Kenyan Catholic Church drops altar wine after it became too common in bars

The Kenyan Catholic Church has introduced a new brand of altar wine for Holy Mass, following concerns that the previous one had become too common in bars, hotels, and supermarkets.

Simply labelled ‘Mass Wine,’ the new sacramental drink bears the official coat of arms of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and a signature certifying its authenticity.

According to Nyeri Archbishop Anthony Muheria, the move seeks to restore reverence and exclusivity to the sacramental wine used during the Eucharist.

“The newly approved wine is not for sale at any business outlet, but is imported and owned by the KCCB, and only distributed to the dioceses,” Archbishop Muheria told the BBC.

The Church’s decision follows widespread complaints from Catholic faithful who felt that the old altar wine, produced and distributed locally, had lost its sacred meaning after becoming widely available for casual consumption.

“It reached a point where even non-Catholics were using it…. Catholics prefer to keep what is sacred exclusive to Catholic practice,” Father Kibaki Robert, a Kenyan priest serving in California, told Kenyan diaspora news outlet Mwakilishi.

Wine is used during Mass to symbolise the blood of Jesus Christ and is primarily consumed by the priest, although on special occasions the congregation partakes as well.

Archbishop Muheria explained that the composition and use of altar wine are guided by Canon Law, with bishops responsible for maintaining quality standards.

“Vigilance on the quality and standards of the wine and hosts used in the Mass is given to the Catholic bishops of the country. This is reviewed from time to time,” he said.

The Church has now settled on a new South African vintage produced by Lutzville Vineyards, whose history dates back to the 1700s.

The wine was officially introduced during this year’s National Prayer Day at the Subukia National Marian Shrine in Nakuru, where nearly 60,000 worshippers gathered.

“This is the only wine that will be used in Mass celebrations across the country, going forward,” Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, the KCCB chairman, said as he unveiled the bottle of the new wine.

He further directed all parishes to discontinue the old brand and to adhere strictly to the new distribution guidelines.

“The newly approved wine is not for sale at any business outlet,” reiterated Archbishop Muheria. “This assures purity from source.”

The label on the new Mass Wine carries a biblical reflection: “The fruit of the vine and the work of human hands will become our cup of joy,” underscoring its sacred symbolism.

Altar wine, popularly known as ‘divai’ in Swahili, is used differently across dioceses, with demand peaking during major liturgical seasons such as Easter and Christmas.

Communion wine has long held deep symbolic meaning in Christian tradition, representing unity, fellowship, and redemption; central themes in the Lord’s Supper and the promise of eternal communion with Christ.

According to government data, about 80% of Kenya’s 50 million people identify as Christians, with roughly 10 million - around 20% of the population - belonging to the Catholic faith.