סימן מט סעיף א

עַל הַיַּיִן מְבָרְכִין בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן, וּלְאַחֲרָיו עַל הַגֶּפֶן וְכוּ'. וְאַיִן חִלּוּק בְּיַיִן, אֲפִלּוּ הוּא עֲדַיִן תּוֹסֵס, וַאֲפִלּו זָב מֵעַצְמוֹ, וַאֲפִלּוּ יַיִן מְבֻשָּׁל אוֹ קוֹנְדִּיטִין, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁנָּתְנוּ לְתוֹכוֹ דְּבַשׁ וּבְשָׂמִים אוֹ לַעֲנָה שֶׁהוּא מַר, אֲפִלּוּ הַיַּיִן מֵרִיחַ כַּחֹמֶץ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ טַעַם יַיִן הֲוֵי יַיִן לְעִנְיַן בְּרָכָה. אֲבָל אִם נִתְחַמֵּץ בְּעִנְיָן שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּנֵי אָדָם שֶׁנִּמְנָעִין לִשְׁתֹּתוֹ מִפְּנֵי חֲמִיצוּתוֹ, יֵשׁ סָפֵק בְּבִרְכָתוֹ (וְאַף שֶׁיָּכוֹל לְבָרֵךְ בִּתְחִלָּתוֹ שֶׁהַכֹּל, עֲדַיִן יֵשׁ סָפֵק בִּבְרָכָה אַחֲרוֹנָה). וְלָכֵן אֵין לִשְׁתֹּתוֹ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן יְבָרֵךְ תְּחִלָּה עַל יַיִן טוֹב (דִּין יֵין צִמּוּקִים עַיֵּן לְקַמָּן סוֹף סִימָן נ"ג).

Just as bread has, because of its importance, been given a special berachah, Hamotzi, rather than Boray minei mezonos—the berachah on all foods made of the five species of grain; so has wine been honored with its own berachah—Borey pri hagafen.This is so because wine not only satiates, but, also gladdens the heart (Ps. 104) (Maseches Berachos 35). Additionally, wine has other qualities as evidenced by the requirement that the kiddush and havdallah, as well as sheva berachos, are said over wine. In addition, wine was also assigned its own after-berachah, i.e. Al Ha'gefen.This chapter deals with determining at what point in the process of wine preparation does it achieve the status of "wine," and at what point of its deterioration does it turn into "vinegar," losing the status of "wine."
The berachah on wine is Borei peri hagafen and after [drinking it] Al hagefen, etc. It makes no difference whether the wine is still bubbling¹It is still fermenting and not yet in its “full-wine stage.” [or not]. Even if [the wine] is flowing of its own accord,²The grapes have not been pressed but are releasing their juice on their own. even cooked wine or konditin, that is [wine] into which were added honey and/or spices or wormwood which is bitter. Even if the wine smells like vinegar,³Before the days of pasteurization, wine often soured and turned into vinegar. as long as it has the taste of wine, it is considered wine as far as its berachah is concerned. But, if it has turned vinegary, to the extent that some people refrain from drinking it because of its sour taste, then the berachah is in question. (And although you can say the berachah, Shehakol, before drinking it, there is still a question about the after-berachah.)⁴A short explanation is in order: wine loses its status as “wine” when it reaches the point where the “average person” will not drink it because of its sour taste. The question (and this question always arises when reference is made to “the average man”) is: What is “the average man”, i.e. at what point can it be rightfully stated that “people” generally would not drink this wine. Therefore, you should not drink it unless you first make a berachah over good wine [and drink it.]⁵Then you may drink the questionable wine without a pre-berachah and have no doubts about the after-berachah.

תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא שנאמר הליכות עולם לו אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות (נדה ע"ג.)