There are different opinions as to the halachic status of grape juice from concentrate and whether it can be used for Kiddush and the like.
There is an interesting proof for the view that allows using such juice. The Mishna in Shabbos (Shabbos77a) discusses the exact shiur for various items that is necessary for one to be considered carrying on Shabbos. The shiur given for wine is a kezei’is, the size of an olive in its congealed (concentrated) state. The Gemara explains that this is the amount that can be reconstituted and reverted back into wine by diluting it with water.
Tosafos explains that since this is the amount of wine necessary to result in a cup of wine, it is enough to be considered a violation of carrying something significant on Shabbos. It would seem that reconstituting the liquid will return it to being wine.
However, there is an obvious difficulty with this comparison. The Gemara there is discussing wine reverted from concentrate, which can retain its status. But we are discussing grape juice, which may lose its elite status in the concentrating process due to its losing its ability to ferment.
One can counter that this is still a valid proof, based on the following: In the times of the Gemara, the concentration process was done through heating, causing the evaporation of the liquid content, which would also affect the alcoholic content of the wine. While water evaporates at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, alcohol evaporates at a lower temperature, at approximately 173 degrees, and in the process of concentrating, the alcohol will unquestionably evaporate. As a result, the alcoholic content of the wine will be affected during the concentration process.
Thus, we see that the wine retains its elite status, even if the alcoholic content of the wine was affected. The same reasoning can be applied to the issue of grape juice, and even if the alcohol potential is destroyed, it may still be suitable for all situations for which wine is required.
ANOTHER CONCERN ABOUT CONCENTRATE – THE ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE GRAPE JUICE
One more crucial concern in the issue of concentrate is whether the condition of the grape juice becomes adversely affected (nishtaneh l’griusa) during this whole process. Is the final reconstituted product inherently inferior to the pure, unadulterated version?
For example, if wine is cooked, according to some Rishonim, it may be considered inferior, rendering its brochah Shehakol, and it cannot be used for Kiddush. However, we follow the other Rishonim, who rule that cooked wine does not lose its elite status, and it remains borei pri hagafen and can be used for Kiddush and the arbah kosos.
RECONSTITUTED
There is a similar discussion relevant to grape juice that is reconstituted. Is the final reconstituted product of grape juice inferior to pure juice or not? The contemporary poskim disagreement on this point.
Some poskim maintain that the juice is not adversely affected and remains wine. Others rule that the juice is indeed affected, rendering its brochah Shehakol and not suitable when wine is halachically required. According to information gleaned from the esteemed Herzog family, it seems that the juice is affected to some extent by reconstitution (i.e., it is not as fresh). This may be the reason for a debate about whether or not this affects the wine’s status.
IN CONCLUSION
There are different opinions as to the halachic status of grape juice made from concentrate or reconstituted grape juice and whether they can be used for Kiddush and the like, which depends on how adversely the manufacturing process affects the grape juice.
RABBI NACHUM SCHEINER
