Do you know what wine your parish uses?

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I’ve had this question for awhile but felt that it was inappropriate to ask what kind of wine is used for the Eucharist. I was walking around the store a week or two ago and came across a wine called Manischewitz, and for some reason the bottle seemed very familiar. They make Kosher wine for Passover, and I wondered if it would be used as our altar wine for this reason. I’m also wondering if it’s what the Episcopal church I used to attend uses.
 
I can pretty much guarantee you that your Episcopal church is using a far better wine.

In my neck of the woods Catholic churches primarily use Cribari Golden Angelica or Mont La Salle.
 
I used to know, because I used to keep the sacristy shelves stocked. That’s been a few years; they may have changed. Usually, we purchased from a church supplier. On occasion, we would get some from a local winery or something. As long as it met the requirements, it didn’t matter.

Why not just ask if you’re curious? If it would make you more comfortable, offer to contribute to the purchasing a little (depending on your ability and the size of your parish).
 
We order sacramental wine from a distributor.
We don’t simply buy it off the shelf at a liquor store. We have a license for sacramental wine in our state.
 
Catholic churches do not normally use kosher wines. Kosher wines have different requirements, although they overlap in some ways.

The usual worry for Catholic priests is to find wines that do not use certain kinds of additives that would make the wine unsuitable for Communion. This category of wine is often called “altar wine” or “sacramental wine,” and some brands specialize in it.

The Church favors this because the specialized winemakers will specialize in being cautious and preventing adulteration, and in being inexpensive. However, in today’s world of quality winemaking, priests probably have more flexibility if they want it.

And yes, you can always ask the sacristan or Father about what brand they use, how it is stored, etc. Taking an interest is usually appreciated.
 
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I don’t know how many different brands of altar wine there are, but the one I almost always see used around here is called “Hammer Special.”
 
Ditto we use the same. If it is made too sweet, often times altar servers steal it; keep it under lock and key.
 
Wine made of grapes with no additives is what I’ve been told is allowed. Sometimes members from the parish come with bottles or even boxes of wine and we check them. If not proper for the Eucharist then we drink that on a potluck or other celebration. Right now we have a white wine from Spain made of Moscatel grapes.

Since I help out in the sacristy and have had to clean the altar cloth as an Orthodox bishop either spilled red wine or the Blood of Christ on the cloth I prefer white wine over red as it is so much easier to clean. Soaking an altar cloth that is about 1.2X2.8m for at least a day and then wringing out the water by hand at least twice before it can be put in the washer takes some energy to do. The water is then pored into the ground or used for flowers. Never pored into an ordinary sink.
 
Our parish gets Cribari through the local provincial liquor store. What variety, specifically, varies according to the Pastor’s taste buds. The recent pastors have opted for reds but I’ve had pastors who preferred whites.
 
Monastery wine. That is wine made in the monasteries and the grapes grown there too.
How it is different? I know this from a colleague whose son in law is a priest. While grapes grow they are periodically being read certain passages from the Bible involving crops and other stuff.
Which reminds me that I never really bought but always wanted to such wine that has been “read through”.
 
I’ve wondered, too. I’m not a wine drinker but do like the taste of the wine we use. I try buying reds, but end up tossing them. I think I’ll ask tomorrow.
 
Dlee said:
I’ve wondered, too. I’m not a wine drinker but do like the taste of the wine we use. I try buying reds, but end up tossing them. I think I’ll ask tomorrow.
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Admittedly, thay was my intention. I don’t like many reds (or whites, for that matter) but love our altar wine. The only red I’ve gotten that I’ve liked is a bottle that had rested in bourbon barrels.

Since it seems that specialty altar wine is what is used, I’ll have to keep searching for something.
 
Dlee said:
I’ve wondered, too. I’m not a wine drinker but do like the taste of the wine we use. I try buying reds, but end up tossing them. I think I’ll ask tomorrow.
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I’m also not a wine drinker, but we use a very nice wine that I quite like. I’ve asked before, but I don’t remember the brand. I know that it is a port wine.
 
I’ve wondered at my previous parish, but never found out. My current parish uses some sort of red wine, but they don’t offer the chalice so I couldn’t guess.
 
My parish uses some sort of white/yellow wine that tastes vinegary and spoiled.
 
If you believe that the wine becomes the Precious Blood of Christ why would the colour of the wine matter? Wine is wine. Some priests just prefer the taste of a chablis to a burgundy or a port. Or, they may just be being considerate to the person who cleans the purificators.
 
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Phemie said:
If you believe that the wine becomes the Precious Blood of Christ why would the colour of the wine matter? Wine is wine. Some priests just prefer the taste of a chablis to a burgundy or a port. Or, they may just be being considerate to the person who cleans the purificators.
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I’m just saying that some symbolism is lost.
 
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