BETHLEHEM - 26 October 2007 - 340 words
Remember
Bethlehem - by drinking its wine
Few will make it to Bethlehem
this Christmas, but there is a new way of supporting the beleaguered
town of Christ's birth by drinking fine wines produced there
by the Salesians of Don Bosco.
Cremisan wine production which these days runs to about
200,000 litres a year - began in 1885 and helps finance the work
of the Salesian community among the poor of Bethlehem. The Salesians
run technical schools, an artistic training centre and several
projects in the town, including a youth centre and a bakery.
The idea of importing the wine into the UK came to Della Shenton,
a pastoral liturgist in the Diocese of Plymouth, after she began
leading "contemplative retreats" in the Holy Land.
Discovering that wine sales locally had dropped in line with the
pilgrim numbers on which the local economy depends, she realised
that "if pilgrims were no longer going to the wine, the wine
could come to the pilgrims."
She put the idea to the Salesians, who were enthusiastic, and
5th Gospel Retreats began importing Cremisan wine earlier this
year. Because Palestine is not recognised as a wine-producing
country, the bottles bear the tag "Wine of Israel".
In fact, Cremisan wine is produced at the Salesian winery just
outside Bethlehem, using traditional methods. The organically
cultivated grapes come from the vineyards at Beit Gemal, 36 kilometres
west of Jerusalem, as well as from Cremisan itself and from local
farmers around Bethlehem.
Production of the wine, which is aged in oak barrels, is overseen
by Bro Ermenegildo Lamon, Cremisan's Master of Wine, who arrived
from Italy in 1949 and is the world's expert in Holy Land wine
production.
Although much of the wine is sold by the case at parishes where
Della Shenton goes to give talks on Bethlehem and its plight,
she also offers a nationwide rapid delivery service.
In addition to the fine table wines, which currently include two
reds and a white Chardonnay, 5th Gospel is also importing Cremisan
white altar wine. "Messa" - certified by the Patriarchate
of Jerusalem - has been welcomed by priests looking for an authentic
organic wine which conforms to the standards of purity demanded
by church law.
Cremisan is also producing for 5th Gospel a red altar wine in
response to requests from Anglican priests. It is expected in
time for Easter 2008.
But for most buyers, the idea of supporting Bethlehem by drinking
its wine has a more obvious appeal toasting Christ's birth
with the work of Bethlehem hands.
For information on ordering wine from Bethlehem this Christmas,
see: http://www.5thgospelretreats.co.uk or call Della
Shenton on 01579 340844 or 07808 957604 email: enquiries@5thgospelretreats.co.uk.
© Independent Catholic
News 2007
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