Menachos 8:6-7

Menachos 8:6

Kerutim and Hatulim are the sources of the choicest libation wine, followed by Beis Rimah and Beis Lavan on the hill and Kfar Segna in the valley. Wine from anywhere in Israel was fit but they brought it from these places. One may not bring it from a field that has been fertilized with manure, irrigated or from vines between which seeds were planted but if one did so, it is valid. One may not bring wine from dried grapes but if one did so, it is valid. Rebbi says that one may not bring old wine but the Sages declare it valid. One may not bring sweet, smoked or cooked wine; if one did so, it is invalid. One may not bring wine from vines that grew on a trellis, just from vines that grow on the ground in cultivated vineyards.

Menachos 8:7

They didn’t collect the wine in large casks, just in small barrels. They didn’t fill these barrels to the top so that the wine’s aroma could circulate. Wine wasn’t taken from the mouth of the barrel in order to avoid the scum, nor was it taken from the bottom in order to avoid the sediment. Rather wine was taken from the middle third of the barrel. The wine was tested by the Temple treasurer knocking the wine’s foam with a reed. Rabbi Yosi ben Rabbi Yehuda said that wine on which scum had formed was invalid for use in libations as per Numbers 28:19-20, “They will be to you without blemish, and their flour offerings” and 28:31, “they will be to you without blemish, and their libations” i.e., the flour offerings and libations must also be blemish-free.