Wine Cork That Fell Inside

Hello, I would like to ask about a bottle of wine where the cork fell inside. Is it permissible on Shabbat to pour the wine into a decanter using a strainer and then serve it, or, for example, to place a strainer at the mouth of the bottle and pour it that way? I would appreciate it if you could elaborate on the answer.

Hello 

If the cork is whole, it seems there is no prohibition against sorting even with a strainer. 

However, if it crumbled into small pieces, it is forbidden to strain even by hand, as it is considered removing waste from food. 

Additionally, one should not strain with a cloth strainer unless it is made for that purpose. There is no concern that one might want to wring it out.  

A. First, it is necessary to determine the size of the cork that fell into the wine. 

If it is a whole cork or a large part of the cork that is a large and noticeable piece in the wine, there is no prohibition of sorting to remove it by hand. The basis of this law is found in the Maharitz Tzalhon [cited in Be'er Hetev, Siman 319, Sif Katan 2], 'there is no sorting in liquid, and also the wasp can be sent away'. 

Be'er Hetev explains there, 'that sorting only applies to what needs to be searched and selected, but something that floats on top is already clear, and it is like removing a fish from milk, this is not sorting'.

That is, something that is in a liquid and noticeable by itself is not considered mixed with the surrounding liquid. For this reason, a wasp that fell into a liquid can be removed, as it is noticeable and not mixed with the liquid. 

However, regarding the removal of a wasp from the liquid, later authorities disagreed, as Be'er Hetev noted the words of Maharitz Abuaffia, who gave another reason to permit removing the wasp, as will be explained below. Also, the Taz (there, Sif Katan 13) prohibited selecting flies from a liquid. This was also brought from the book Yad Aharon. But already explained by the Chazon Ish (Orach Chaim, Siman 53), that the opinion of the prohibitors is because the liquid is mixed with the wings and body of the fly. And according to his words, it turns out that in the case of a smooth object, they would agree with the opinion of Maharitz Tzalhon, and based on this, it is written in the book Laws of Shabbat on Shabbat (Part 1, Chapter 9), that in the case of a lid and similar that fell into a liquid, there is no concern according to all opinions. 

B. However, all this applies to a large object, but in the case of a small object, there is sorting even in something floating in a liquid, as attention is needed to separate it, and in this case, it seems clear that there is sorting. 

Especially if it crumbled into several pieces, in this case, there is reason to say that even if it is several large pieces, there is sorting. As written by the Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata (Chapter 3, note 39) in the name of the Gaon, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. And his reason is that in such a case, the liquid between the pieces is considered mixed with them. [However, in Pri Megadim, it seems he permits even in this case].

C. Regarding sorting with a strainer, according to the opinion of Maharitz Abuaffia, brought by Be'er Hetev, permitting removing the wasp close to the meal, this is certainly forbidden.  Although there is the permission of 'immediately', there is no permission of 'by hand', as it is with a tool. But according to the opinion of Maharitz Tzalhon, that something floating in water is not considered mixed with them, it seems simple that it is also permitted to sort with a tool. 

Therefore, if the cork crumbled and a small piece fell into the wine, there is sorting, as mentioned above. Certainly, it is forbidden with a strainer. 

D. However, drinking from a cup through a strainer was permitted by the Shulchan Aruch (Siman 319, Sif Katan 16), as this is the way of drinking and not the way of sorting. 

And the way to permit removing the piece, as stated by the Mishnah Berurah, is to remove the fly with the wine around it. 

[And according to what is explained, Pri Megadim permits in this case even several pieces. And according to the opinion of Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata, this helps only in the case of one or two pieces. If there are more, all the wine is considered mixed with them].

E. All this concerns the work of sorting, but besides this, there is a question about pouring through a strainer in terms of the work of laundering. There are strainers made of iron or plastic, and in them, there is no question. And the question arises only in the case of a cloth strainer. 

1. Soaking is laundering: the early authorities disagreed whether there is a prohibition of soaking in a clean garment or only in a dirty garment. The opinion of Rabbeinu Tam prohibits only in a dirty one, and the opinion of Rashbam prohibits in any case. Except if it is soaked in a dirty way. 

This applies to water, but in the case of wine, the Mishnah Berurah (there, Sif Katan 37) brings a dispute, whether soaking is laundering. But there it is explained that this applies only to white wine, but in the case of red wine, according to all opinions, there is no laundering. And additionally, from the words of the Mishnah Berurah, it is clear that according to the law, he permits this. [See there, Sif Katan 59].

2. Might wring: when a garment is soaked with liquid, there is an additional concern that it might be wrung, as the liquid damages the garment. But in this, there are two permissions. A. A garment intended for use with liquids, it is explained that there is no concern that one will care about it and not wring it. B. In the case of a small amount of liquid in the garment, there is no concern, as it does not damage the garment so much. [But there is a reason to say that only in the case of a small amount of water, a person does not care that they remain, but wine, which is considered dirt for the garment, there may be more concern of wringing].

Therefore, in a case where there is no prohibition of sorting, it is permitted to strain with a cloth intended for this, as then there is no concern that it will be wrung.