Domaine Bousquet's New Alavida ("To Life") Fits the Bill for Passover, and Kosher–and Beyond

Domaine Bousquet, one of the largest wineries making only organically grown wines, introduced its new kosher, organic wine Alavida, an estate grown Malbec from the Uco Valley in Argentina, just in time for Passover (April 15).  Made without sulfites, the organically certified wine (certified as USDA Organic Wine) was also vinified in accordance with kosher requirements. (The winery's other wines are mostly certified "Made with Organic Grapes," meaning they have low sulfite levels.)

The name Alavida comes from the Hebrew phase, "L'Chaim" = "To Life." 

While it's kosher, that's not the main quality wine drinkers will find in it–it's a luscious, bright wine that would be a bargain accompaniment to any meal.

Making a kosher wine requires the assistance and presence of Jewish winemaking staff. As Domaine Bousquet noted, "Once the truck filled with grapes arrived at the winery, the Jewish team took the grapes from the truck, used the forklift, pressed the on/off button at the sorting table, and so on. Though the visiting team members were experienced winemakers, they had never worked at this quality level. At the end of each day, everything was locked by the rabbi. If [Domaine Bousquet's] winemaker Serrano wanted to take a sample, he could not do so."

There are also two Napa wineries who make kosher wine, Hagafen Cellars (roughly half are organically grown) and Covenant. 

In the South Bay, Four Gates winery (made famous by natural wine evangelist Alice Feiring) farms 3.5 acres of certified organic vines and makes small quantities of kosher wine. Its website says it is currently sold out which is no surprise since the Orthodox Jewish community in New York generally buys most of its production.

Alavida, the most affordably priced kosher and organic wine, is in stock in Costco stores in the Los Angeles region ($12.99) and elsewhere.