Communion Port-How Much is Sold ?

[Richard Henderson]

John, what is the price point of the California port style wine? Warre's and Cockburn's make a decent port for around $14-18.

[John Trombley]

About $10-15, I think, so doable. Specifically which wines?

[John Trombley]

By the way, some minor comments from one who should know a bit about both Catholic and Episcopal practices.

1. The dilution of wine at a Catholic mass or an Episcopal Eucharist is almost always about one or two drops of water per cup of wine. Doubt this would affect the wine or its usage very much.

2. The wine used at a [Roman] Catholic Mass must be pure fermented grape wine, or [very rarely] with permission of the bishop for medical reasons, freshly crushed, unpreserved grape must. Permission is hard to get. However, in regions where alcoholism is high, priests are known to used non-alcoholic or dealcoholized wines without permission, as a pastoral measure, since (surprise!) the care for human beings should come before care for the law, although I'm certainly aware that that's not always the practice.

3. Wine used in Episcopal churches should according to canon law be fortified. It's irrelevant what color (white or red wine) is used--true for the Roman Catholics, too.

4. There is no reason that I know of to prefer either type of Kosher (kashrut) wine, mevushal (pasteurized) or not, if used for a Christian Eucharist. There is very little chemical difference, if any, between a kosher version of a particular wine and a non-kosher version, except that it has been made under the supervision of a rabbinic official and has avoided the use of some forbidden ingredients (isinglass, blood, bread-derived yeast). These regulations are Medieval in origin, and to say Jesus drank kosher wine would be an anachronism. However, I sense that the poster was making a little joke, so let's chuckle a bit and get on with life!

[Richard Henderson]

John, The Warre's Heritage Ruby Porto sells for $13.99 locally but we buy by the case and it is 15% off that. Warre's Warrior sells for $16.99. The Cockburn's Special Reserve is in the same price range . See my tasting notes and Roy's post on that port under the tasting notes forum.

Thanks for the info on the Catholic communion requirements. FYI, I shared a bottle of 2000 Ferreira last night with our new Bishop of Ft WOrth, Ted Gullick and a couple of priests. They seem to like port outside the church! :)

[John Trombley]

John, The Warre's Heritage Ruby Porto sells for $13.99 locally but we buy by the case and it is 15% off that. Warre's Warrior sells for $16.99. The Cockburn's Special Reserve is in the same price range . See my tasting notes and Roy's post on that port under the tasting notes forum.

Thanks for the info on the Catholic communion requirements. FYI, I shared a bottle of 2000 Ferreira last night with our new Bishop of Ft WOrth, Ted Gullick and a couple of priests. They seem to like port outside the church! :)

Good to see that you Episcopalians in Ft Worth are not letting events get you down. Hip Hip Hooray!. Thanks for the info; I'll follow up on it.

[Andy Velebil]

John and others,
Thanks for info. Being rasied mainly Baptist, where no communion was done, I now know that some of my earlier assumtions on this topic were not correct. It's great to get some real facts as this has been quite an informative thread.

[Richard Henderson]

Thanks , Andy, we are not trying to convert anyone but real port is a real part of our religion. I have really wondered what impact it has on the market--but wine is part of many religious traditions . I was raised in a fundametlist , anti-alchohol background. When I became Epsicopalion, I was surprised to learn we were drinking real port! I think learning how port is used in the religious context is very educational.

[Andy Velebil]

Yes, I always assumed real wine wasn't used anymore...let alone Port being used.

Thanks , Andy, we are not trying to convert anyone

Never once thought that, so no worries my friend.