Jeff Morgan is a professional wine writer and a winemaker who makes a serious kosher wine named Covenant.

With Passover in the offing – March 30 — Morgan said the big fun in making kosher wine is: “Watching Jews who have never drunk much but schlock taste our wines. Seems to be somewhat of a revelation.”

Covenant has garnered great review over the years, including one from wine critic Robert Parker who called Morgan’s brand “the greatest kosher wine on Planet Earth.” Recent releases include: Covenant Chardonnay Lavan Russian River Valley 2008 ($38); Covenant Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2007 ($90); Covenant “RED C” Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2007 ($42).

To be labeled kosher, a wine has to be handled by Jews who observe the Sabbath and who abide by the kosher dietary laws.

Morgan has a blog called “Jews and Wine” at www.jewishjournal.com and he writes in a recent entry: “From my perspective, there is no other comestible—food or beverage—that has the power to bring people together like wine.  And with Kiddush, wine actually bonds us to G-d.”

Passover celebrates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The highlight of the holiday is the “Seder,” a service and feast wrapped into one, with drinking four cups of wine as a key ritual.

Who says these four cups of wine can’t be serious? After all, we are in Wine Country and you can bet Manischewitz isn’t the wine of choice. As Morgan puts it, Even as a kid, I didn’t like it (Manischewitz) any better then than I do now.”

Check out the story on Morgan in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/dining/19sfdine.html?hpw