Although they seem one in the same, tasting a kosher wine isn’t the same as drinking it. It really experience the true flavor of a kosher wine, you have to really hone in on your senses. These senses are sight, smell, touch and of course, taste.

Sight: Look at the wine. Hold it up to the light. The best way is to tilt the wine in a glass and look at it against a white background.

Smell: To determine a kosher wine’s aroma, swirl the wine vigorously in the glass. As the wine coats the sides of the glass it releases its wonderful bouquet. At the top of the glass, they’re usually more fruity, and deeper into the glass they are richer and more woody.

Touch: No, not with your fingers—with your tongue. How does the wine feel in your mouth? Is it soft or brisk? Does it have a refreshing zing around your tongue? Tannins used in red wines will feel sort of prickly on your tongue. The ideal touch is a velvety feeling in your mouth.

Taste: Finally, after you’ve used your other sense your ready to taste. Take a small amount, swirl it in your mouth lightly so all your taste buds are exposed, then keep it there for a brief period. You can study the taste by comparing to what your other sense experienced and then either spit it out, or drink it so you can experience the finish. 

What’s better than kosher wine? The answer is kosher wine that’s on sale! But this isn’t your average discount wine, the wines available at discounted prices are of the highest quality and are sure to please even the most pickiest of palates. Here are three different varietals available in the sale section at OnlyKosherWine.com:

Baron Herzog Late Harvest Chenin Blanc: Late harvest is usually an indication of dessert wine, because the grape has been left on the vine longer, allowing it fully ripen. This Chenin Blanc is full-bodied, sweet yet balanced and perfect for a hot summer day.

Ramon Cardova Rioja: Spain is famous for its Rioja wines and this Ramon Cardova is a wonderful example of this genre. It’s made from 100% Tempranillo grapes that were carefully selected from old vines that surround the town of Haro, La Rioja. This dry red is perfect for pairing with red meats, fish and soft light cheeses.

Weinstock Cella Select Chardonnay: This spectacular Chardonnay displays notes of citrus, apple, pear, and subtle tropical fruit with oak undertones. This kosher wine goes great with white meat dishes, or pasta dishes with light sauces. 

The first way to learn about kosher wines from the region of Israel is to, obviously, taste them. The second way is to read about them. And when you do the two at the same time, you could very well become a kosher wine connoisseur. The perfect book to get all your Israeli wine facts is Rogov’s Guide to Israeli Wines, available at OnlyKosherWine.com. The book is the definitive guide to this world’s fastest growing region of quality kosher wines.

The guide is now in its fifth year of publication and every year, it only gets better. It contains detailed information on 175 wineries, a tasting chart where you can pencil in your own ratings, contact info for each winery listed, and almost 1,800 wines tasted and colorfully reviewed and described. The guide also noted which of the Israel’s extensive wines are indeed kosher wines and even goes into detail on what exactly makes a wine kosher. There is also an interesting discussion on whether there is a contradiction between quality wine and kosher wine. If you’re interested in visiting the region, there is even a chapter on tourism at the wineries and a guide to tasting wines.