QUESTION: Wine permeate refers to a water-like liquid that can be separated from wine by means of specialty filters. Wine permeate can be further purified and then reintroduced to the wine. Do the restrictions of handling non-mevushal wine apply to permeate as well?

ANSWER: The Shem Aryeh (YD 29) discusses a similar question. There is a method of concentrating wine without cooking it, by partially freezing the wine, and removing the ice. While it is in the form of ice, all agree that it is not subject to maga nochri. However, he cites a disagreement as to its status after it melts. Does it revert back to being wine, or do we say that since much of its strength was removed, this water-like liquid is unfit to be used for nisuch (offering as a libation) and therefore the concern of maga nochri no longer applies? He writes that “mi’dina” (according to the letter of the law) it is no longer wine, but since the exact point of what is no longer considered wine is not so clear, it is proper to be strict. However, he writes that since this is just a chumra (extra stringency), we need not apply additional stringencies to this water. It could be that since today’s methods of filtering are much better, all would agree that it is no longer wine, but the custom is to still be strict to treat this permeate like wine.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.