The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in Parashat Balak, cites a remarkable custom that is recorded in the work Midrash Talpiyot in the name of Rabbi Menahem Ha’babli’s "Ta’ameh Ha’misvot" (listen to audio recording for precise citation). Rabbi Menahem Ha’babli maintained that it is proper not to drink wine that an idol-worshipping gentile looked upon. According to the strict Halacha, of course, wine is forbidden only if it was handled by a gentile. However, on the level of "Midat Hasidut" (an additional measure of piety), one should preferably avoid wine that an idol-worshipping gentile looked at. This means that if an idolater saw the wine as it was poured from the bottle, or, according to some authorities, even if he saw the wine in a transparent glass or bottle, then it is proper as a "Midat Hasidut" not to drink the wine.

Of course, this applies only to wine that is not Mebushal (meaning, it had not been previously boiled). Wine that is Mebushal is permissible even if a gentile handled it directly, and thus all the more so, one may certainly drink Mebushal wine that was looked upon by an idolater.

Moslems are not considered idolaters, and thus if a Moslem looked upon or touched wine, it remains permissible. But Eastern religions, such as Buddhism, are considered Aboda Zara (idolatry), and therefore these Halachot would apply to practitioners of these faiths who look upon or come in contact with wine.

Although this ruling is an additional stringency that, as mentioned, applies only on the level of "Midat Hasidut," it reminds us of the care that must be taken with regard to matters involving idolatry. A number of years ago, it was discovered that women’s wigs imported into Israel from India were made from hair that had been used as part of a religious ritual. Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv ruled that these wigs had the Halachic status of "Tikrobet Aboda Zara" (idolatrous sacrifices), such that it was forbidden to derive any benefit from them, and they had to be burned. Religious Jewish women had purchased these wigs for purposes of modesty, but in truth were bringing an idolatrous object into their homes. Halacha treats issues concerning idolatry with special severity, and thus these matters must be dealt with very carefully to avoid any possible Torah violation.

Summary: There is a Midat Hasidut (added measure of piety) to refrain from non-Mebushal wine that an idol-worshipping gentile looked at, despite the fact that according to the strict Halacha, non-Mebushal wine becomes forbidden only if it was touched or handled by a gentile.