Serve chilled: Wine recommendations for Shavuot

Shavuot, known as the "White Holiday," brings an abundance of various cheese dishes, from savory to sweet, fresh cheeses, quiches, pastries, cakes, and more. It also heralds the start of the white wine season.

While robust cheeses often pair well with red wines, the scorching summer draws us to chilled white wines, offering a perfect escape from the heat and humidity. Just before the relentless heat of summer sets in, Shavuot provides the ideal opportunity to open some newly released white wines and see if they live up to their promise.

I couldn’t resist including a few refreshing rosé wines, which, like white wines, provide a light, enjoyable option even for fans of lighter red wines.

Carmel Winery, Regional Series, Sauvignon Blanc 2023The Carmel Winery’s Regional Series expands with an elegantly updated Sauvignon Blanc. Represented by the swallow, a songbird from the Hirundinidae family, this wine is a dry white made from Galilee-grown Sauvignon Blanc grapes. It aged in stainless steel tanks for about three months, offering refreshing aromas of pineapple and lime. It's a pleasant drink with great value for its price. Price: NIS 60.

Barkan Winery, Chardonnay W, 2022The Chardonnay grapes for this wine come from two vineyards situated 700 meters above sea level in the Upper Galilee: Ein Zeitim and Reihan. This elegant Chardonnay aged on its lees in barrels for six months. It is a rich, fairly concentrated wine with citrus fruit and white flower aromas, along with hints of vanilla and nuts. Price: NIS 75.

Teperberg Winery, Essence Chardonnay 2022The Chardonnay grapes hail from two vineyards: one planted in the Judean Hills at 900 meters above sea level and the other in the Ella Valley. The wine fermented in new and old French oak barrels and aged on its lees for about nine months, then further aged in the bottle for an additional year. It boasts rich, clean aromas of tropical fruits, citrus, and a hint of butteriness. A balanced wine with light acidity and a pleasant finish. Price: NIS 79.

Feldstein Winery, Roussanne 2022The Roussanne variety, originating from the southern Rhône Valley, adapts well to our hot and fertile climate, often resulting in a very fruity character. In this wine, the winemaker has directed it towards a quiet, restrained, mineral profile with delicate aromas of white blossoms and peach. Combining two ripeness stages from different vineyards, it offers varietal character and substantial volume, making it a gastronomic wine. Price: NIS 110.

Carmel Winery, Single Vineyard, Riesling Kerem Har Avital 2022The Single Vineyard wines represent Carmel Winery’s high-end series. Riesling grapes come from a vineyard at 900 meters above sea level on Mount Avital in the northern Golan Heights. The volcanic basalt soil helps maintain the natural and refreshing acidity of the grapes. The wine fermented half in oak barrels for six months and half in stainless steel tanks. This charming Riesling is rich with aromas of white summer fruits, citrus, and pleasant florality. An elegant wine with nice acidity and balanced minerality. Price: NIS 120.

Recanati Winery, Special Reserve White 2021Recanati Winery’s flagship white wine, made from exceptional Roussanne and Marsanne vineyard blocks. A dry white wine, rich and complex, with a medium to full body, balanced acidity, and a broad range of white and yellow fruits, finishing with a clear mineral edge. Price: NIS 159.

Teperberg Winery, Essence Rosé 2023Grapes from the Negev region and Barbara and Grenache from the Ayalon Valley underwent fermentation to produce a delicate wine, preserving the grape aromas and maintaining freshness and crispness. The wine offers tropical fruit and mineral aromas, balanced acidity, refreshing qualities, and a pleasant softness. Price: NIS 79.

Carmel Winery, Vineyards, Rosé 2022A dry rosé made from Marselan and Grenache Noir grapes from the Ayalon Valley vineyards located at the foothills of the Judean and Benjamin mountains. The wine fermented in old oak barrels and aged on its lees for about half a year, which added body and significant flavors. It has lovely delicate aromas and flavors of orange summer fruits and mulberries, balanced acidity, and a fairly substantial body, making it a gastronomic wine. A charming wine released this month. Price: NIS 80.

Feldstein Winery, Grenache Rosé 2023A rosé in the style known as gastronomic in southern France, made from Grenache grapes and a bit of Caladoc. It is a restrained and intriguing rosé, with low body and alcohol, excellent and refreshing natural acidity, and floral and fruity aromas like strawberries and raspberries. A highly enjoyable drink. Price: NIS 110.

Porta 6 Vinho Verde 2023New from Portugal: a young, light, fruity white wine, aromatic and refreshing, with a mild and balanced natural sweetness. A classic Vinho Verde suitable for the hot Israeli summer. Price: NIS 50.

Porta 6 Reserve White 2022A wine produced in Portugal specifically for the Israeli market. Created in response to the demand from Shaked Company, following specific guidelines for grape varieties and the desired wine style. The grapes are Albariño and Loureiro. The wine has aromas of citrus fruits and tropical fruits. It is balanced, combining freshness with fruit and delicate minerality. Price: NIS 70.