Grape Juice - Ikar V’tafel

Q. A previous Halacha Yomis mentioned that the beracha on wine covers all other drinks. Does the same apply to grape juice?

A. Tosfos (Berachos 42a s.v. i hachi) writes that the beracha on wine exempts all other drinks because wine is more valued than other drinks. Therefore, we apply the rule of ikar v’tafel (primary and secondary; when one recites the beracha on the main food (in this case, wine), all other drinks that are secondary in importance are included. The Levush (174:4) offers a different reason. He explains that wine is more important because it receives its own special beracha. Sefer Shevus Yitzchak (Pesach 12:2) writes that whether or not a beracha on grape juice will exempt other drinks might depend on these two reasons. According to Tosfos that wine is more valued, grape juice is not in this category. On the other hand, according to the Levush that wine is more significant because it has it’s own beracha of borei pri hagofen, the same would apply to grape juice as well. Rav Elyashiv zt”l was presented with this question and he ruled that it is best to be strict and not rely on grape juice to exempt other drinks. Instead, one should recite the beracha of Shehakol on a solid food (such as a sugar cube) and intend that the beracha exempts all other beverages during the meal. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l (Halichos Shlomo 9, n. 78) writes that grape juice is the same as wine, and no additional beracha is required.

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