Stam Yayin - Definition

QUESTION: What is “stam yayin”? Do the rules of bitul (nullification) apply to it?

ANSWER: Yayin nesech is wine which was libated in the service of idolatry, while stam yayin is non-mevushal (uncooked) wine that was poured by a nochri, even if there is no evidence of idolatrous intent. (Cooked wine will be discussed in the next Halacha Yomis.) Furthermore, Chazal considered any non-mevushal kosher wine which was left in the presence of a nochri without supervision as potentially having been touched or poured and thus it becomes stam yayin as well. Unsupervised wine and grape juice that are made by a nochri fall under this category, since it is possible the product was moved by a nochri. According to Rav Yosef Cairo (Shulchan Aruch (YD 123:1), the stringencies of “yayin nesech” (wine that was definitely poured for idolatry) apply to stam yayin as well. Thus, it is forbidden to drink or derive any benefit from stam yayin. Even if a drop of stam yayin fell into a large vat of kosher wine, all the wine becomes forbidden. Sefardim follow this ruling. However, the Rema disagrees on two points. According to Rema, in cases of financial loss, one may derive benefit from stam yayin, and some are lenient even in cases without loss. Also, Rema writes that stam yayin is nullified in kosher wine in sixty parts. Ashkenazim follow this ruling.

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