Manischewitz is a US-based company that produces kosher food and beverages, including the sweet kosher wine made from Concord grapes. The wine is noted for its intense sweetness, which is due to the addition of sugar after fermentation. Manischewitz is the largest producer of kosher wine in the US and is often served during Passover celebrations.
Manischewitz is a US-based company specializing in the production of kosher food and beverages. While they make a huge assortment of products, including matzo, the Manischewitz name is often used as a synonym for the sweet kosher wine they produce. Kosher food must meet a number of conditions to be considered in accordance with Jewish dietary laws. This means that Manischewitz’s ingredients, the equipment with which they are processed and the way they are handled must meet very specific requirements in order to be considered kosher.
Manischewitz is made from the Concord grape, a red grape native to the United States. The grape family from which Concord comes, that of Vitis labrusca, is markedly different from European Vitis vinifera varieties, and is considered by many in the wine drinking community to be inferior for use in wine. There is evidence that Concord grapes themselves, grown in the mid-19th century, may actually contain a small amount of Vitis vinifera, due to the nature of their flowers. Concord grapes are also often used as food grapes in the United States and are characterized by large seeds and a very touching aroma. This aroma translates into wines, such as Manischewitz, made from grapes.
Manischewitz, like many kosher wines, is often noted for its intense sweetness. Early kosher winemakers like Manischewitz faced a dilemma in the New World, where they lacked access to high-quality grapes and often rushed to produce large quantities of wine in time for holidays such as Easter. With lower quality juice to work with and insufficient time, the wines produced tended to be too bitter for easy consumption, so sugar was added after fermentation to help the wines become more palatable. However, not all kosher wine has to be so sweet, and Manischewitz also produces a number of more traditional wines that are still kosher. The popularity of Manischewitz sweet persists, however, likely due to the association among faithful Jews and the taste of Manischewitz sweet for ritual use.
While there are other kosher wineries in the United States, Manischewitz is by far the largest producer. Rarely does one find a Passover celebration where a wine other than Manischewitz is served. The Manischewitz company symbol, which can be found on all of its wines, is a cluster of Concord grapes on a Star of David, with the word Manischewitz embossed on top.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
