Kosher Wine: Yayin Nesech, Stam Yeinam, and Maga Akum: Difference between revisions

# The Chachamim did not include cooked wine in their Gezeirah, because it's not fit for idol worship.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 123:3</ref> While the [[Geonim]] define "cooking" for these purposes as boiling, the [[Yerushalmi]] says some of the wine must evaporate. Some say that they're one and the same and boiling is really sufficient, while others require a change of taste and/or minimizing of alcohol content. Therefore, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach<ref>Shu"t Minchat Shlomo Kamma Siman 25</ref> and Rav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul<ref>Shu"t Ohr LeTzion vol. 2 20:18 (not 20:19, as is often mistakenly cited)</ref> argue that pasteurization cannot be considered cooking, because the vapor is mixed right back into the wine; Rav Moshe Feinstein<ref>Shu"t Iggerot Moshe Yoreh Deah vol. 3 Siman 31</ref> and Rav Ovadia<ref>Yabia Omer vol. 8 Yoreh Deah 15 and vol. 9 Orach Chaim 108:134</ref> claim boiling is what it hinges on and evaporation is just a sign of it but not necessary. Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Ovadia require pasteurization to a temperature exceeding or 175˚ F, respectively, and the Tzelemer Rav z”l insisted on a minimum 190˚ F. On this basis OU permits wines that undergo flash pasteurization to be labeled either as mevushal or mifustar.<ref>[https://oukosher.org/publications/mifustar-is-it-mevushal/ MIFUSTAR – IS IT MEVUSHAL? (Daf HaKashrus, by Rav Eli Gersten)]</ref>

=Further Reading=

* [https://www.star-k.org/articles/articles/1136/the-art-of-kosher-wine-making/ THE ART OF KOSHER WINE MAKING (Star-K)] - Essential background information to learning Hilchot Yayin Nesech

* [https://oukosher.org/blog/consumer-kosher/does-wine-vinegar-present-a-concern-of-stam-yainam/ Does Wine Vinegar Present a Concern of Stam Yeinam? (OU Kosher)]