It is preferable to use red wine for the four cups of wine on Pesah night. According to the custom of the Sepharadim, red wine is preferred even over higher-quality white wine.
Although some communities have the practice not to recite the Beracha of "Boreh Peri Ha’gefen" on wine that is Mebushal (meaning, it had been heated), our custom is to recite the Beracha even on Mebushal wine.
One who finds it difficult to drink wine may use grape juice for the four cups at the Seder. This is certainly advisable for women, and even more so for children. We must be trying to keep the children awake and interested at the Seder, and so it is certainly preferable for them to drink grape juice, rather than wine which would likely make them tired or unwell, Heaven forbid.
One fulfills the Misva by drinking wine even if he dislikes it or if it is injurious to his health. In any event, as mentioned, one who does not like wine or experiences difficulty drinking wine can certainly use grape juice for the Misva.
If one will get sick or have to lie down if he drinks wine or grape juice, then he should not drink, and should instead make Kiddush over Masa.
Those assigned over the distribution of Pesah provisions to the poor must ensure to provide them with wine for the four cups, and not only with Masa and other food.
One who does not know how to read the text of the Haggadah or Hallel must nevertheless drink the four cups of wine. Even though he is not reading the Haggadah, he is still obligated in the Misva of the four cups, which constitutes a separate requirement.
A wife should not pour wine for her husband in his presence while she is a Nidda, and therefore if a woman is a Nidda on Pesah night, she should pour her husband’s cup of wine in a different room or away from him and then bring to him.
It is customary based on Kabbalistic teaching to add a couple of drops of water to the wine and recite, "Maleh Yadenu Mi’birchotecha."
The cup used for the four cups of wine at the Seder must contain at least 86 grams (a little over 3 oz.). One should preferably drink the entire cup, but one fulfills the Misva even if he did not drink the whole cup, as long as he drank the majority. Therefore, it is preferable to use a cup that does not contain much more than the minimum required 86 grams, so one would be able to drink the entire cup or at least the majority of the cup. However, for the first cup of wine, which is also drunk for the requirement of Kiddush, one must ensure to drink the complete amount of 86 grams. One fulfills the obligation of Kiddush only if it is recited over a meal, and since the meal at the Seder is eaten long after Kiddush, one must drink this amount of wine to be considered to have recited Kiddush at a "meal."
The wine should be drunk all at once, rather than sipped, though if one did sip the wine he has nevertheless fulfilled the obligation.
There is a debate among the Halachic authorities as to whether the requirement of Kiddush on Yom Tob applies on the level of Torah obligation, or was enacted by the Sages. The accepted view is that applies on the level of Torah obligation. It is proper to announce before Kiddush that everyone should have in mind to fulfill this Misva, in addition to the Misva of the first of the four cups.
Those listening to Kiddush should not respond "Baruch Hu U’baruch Shemo" upon hearing Hashem’s Name, though if one did, he has nevertheless fulfilled his obligation.
If the one reciting Kiddush does not clearly enunciate the words, or if he does not have in mind thatr the listeners will fulfill their obligation through his Kiddush, than the others should recite Kiddush themselves, as they cannot rely on his recitation.
When reciting or listening to the Beracha of Shehehiyanu, which is recited at the conclusion of Kiddush, one should have in mind that the Beracha applies to all the Misvot performed that night, including the Masa, Marror, the four cups, and so on.
The wine should not be drunk until after the recitation of Shehehiyanu.
Sephardic custom is to pronounce the final word of the Beracha over wine "Ha’gefen," as opposed to Ashknazim, who pronounce the word "Ha’gafen."
One must lean on his left side while drinking each of the four cups of wine. If one drank a cup without leaning, he must drink another cup while leaning. One does not fulfill the Misva by drinking a cup of wine without leaning.
Women are included in all the obligations of the night of the Seder, including the four cups of wine.
