Kiddush - White Wine

QUESTION: May one use white wine for kiddush?

ANSWER: Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 272:4) writes that one may use white wine for Kiddush. Even though the Ramban ruled that white wine may not be used, Shulchan Aruch writes that the common minhag is to allow it. The Mishnah Berurah (272:10) writes that lechatchila (ideally) it is best to use red wine for Kiddush, but if red wine is not available, or if the white wine is of better quality, one may use white wine. Rav Chaim Naeh (Ketzos Hashulchan, siman 80) writes that the white wine that the Ramban disallowed for kiddush was wine made from inferior grapes that did not turn red. Our white wine today is made from premium red grapes, but they are processed in a way that prevents the color of the red skins from dying the juice. Rav Chaim Naeh writes that this wine is lechatchila even according to Ramban. However, all agree that for the four cups of wine at the Seder, one should specifically try to use red wine, in memory of the Jewish blood that was spilled in Egypt (see Mishnah Berurah 472:38).

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