The faithful will soon be able to enjoy truly holy wine after the Vatican planted vines to produce its own special vintage.
And while there may be no vineyard within the 110-acre confines of the Holy See in the heart of Rome, one is now bearing fruit at Pope Francis’s summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.
During the autumn and winter of 2023 two hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon grape vines were planted in the grounds of the Apostolic Palace, 16 miles south of the Italian capital.
The plan is for enough grapes to be grown to produce between 6,000 and 17,800 bottles, and the first harvest is expected next year.
The bottles will carry a Vatican label and their contents will be consumed within the city-state itself.
The aim was not to replace imports but to provide a small, symbolic supply for Vatican employees, visitors and pilgrims alike.
Wine lies at the heart of the church’s sacrament of the Eucharist, as well as for papal dining and is enjoyed by the millions of visitors to the Vatican’s cafes, bistro, pizzeria or self-service restaurant.
But the Vatican’s own source of red wine will not make a dent in meeting demand – and it is the world’s top wine importer per capita, with Italian wines making up more than 96% of its imports.
Two-thirds of imports include everyday table reds to sweet, sacramental Marsala. Celebratory sparkling wines, mainly Prosecco from Venice and Asti spumante from Piedmont make up the remainder and are mainly offered at papal receptions.
The Vatican has been a paradise for bargain hunters thanks to the 1929 Lateran Treaty, in which Italy granted it duty-free status.
But to access the exclusive duty-free shop, a three-storey emporium known as the magazzino, you have to be a Vatican employee or resident.
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