, white wine with dinners and for shabbat each week. But adding sparkling soda water sounds very light and festive.
ReplyDeleteWithout the sparkling soda water, I can't drink any wine, red or white. With the soda water, I enjoy drinking both colors.
DeleteIs it like Kiddoesh wijn?
ReplyDeleteMy husband drinks Port wine (Ruby Port). Like red wine, port contains heart healthy antioxidants. But port has both higher alcohol and sugar content than most red wines, so it is a less healthy choice.
Good idea to mix it with gazeuse/ soda water. I think than I will give it a try too :-)
Lieve groet/lots of love
Yes, Tirosh, is one of the wines for Kidush.
DeleteIndeed,good idea to mix the wine and the sparkling soda water, which contains gas.It's a delicious drink!
Hi Duta, Nice timely post as we approach the High Holidays. And the grape harvest! Blessed is the LORD our G-d who creates the fruit of the vine. I am a grape juice gal as I don`t drink wine, but would like to taste the wine of Israel that you recommend! Blessings to you and Shabbat Shalom!
ReplyDeleteI'm both a grape gal, and a grape juice gal. Grapes are my favorite fruit, grape seeds, my favorite health supplement,
DeleteYes, do try the red Tirosh wine made of 100% red grapes!
Blessings to you too!
The Tirosh bottle is not shaped like a normal wine bottle. Is that to promote its value as a family wine, including the children? What is its alcoholic value?
ReplyDeleteI hope the holidays are healthy..and peaceful!
Tirosh is defined as grapes(100%) juice. There is no mention on the label of alcohol. May be there is some alcohol as a residue from the fermentation process, but no mention of it on the label or somewhere else.
DeleteThanks for the wish of healthy, peaceful holidays. Wishing you the same for you, in Australia.
I rarely drink any alcohol at all these days, but when I do have a wine (the last time a had a few glasses was during the afternoon of 26th January...our Australia Day...at our neighbourhood lane-way party)...I drink red wine. Usually a good, hearty Shiraz...or, Cabernet Sauvignon.
ReplyDeleteAnd I always have a few red wines at my neighbours'/landlords' annual Christmas party. And that's it for me nowadays. For no other reason than I can't be bothered! lol
Take good care, DUTA. I hope all is well with you and yours. :)
Good for you!
DeleteI won't buy any alcoholic beverages, but if I happen to get a bottle of wine or beer as a gift, I will drink its content.
Your posts are often so interesting they send me off in search of answers to questions inspired by your writing. A wine spritzer sounds delightful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda for the compliment. It made my day.
DeleteMy parents used to mention the 3-S: Spritz, Soda water, Sypholux(the device for home making soda - a metal bottle that works on CO2 cartridges).
I like a bit of red wine, Carmel though, being non alcoholic, might be good for me! Interesting to see what's on your supermarket shelves - more please!
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be quite a variety on the shelves: white wine (also the non alcoholic version) dry wine,rose wine champagne,domestic wines, foreign wines, you name it.
DeleteI just buy my bottle and take no interest in the other sorts.I have no knowledge in wines.
If there's something specific you would like to know, I could look it up for you. Anyway, the Carmel Brand is well represented and they've got a website.
We have something like this with green grapes in Australia where it's sparkling grape juice but there is no alcohol! I used to get to enjoy it a lot at parties as a kid, I felt so grown up, haha! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a lovely weekend :) I had a fun night out with friends yesterday!
Away From The Blue
I suppose every country has a version of red grapes juice and of green grapes juice. It can be enjoyed at every age as
Deleteit has no alcohol.
Glad you had some fun yesterday.
Your posts are always so interesting and informative. I don't drink wine, never liked the taste, so would probably not like a non-alcoholic version. But it's always fun to learn what's available in different countries. I would love to learn more about what's on the shelves in your supermarkets.
ReplyDeleteHi, Inger
DeleteOur supermarkets are stocked with the same merchandise found in any western supermarket , with some additional local products. But even the local products are not complete originals. For instance, I like a certain yogurt, it has balkanic taste, inspired from yogurts made in the Balkan countries. We live in a global world, hence the mutual influences.
The only non-alcoholic wine type drink we have here that I know of is sparkling grape juice.
ReplyDeleteSounds good. I hope you buy it and enjoy drinking it. If it's non-alcoholic it has health benefits due to the polyphenols in the grapes.
DeleteIn Spain we drink a lot of red wine, it is more in my parents' house there is always an open bottle to accompany the meal
ReplyDeleteNice tradition - 'an open bottle to accompany the meal'. I think Spain is famous for its wineries and wines.
DeleteIn Belgium it is the use to drink wine or beer with your meal. Not only on special occasions, usually every day. But there are exceptions now we have beer, wine, champagne without Alcohol which is very nice for those who have to drive and had to drink water before !
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely for drinking non-alcoholic beverages , not only on special occasions, but often.even daily.It's good for digestion.
DeleteDuta
ReplyDeleteJust read all your post up to the end of May. I had forgotten how informative you happen to be and such a neat way of looking at things. As for me health issues made me give up alcohol. I can honestly say I love the taste and if we have a pizza I will have a Miller Lite Beer. I just stick to water , coffee and tea now. Any fruit juice runs the blood sugar up beyond normal. One of your post mentioned stopping bleeding and you used a clothes pin. Just remember you can always stop bleeding by putting flour on it to clot the blood. Peace be with you.
Oh, I'm so, so very glad to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteThank yo for your kind words about my looking at things.
Thanks a lot for the tip with the flour. Hopefully, I won't need to use it, as bleeding is a frightful experience, but it's good to know these things.
You're doing the right thing sticking to water, coffee, and tea.
Be safe and well! Hugs and blessings to you!
Red wines are my favorites, although in the summer a crisp white on a hot day works for me, too. I send you all good wishes for the holidays. I'm late to blogging and I may be late to the holidays too, but warm and heartfelt to you. (And you're right about wine and quality of grapes, land, etc. It's not just the alcohol.)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeanie for your warm holidays wishes. Time flies, Shortly you'll have
DeleteChristmas. Let's hope the following months will put an end to the pandemic, and bring us health and prosperity.
I wish you all the best for the upcoming High Holidays, Duta. Red wine is less a favorite of mine then white wine in warmer months.
ReplyDeleteWell, whatever one enjoys. Both wines, red or white have their qualities and benefits.
DeleteThanks,Dorothy, for your kind wishes.
Enjoy your wine ...
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed a glass of white wine with a salad earlier today :)
All the best Jan
Thank you, I definitely will.
DeleteAll the best to you too!