Blessing on Raisin Water and Rice Cooked with Raisin Water

Hello Rabbi, when I eat rice, I soak dry raisins in water for several hours until the water turns red and has a good taste. Then I add the raisins and water to dry rice and cook the rice [this gives a very special taste to the rice]. The question is: are the red waters considered wine? And if I eat meals of grains [not hamotzi], is there a change in the blessing for the rice, both the first and the last? Also, in the case that I drink the red water and cook the rice and raisins in regular water, what is the ruling on the blessings? And is it necessary to sanctify on the wine?

Hello, regarding the rice, in any case, its blessing is the same as regular rice [mezonot and bore nefashot]. Regarding drinking the water separately, if the raisins were soaked in water, it is considered wine under several conditions: a. There is still some moisture in the raisins, and if pressed, a little liquid honey will come out, but if the raisins are completely dry, the blessing on the water alone is shehakol. b. There was an intention to make a drink with raisin flavor. c. They were soaked with raisins for 3 days. d. There is a strong taste of wine in the raisin water. If all conditions are met, if the water is drunk alone, it is considered wine, and one blesses bore pri hagefen on it, and afterwards [if it was not drunk during a meal with hamotzi], one blesses the blessing me'ein shalosh and mentions al hagefen instead of al hamichya.

Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim, Siman 208, Seif 11) Mishnah Berurah (Seif Katan 57), and although there is a dispute regarding the above conditions, in case of doubt in blessings, one should be lenient.