Wine is inherently good. God created it for joyful celebration, as seen repeatedly in the Bible1. However, sections of the Holy Scripture do warn against the dangers of drunkenness2. The secret: moderation in all things.
This divine drink is a strong, consistent symbol in Catholic culture: from the wedding in Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water into wine3, to the consecration of wine into the Blood of Christ during mass, it has been connected to the Church since it was formed.
Wine and faith in the Messiah seem to go hand in hand, and the Catholic Church continues to endorse alcohol consumption in moderation. For centuries, monks have brewed beer to help maintain their monasteries. Priests also preserved and propagated the skills of wine-making as they supplied altar wine to worshipers in the old and new worlds. We even have patron saints of beer, wine, hangovers and alcoholics (St. Arnulf, St. Urban, St. Bibiana and St. Martin, respectively).
Though widely consumed daily as a sacred drink, primarily by Roman Catholics during mass, sacramental wines are rarely discussed and almost never seen in bottles. In addition to altar bread, it is one of the two elements absolutely necessary for the sacrifice of the Eucharist. It is a definitive doctrine of the church that only pure and natural grape wine can be employed as valid matter for transubstantiation into the Blood of Christ. It can have no preservatives, flavoring or coloring, but essential ingredients that assist in making sound wine and that remain in it in minute traces, such as sulfites, have been and are considered by canonists and theologians to be acceptable. It may be red or white, sweet or dry, weak or strong, although the alcohol content cannot exceed 18% by volume. The type of grape may also vary. Since the validity of the Holy Sacrifice requires absolutely genuine wine, it becomes the serious obligation of the clergy to procure only pure wines. Here at AM-Tokaj we understand and conscientiously respect the great responsibility involved in the celebration of the Holy Communion. We are one of the last remaining wineries in the world dedicated to producing authentic sacramental wine from our original vineyard, grown in strict accordance with canonical law. Our hand-crafted premium altar wines are available at a special discounted rate to parishes around the globe, and have been tasted and stain tested by a panel of priests to their satisfaction.
Salvation comes in many forms... but just a heads up, sacramental wine is just ordinary wine until it’s blessed...
- Genesis 14:17-20, 27:26-29, Deuteronomy 14:26, Psalms 104:14-15, Proverbs 31:6-7, Ecclesiastes 9:7, Isaiah 25:6, Jeremiah 31:12, Amos 9:13-14, Matthew 11:18-19, Luke 7:33-34, 1Timothy 5:23
- Genesis 9:20-21, Proverbs 23:20, Isaiah 5:11, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:18
- John 2:1-11