Extra Caution
28. Ascertaining the wine’s status. When buying or drinking wine, one must make sure he understands the wine’s status; even if it bears the seal of an excellent hechsher, there can still be kashrus issues. Firstly, one must check the label to see whether the wine is mevushal, pasteurized, or neither. Even if it is mevushal, one must know the kashrus agency’s standards—does the word “mevushal” include pasteurization or not? If the wine is not mevushal, one must be careful not to let a non-Jew touch it, and it is common today for non-Jews to be present in Jewish homes. Special care must be taken when a non-Jewish maid cleans the fridge (see Issue 98).
29. Simcha. Everyone must also be very careful at simchos. The caterer might have a high-level hechsher, so the guests think everything is as kosher as can be, but there might be non-Jewish or non-Shabbos observant waiters serving non-mevushal wine. When they open the bottle or serve the wine, the wine enters shailos of potential concern for yayin nesech [under the auspices of the excellent hechsher].
30. Some kashrus agencies insist that all wine served at simchos under their hashgacha can only be mevushal. Then they allow non-Jews or mechallelei Shabbos to open and serve the wine. However, here too one must know whether or not this includes pasteurization.
31. Hotels. Similarly, one must be cautious in hotels. Even if the hotel or wine is under high-level supervision, it is common for non-Jewish waiters to serve and touch the wine.
32. Eretz Yisroel, chutz l’Aretz. There can be a major difference between the guidelines in Eretz Yisroel and chutz l’Aretz. In Eretz Yisroel, it is more common to have Jewish waiters. Thus, even high-level hechsherim are occasionally meikel and allow them to serve non-mevushal or just pasteurized wine. In chutz l’Aretz, in contrast, where it is more common to have non-Jewish waiters, they are more careful to have mevushal wine. Thus, everyone must consider these factors when they are outside their homes.
33. To be careful to avoid any potential concern for the issur of yayin nesech, it is advisable to follow the government warning printed on wine labels: “Drink responsibly”...
