‘Hatov Vehametiv’: The Special Bracha on Fine Wine

Ask the Rov: When do I say the bracha of hatov vehametiv on a better wine?

By Rabbi Chaim Hillel Raskin – Rov of Anash in Petach Tikvah

The Gemara mentions that when drinking a second type of wine after already having recited hagafen on the first, one says the bracha of hatov vehametiv over the second type although it doesn’t require a hagafen.¹

Some rishonim hold the bracha is only said when one knows the second wine is better than the first, while some hold it can be said as long as there’s a chance it may be better. The Alter Rebbe rules like the latter view.²

Additionally, the poskim qualify the recital of this bracha with several conditions:

(1) The new wine must be a different type with a unique taste.³ (2) The first wine must not be finished; otherwise, the change of wine appears to be merely because there’s no more of the first type.⁴ (3) You are drinking with at least one other person, and both of you wish to taste the second wine, as the text of the bracha implies goodness to you and someone else.⁵ (4) Some hold that a guest can’t make the bracha unless the host gives him the bottle to drink freely, but the Alter Rebbe doesn’t mention this condition.⁶ (5) Poskim debate whether grape juice qualifies as the first “wine” in this context. ⁷

If you use the second type for bentching, you don’t recite hatov hametiv when drinking it as the bentching already includes hatov vehametiv.⁸

Generally, when you have a choice of wines, the bracha of hagafen or kiddush should be said on the better one. By default, this would preclude a situation that warrants hatov vehametiv.

Still, possible scenarios include when you are unsure which wine is better,⁹ if you mistakenly made a bracha first on the inferior one, if the second wine was brought later, or if you specifically want the better wine later in the meal, for example, during the meat course.¹⁰

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From The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash