🍷 Sacramental wine

Sacramental wine is wine used for communion and other church rites. It is tied to the Christian sacrament in which wine symbolises the blood of Christ. Wine plays a similar part in Jewish rites, for example in sanctifying the Sabbath.

Requirements depend on the church. For Catholics the wine must be natural grape wine, with no additives or foreign substances, a rule set in church law. Orthodox churches often use a sweet red wine similar to Cahors: the name comes from the French city of Cahors, but today it names a whole style. For Judaism there is kosher wine, made under special rules.

Sacramental wine is close to Cahors-style wine and to kosher wine, and belongs among the various types of wine. It may be red or white, dry or sweet, depending on tradition. Only a very small amount is taken for communion. In some churches grape juice may be used for those who cannot drink alcohol.