9. Drinking wine:[1]

One may not drink wine throughout the nine days.[2]

Does the prohibition begin from sunset or Tzeis of Rosh Chodesh?[3] Some are accustomed to avoid drinking wine starting from after sunset of Rosh Chodesh. Others are accustomed only from nightfall [Tzeis]. See Introduction for the full details of this matter!

Adding wine into the ingredients of a food: It is forbidden to eat a food which contains wine within its ingredients.[4] If wine fell[5] into a food the food may be eaten if it contains sixty times the wine.[6] Alternatively, one may taste the pot to verify if it has a taste of wine. If one sees that it does not have a taste of wine it is permitted.[7]

Beer and other beverages: It is permitted to drink any beer [and any alcoholic beverage other than wine[8]] during the nine days.[9]  It is permitted to drink vinegar made from wine.[10]

Children: A child that has not reached the age of Chinuch may drink wine during the nine days as explained in the previous Halacha B regarding meat. See there for all the details of this matter!

Shabbos: One may drink wine on Shabbos without limitation.[11] If the third meal continues past the conclusion of Shabbos, it remains permitted to eat meat and drink wine until one recites Birchas Hamazon, even if the congregation already Davened Maariv.[12] Some Poskim[13] however rule it is forbidden to drink wine past nightfall if the congregation already Davened Maariv.

Seudas Mitzvah: One may drink wine by a Seudas Mitzvah, as explained in Halacha 8C.

Kos Shel Bracha:[14] One does not say Birchas Hamazon over wine during the nine days.

Havdala:[15] When saying Havdala during the nine days [Motzei Shabbos Chazon] one is to give the wine to drink to a child [whether male or female[16], although some rule only male[17]] who has reached the age of Chinuch [of blessings[18] although some say also Chinuch of Havdala[19]] but has not yet reached the age of Chinuch for mourning.[20] If such a child is not , he may drink the [entire[21]] Havdala wine himself as usual.[22]

Q&A May one drink grape juice during the nine days?[23] No.   May one drink grape flavored soft drinks during the nine days?[24] Yes, so long as they do not contain actual grape juice in their ingredient.   If one forgot and said a blessing over wine during the nine days, what is he to do?[25] He is to eat and swallow a small amount of the wine.

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[1] 551:8-9

[2]  Second opinion in Michaber 551:9; M”A 551:26 “and so is the law by Rosh Chodesh according to us”; M”B 551:58 “So is the custom in these provinces” based on Derech Hachaim and Chayeh Adam; Kaf Hachaim 551:125-126

Other Customs: The Michaber ibid records three customs in abstaining from meat and wine: 1) From the week of Tisha B’av; 2) From Rosh Chodesh; 3) From the 17^th of Tammuz. [ibid]

The reason: As meat and wine bring joy. Thus, although even an Avel may eat meat and drink wine, by the Aveilus of the Temple we are more stringent. [Mateh Yehuda 551; Kaf Hachaim 551:119]

[3] M”A 551:36

[4] So rule regarding meat and the same applies for wine: M”A 551:29; Beir Heiytiv 551:29; Mishneh Berurah 551:63

Other Opinions: Some Poskim rule one may eat a Tavshil Shel Basar. [Kol Bo; Yeish Mi Sheomer in Michaber 551:10; Taz 551:9 and 11 rules one may eat gravy of a meat stew, as well as a dish which contains wine, even if one can taste it. Teshuvos Vehanhagos 2:259 rules one may add wine to pastries and the like even if one tastes the taste of wine in the food. [See Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:39]

[5] Some rule one may even do so initially if there is 60x the wine or its taste is not felt. [Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:39 in name of Sheivet Hakehasiy]

[6] Peri Megadim 551 A”A 29; Mishneh Berurah ibid; Kaf Hachaim 551:142

[7] P”M ibid; Shaareiy Tziyon 551:68

[8] Shaareiy Teshuvah 551:11

[9] Rama 551:11

[10] Rama 551:9; Maharil; See M”A 551:37; Taz 551:9 for explanation

[11] Rama 551:9 “One may slaughter meat for Shabbos”

[12] Elya Raba 551:23; P”M 551 A”A 26; M”B 551:56 based on Elya Raba and Derech Hachaim

[13] M”A 551:26

[14] Rama 551:10; M”A 551:32 in name of Mahril; Beir Heiytiv 551:31; Aruch Hashulchan 551:26; M”B 551:71; Yifei Laleiv 551:7 and Kaf Hachaim 551:152 that even Sephardim who are accustomed to drink the Havdala wine themselves [see next] do not drink wine for Birchas Hamazon as rules the Rama.

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it is permitted to drink wine of Kos Shel Bracha for Birchas Hamazon. [Michaber 551:10]

[15] Rama 551:10

Other Opinions: Some Poskim rule one is to drink the wine himself by Havdala and is not required to give it to a child. [Michaber 551:10] This is the Sefaradi custom. [Kaf Hachaim 551:152] And so is followed even by some Ashkenazim. [Leket Yosher p. 210 that so did Terumos Hadeshen; Siddur Yaavetz; Darkei Chaim Veshalom 668] Some Poskim rule one is not to say Havdala over wine but rather over beer although some are accustomed to drink wine. [Aruch Hashulchan 551:26] See Hiskashrus on the nine days for a story recorded of the Rebbe that he told the person saying Havdala to give the wine to a child who was 11 years old.

[16] Based on 190:4

[17] Based on 295:4 that only one who fulfills their Havdala obligation may drink the wine, and women and girls are disputed in whether they are obligated in Havdala.

[18] Based on 190:4

[19] Kitzur Halachos 295 footnote 5 based on 295:4 that only one who fulfills their Havdala obligation may drink the wine. Vetzaruch Iyun Gadol on their ruling.

[20] M”A 551:31; Ashel Avraham Butchach 551; This means the child is not yet old enough to understand the mourning period.

Other opinions: Some write the custom is to give it to any child below Bar Mitzvah. [Orchos Rabbeinu; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:35]

[21] Even if it is more than a Revius. [Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:35]

[22] Rama ibid

[23] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:42 based on M”B 551:66; See Michaber 551:10 that one cannot drink Yayin Toseis, which is unfermented wine, which is similar to grape juice.

[24] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:42

[25] Sdei Chemed ¼; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:40