סימן עז סעיף ג

מִצְוָה לְקַדֵּשׁ עַל יַיִן יָשָׁן, וּמִצְוָה לִבְרוֹר יַיִן יָפֶה. וְאִם אֶפְשָׁר, יֵשׁ לְהַדֵּר אַחַר יַיִן אָדֹם. וּבְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין יַיִן כָּשֵׁר כָּרָאוּי מָצוּי, מְקַדְּשִׁין גַּם עַל יַיִן צִמּוּקִים (עַיֵן לעֵיל סִימָן נ"ג סָעִיף ו). וַיְכֻלּוּ, יֵשׁ לוֹמַר מְעֻמָּד. וּמִסְתַּכֵּל בַּנֵּרוֹת, וְאַחַר כָּךְ יֵשֵׁב. וּמִסְתַּכֵּל בַּכּוֹס וּמְבָרֵךְ בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן וַאֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ וְכוּ'. וְאִם אֵין לוֹ יַיִן, מְקַדְּשִׁין עַל הַפַּת וְלֹא עַל שְׁאָר מַשְׁקִין (רע"א רע"ב).

It is a mitzvah to recite kiddush on old wine and a mitzvah to select fine wine. And if possible you should dignify the kiddush by using red⁸Raisin wine is preferable to very white wine. [Tashbeitz]. wine. Where suitable⁹Perhaps the word “suitable” is intended to exclude white wine (see footnote 8) or wine only permissible because of great monetary loss (see Chasam Sofer Responsa, Orach Chaim 65). kosher wine is unavailable you may recite kiddush on raisin¹⁰Some hold that the raisins must be crushed first and then allowed to stand for three days. (Shulchan Aruch Harav, 272: 7) and others disagree [Chok Yaakov 472: 22, Peri Megadim 462: 6], and some hold that they should be cut up first (Misgeres Hashulchan on Kitzur, Chapter 53: 6]. wine.¹¹The raisins must be soaked three days. (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 53: 6). You should say Vayechulu while standing¹²Shulchan Aruch. See Rema 271: 10. and while looking at the candles;¹³Maharil. We are not very punctilious about doing this according to Mishnah Berurah and Eliyahu Rabbah. and afterward you should sit down¹⁴Tosafos (Maseches Berachos 43a), Rambam (Sukkah 6: 12), Ravad, Gra, Chayei Adam. The Ari z” l stood for the entire kiddush and so do the Kabbalists [see Siddur Sheloh]. and look¹⁵Rema 271. The reason for this is to help you concentrate on the kiddush. at the (kiddush) cup and say the berachah Borei peri hagafen [Who creates the fruit of the vine] and Asher Kideshanu [Who sanctified us, etc.]. If you don't have¹⁶Even if it is very expensive, you must buy it [Magein Avraham, Mishnah Berurah 272]. wine you may recite kiddush over bread¹⁷If you prefer bread to wine you may use it for kiddush in place of wine. See Mishnah Berurah and Biur Halachah 272: 9. A kazayis of bread is sufficient if that is all you have [Chayei Adam 6: 10].¹⁸When making kiddush over bread, you must rest your hands on the bread until you complete the kiddush. but not on any other beverage.

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.)