Day: March 10, 2026

Much of the focus is on museums and monuments as America approaches its 250th anniversary, but some of the most authentic threads of the American story are being told through music—and Greater Boone, NC, truly has a soundtrack.

Doc Watson went from playing for change on Boone’s streets to becoming a seven‑time Grammy winner, and his influence still hums through town. That story now echoes across the High Country in banjos on porches, Scottish fiddle tunes in mountain valleys and “traditional plus” festival stages where roots, bluegrass, folk, old‑time and Americana all share the bill.

• Traditions that Play On: In Valle Crucis, the Jink & Diddle Fiddle School (the oldest traditional Scottish fiddling school in the U.S.) keeps centuries‑old tunes alive in the same hills where Scots‑Irish sounds helped shape Appalachian music. Paired with events like the Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest and local museum exhibits, it’s an unusually rich window into how those early influences evolved into what we now group under Americana.
• Today’s Stages + How to Visit: The High Country’s calendar reads like a curated playlist: MerleFest in late April, the High Country Jazz Festival in early summer—followed by the free Boonerang Music & Arts Festival in downtown Boone and Beech Mountain’s Summer Concert Series—and songwriter‑forward events like Antlers & Acorns in September. It’s a rare mix of marquee festivals and intimate, low‑cost community events that give travelers multiple ways to plug into the region’s music throughout the year.
• Crafted by Hand: Even the instruments tell the story. At Capozzoli Guitar Company, luthier Chris Capozzoli builds custom guitars from reclaimed barn wood and cross‑sections of the historic Tweetsie Railroad, turning local history into playable art and tying the region’s maker culture directly to its sound.

NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas to Introduce New Luxury French Wine in Partnership  with Historic Cheurlin Champagne House (est. 1788)

• Nearly 40% of all kosher wine sales occur during Passover
• Celebrity wines from Vera Wang, Isiah Thomas & Amar’e Stoudemire—all Kosher for Passover
• Curated by Royal Wine Corp, the world’s largest producer and importer of kosher wines & spirits
• Passover selections range from $10 to $500

Bayonne, NJ — April 1, 2026 — As Passover begins on April 1, families around the world gather for the Seder, retelling the story of the Exodus—and raising four cups of wine to mark freedom and tradition. Today, wine has become one of the most anticipated elements of the Passover table, and for 2026, kosher wine lovers can celebrate with an extraordinary lineup that blends celebrity influence, global prestige, and award-winning quality.

Leading the Passover season is Royal Wine Corp, the world’s largest producer, manufacturer, importer, and exporter of kosher wines and spirits. From Napa Valley and Champagne to Israel, Italy, and beyond, Royal Wine continues to redefine kosher wine—proving it stands shoulder to shoulder with the finest wines in the world.

Celebrity Kosher Wines Take Center Stage

For Passover 2026, celebrity-backed kosher wines are among the most talked-about bottles on the table:

• Vera Wang, fashion icon and entrepreneur, expands her elegant kosher wine collection with two Provençal rosés from France:
– Vera Wang Côtes de Provence Rosé
– Vera Wang IGP Méditerranée Rosé

• Isiah Thomas, NBA legend, co-owns Champagne Cheurlin, which releases two NEW kosher Champagnes:
– Cheurlin Brut Spéciale
– Cheurlin Thomas Célébrité

• Amar’e Stoudemire, six-time NBA All-Star, crafts world-class kosher wines in partnership with Herzog Winery in California and Tulip Winery in Israel, blending athletic excellence with winemaking artistry.

Global Highlights for Passover 2026

·       United States (California)
• Yesod Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon by Herzog — three ultra-premium expressions
• Herzog Eminence Chalk Hill — limited-edition Sonoma red blend
• Shirah Winery — boutique Rhône and Italian varietals from top AVAs

·       Capio Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021 by Russell Bevan: 94 points, by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

·       Capio Petita Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2022 by Russell Bevan: 92 points, by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate-

France
• Champagne Cheurlin (Isiah Thomas) — kosher Champagne releases
• Divin — the first dealcoholized kosher wines
• Château d’Aussière (Lafite-Rothschild portfolio) — first kosher production
• Domaine Arnaud Baillot — standout 2023 Burgundy releases
• Pomerol micro-cuvées debut kosher runs: Château Pomeaux & Château Le Bon Pasteur
• Château Marquis de Terme Margaux 2023 — Grand Cru Classé
• Château Tour Saint-Christophe Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé 2023
• Domaine Les Marronniers — Chablis Grand Cru Valmur 2023

Italy
• Masseria Frattassi — first kosher Aglianico using the appassimento method
• Expanding Italian portfolio across top regions
• Bartenura debuts Oro sparkling wines and Moscato-based canned cocktails

Spain
• Clos Mesorah & Elvi Wines — Sublim 2018 (limited release)
• Celler de Capcanes — Flor del Primavera Garnatxa Blanca

Israel
• Lahat • Pinto • Naveh by Château Golan • Ben Porat • Ella Valley
• Psagot releases White Peak, its flagship white wine

Portugal
• The long-awaited return of kosher Port: Porto Cordovero

What Make Wine Kosher?

According to Jay Buchsbaum, VP & Director of Wine Education at Royal Wine Corp.:
“Simply put, kosher wine is produced using the same fermentation methods as traditional wine.

The difference is that all ingredients must be kosher-certified, and the winemaking process is supervised and carried out by Sabbath-observant Jews. Beyond that, kosher wine is no different from any other high-quality wine—and today, it often rivals the very best.”

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