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O-Neh-Da Vineyard, maker of O-Neh-Da Authentic Sacramental Wine and premium Finger Lakes Vinifera wines, will be the wine of choice for use by Pope Francis during his two day visit to New York City on September 24-25th 2015.O-Neh-Da Vineyard is America's oldest dedicated sacramental winery, founded by the first Bishop of Rochester, NY Bernard J. McQuaid in 1872. Now celebrating 143 years of service to Catholic, Orthodox, Episcopal and Lutheran churches, O-Neh-Da produces only 100% pure grape wine for the Altar and dinner table.
Canon Law specifies that wine used for Communion must be made only of grapes with 'no admixture of extraneous substances' including water, corn syrup, cane and beet sugars.
Will Ouweleen, winemaker of O-Neh-Da, contacted the Office of Timothy Cardinal Dolan, to offer donation of all wine needed for the Celebration of Mass by Pope Francis. Ouweleen personally delivered the sacramental wine, as well as a gift of premium Finger Lakes Riesling, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc to be served at dinner with Pope Francis, Bishops and other dignitaries during the 2015 Papal Visit to New York City.
"Our small team of dedicated laity continue the work of the Brothers of the Society of the Divine Word, who labored for the better part of the 20th century to make only "wine that is wine, pure grape wine."
"This is a great honor for us" said Ouweleen, himself a product of Catholic and Jesuit education.
Pope Francis is the first Jesuit to be elected Pope by the College of Cardinals, and Ouweleen felt it was his duty to 'have the Pope's back.' "I wanted to make certain that Mass was celebrated with guaranteed valid and licit wine, and the only way I could do that was to donate all the O-Neh-Da Authentic Sacramental wine needed for the Papal visit."
O-Neh-Da and its sister vineyard, Eagle Crest Vineyards, are located on the hills of Hemlock Lake in the Western Finger Lakes of New York. Finger Lakes Wine Country has been receiving world-wide recognition for its artisanal, small scale family vineyards and wines. Wine Enthusiast Magazine named the Finger Lakes of New York No.1 Wine destination of the world for 2015. Over 120 wineries dot the shorelines and hills of the 11 lake American Viticulture Area (AVA).
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