This weekend is the little-known Jewish holiday of Tu B’Av, the 15^th of the Hebrew month of Av. This unique holiday is not one marked by fasting, or extra praying, or lighting candles or other similar rituals. Rather, this day marks love and is celebrated by eating good food and drinking summer wine. Whether Jewish or not, it’s a great opportunity to drink wine from Israel.

Tu B’Av is not viewed as one of the major Jewish holidays, but it is more widely observed than one may think. Observant Jews and both religious and secular Israelis often get married on the 15^th of Av, similar to many getting married on Valentine’s day, except that it comes less than a week after the conclusion of the “Three Weeks” in which marriages are traditionally not held. Particularly in Israel, this holiday is also observed in other ways.

As Daniel Rogov describes, “A truly light holiday on which unmarried young women would dress in borrowed white dresses to go out and dance in the vineyards. It goes without saying that the young unmarried men of the community joined them and it did not take long until the holiday became associated with match-making and weddings. That the holiday probably had its origins in pagan mid-summer solstice celebrations has long been forgotten by most but that the holiday has come to be known as “the holiday of love” still rules supreme.”

But, most importantly, it’s a great holiday to drink rose wines, light white wines, and sparkling wines or champagne. This year, it falls over the weekend. What are you drinking this weekend?

Here are some suggestions for Israeli wines for Tu B’av:

Gamla Brut, Yarden Brut, Yarden Blanc de Blancs, Carmel Brut, Pelter Blanc de Blancs

Yogev Rose, Galil Mountain Rose, Recanati Rose, Tabor Rose