What it is and where it comes from
Wine vinegar is made by letting bacteria turn wine into vinegar on purpose. Most balsamic vinegar of Modena is wine vinegar mixed with cooked grape must. Once it is vinegar it does not intoxicate. The question is whether turning wine into vinegar on purpose makes it halal.
What scholars say
- Hanafi school: wine that becomes vinegar is pure and halal, whether it changed by itself or was made into vinegar on purpose.
- Maliki school: the vinegar is halal, though many Maliki scholars dislike making it on purpose.
- Shafi'i and Hanbali schools: halal if the wine turned into vinegar by itself; if people made it into vinegar on purpose, most scholars of these schools do not allow it.
- Many halal certifiers today accept wine vinegar as long as no alcohol remains.
Where you find it
Dressings, mustard (especially Dijon), marinades, sauces, crisps and pickles.
What to look for on the label
Look for wine vinegar, balsamic, sherry vinegar or champagne vinegar in the ingredients. Spirit, cider, malt and rice vinegar avoid the question.
This is a guide, not a fatwa. Recipes change, so check the label, look for halal certification, and ask your local imam where scholars differ.