by Shoshana Filene

Liven up your Purim seuda and baskets with some vinuous treats. To keep things compact, consider half-bottles, which allow you to get more bang for your buck. Despite their bad rap, half-bottles are no longer relegated to cheap brands. In fact, there are many fine wines that come in mini-me bottles. These are my favorite:
Sforno Moscato 2005, $5.19

Moscato is always a crowd favorite, particularly this one, which is well-balanced, light and fun to drink. Buy it in bulk and fill many baskets.

Yarden Mount Hermon Red 2005, $5.99

I have been at three weddings in the past few months and this wine has appeared at each and every one. This is an affordable, easy-drinking red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and trace amounts of Cabernet Franc. It has the complexity of higher priced reds from this winery, but is a perfectly enjoyable Bordeaux blend.

Noah Muscat 2005, $16

This deeply colored wine has a beautifully perfumed nose, redolent with honeysuckle and floral elements, no doubt the reason why it earned an 85 point rating by the Wine Enthusiast. On the palate, it’s silky and sweet with a lingering apricot finish. Well-balanced and wonderfully structured, and weighing 500 ml as opposed to the standard 375 ml, this bottle of white is a real steal.

Jerusalem Heights, $18

This Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend has jam and stewed fruits on the nose, and shows raisins, smoke, and chewy dark fruits on the palate. The famous British wine critic Jancis Robinson called this wine her favorite wine out of Israel.

Carmel Gewurztraminer Late Harvest Sha’Al Vineyard 2005, $19

This sweet Gewurztraminer recently received a 90 point rating from the famous wine critic Robert Parker. This is a delicious, golden colored Gewurztraminer with a full body and a luscious palate. Save at least one of these for your own seuda!

To find out about discounts on these wines, visit www.kosherwinesociety.com.