11.10.2010 - Vinexpo news selection
“The Catholic Church in Mexico no longer has a supplier of Communion wine in the country and will have to turn to foreign producers”, declared one of its spokespersons.
The second largest Catholic community in Latin America after Brazil is in Mexico. About 80% of the 106 million-strong Mexican population claim to be Catholic.
“We are sorry that national production has run dry and we will be forced to import our wines”, added Hugo Valdemar, spokesman of the Archdiocese of Mexico.
According to the Press, the main suppliers of this specific wine for use in Catholic Holy Communion have suspended production for reasons of profitability. In Mexico, altar wine can be red or white, but must be made from ripe grapes and have an alcohol content of 6 to 8 degrees. (AFP / 23 September 2010)