Question: What’s the difference between kosher wine and kosher for Passover wine?

Answer: As with anything to be considered kosher, it must be created under a rabbi’s supervision, and only Sabbath-observant Jewish males are allowed to handle the grapes through the entire process.

Because chametz is forbidden at any time during Passover, this also applies to wine. Because wine requires some sort of yeast for fermentation, the Passover prohibition applies to yeast which is a product of one of the following five grains: wheat, barley, oat, spelt, or rye. Any wine saying it’s kosher for Passover wine must be made from a yeast that has been grown on something like grapes, or its sugars. And there should be no preservatives, like potassium sorbate.

Even though you may find wine that says it’s a kosher wine – not all are kosher for Passover. Make sure to look for a “P” next to the kosher symbol or it will say “Kosher for Passover” in both English and/or Hebrew. All Israeli wines are Kosher for Passover.