What’s the Brocha? HaTov V’HaMeitiv

The blessing of HaTov V’HaMeitiv is said when one gives thanks to Hashem for various types of pleasure received¹. In addition to the regular brocha for wine (Borei Pri HaGofen), the Chachomim required us to add the blessing of HaTov V’HaMeitiv on wine, as explained below.

When a second wine² is brought to the table and there is still some wine left over from the first wine³, one has to say the brocha of HaTov V’HaMeitiv, unless there is a good reason to suspect that the second wine is inferior to the first⁴. If the first wine was a very good wine⁵, the second wine has to be clearly better.⁶

This blessing is thanks for His goodness (HaTov) and for the good of others (HaMeitiv), therefore the blessing only applies when there is more than one beneficiary in the good cause⁷. Therefore, HaTov V’HaMeitiv can only be said when at least two people are dining together and when both wines are consumed in the same place.⁸

The participants must also share ownership in both wines and consume both wines. During a meal, by placing the wine in front of everyone, the host shows that he would like others to share in his joy by partaking of the wine.⁹ The owner’s immediate family is automatically considered to share the ownership.

If both wines were brought to the table together¹⁰, one should say Borei Pri HaGofen on one wine and say HaTov V’HaMeitiv on the other wine, unless one wine is clearly better than the other wine. If one is clearly better, one should only say Borei Pri HaGofen on the better wine and no brocha on the second wine. If one mistakenly said Borei Pri HaGofen on the lesser wine, he should then say HaTov V’HaMeitiv on the better wine. ¹¹

During a meal (when one washes for bread), everyone should say the brocha, but if they are drinking wine outside of a meal setting, one person can say the brocha of HaTov V’HaMeitiv on behalf of everyone.¹² The wine consumed at the end of Birkas HaMazon does not require the brocha of HaTov V’HaMeitiv because the HaTov V’HaMeitiv blessing of Birkas HaMazon (the fourth blessing) includes this wine.¹³

סדר ברכת הנהנין פ’ י”ב א’ 1
2 Even if it is the same type but fermented in different barrels.
שם י”ח 3
שם י”ג 4
5 Either taste or special properties. See ג”י םש
שם י”ד 6
שם כ’ 7
שם י”ט 8
ראה לוח ברכת הנהנין פ’ י”א ,י”ב 9
שם ט”ו 10
11 According to the Mishnah Berurah, only if the wine was not in front
of him and he did not have it in mind, can he say HaTov V’HaMeitiv.
סדר ברכת הנהנין שם כ”א 12
שם 13