Korean Catholic Church replaces 50-year-old domestic Mass wine with imports
In short
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea said the church's official Mass wine will switch from the domestic “Majuang” to Australia's “Sevenhill” and Italy's “Alagna Vini”, starting in the 2026 Advent season. Majuang, produced by Lotte Chilsung Beverage in Gyeongsan, had been the official Mass wine for about 50 years. The bishops' conference cited aging grape farmers, a shrinking cultivation area and the relocation of the production plant.
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The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea said the official Mass wine of the Korean Catholic Church will change from the domestic “Majuang” to imported wines — Australia's “Sevenhill” and Italy's “Alagna Vini” — starting in the 2026 Advent season, the four weeks before Christmas. The bishops' conference said the new wine will be distributed to parishes nationwide and that commercial sale of it is prohibited. [ 2 , 3 ]
“Majuang” had been the official Mass wine for about 50 years. It was produced by Lotte Chilsung Beverage at its plant in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province. The bishops' conference said that until the 1970s dioceses imported their Mass wine, and that it sought a domestic supply through St. Benedict Waegwan Abbey. Dongyang Brewery, predecessor of Doosan Liquor BG, proposed in 1975 to produce Mass wine and dedicate all of it to the church, and a formal contract in 1977 put “Majuang” into nationwide use. After Doosan sold its liquor business in 2009, Lotte Chilsung produced and supplied the wine until now. [ 2 ]
The bishops' conference cited the aging of domestic grape farmers, a decrease in the area under cultivation and the relocation of the production plant as reasons for the switch. Existing stocks of “Majuang” will be used up by the end of this year before the new wine is introduced. The bishops' conference said it formed a Mass wine quality management committee last year and selected the two wines after recommendations and inspections by the bishops' conferences of four countries. “Sevenhill” is run by Australian Jesuits in Clare Valley, and “Alagna Vini” is produced in Sicily and is one of the Vatican's official Mass wines, according to the report. [ 2 ]
Import and supply of the new Mass wine will be handled by Dongwon Wine Plus, while the bishops' conference is responsible for ingredient verification, liturgical approval and quality supervision. Korea Economic Daily and Newsis also reported the change, without details beyond the replacement and the two wine names. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The decision ends a domestic supply arrangement that began in the 1970s, when a Korean brewer agreed to produce Mass wine and donate all of it to the church. The reasons the bishops' conference gives — aging growers, less land under vines and a plant move — point to pressure on the domestic grape-growing base that supplied the church. The church says the new wine will be distributed to parishes only and cannot be sold commercially.
Key facts
- The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea said the church's official Mass wine will change from the domestic “Majuang” to Australia's “Sevenhill” and Italy's “Alagna Vini”. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The change takes effect from the 2026 Advent season, four weeks before Christmas, after existing Majuang stock is used up by the end of this year. [ 2 ]
- “Majuang” was produced by Lotte Chilsung Beverage at its Gyeongsan plant in North Gyeongsang Province and had been the official Mass wine for about 50 years. [ 2 ]
- Until the 1970s dioceses imported Mass wine; domestic production followed a 1975 proposal by Dongyang Brewery, predecessor of Doosan Liquor BG, to make it and dedicate all output to the church, with a formal contract in 1977. [ 2 ]
- The bishops' conference cited aging domestic grape farmers, a shrinking cultivation area and the relocation of the production plant as reasons for the switch. [ 2 ]
- Import and supply of the new wine will be handled by Dongwon Wine Plus, while the bishops' conference oversees ingredient verification, liturgical approval and quality supervision. [ 2 ]
- The new Mass wine will be distributed to parishes nationwide and its commercial sale is prohibited. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether “Majuang” will continue to be produced or sold for other uses once the church stops using it. The documents describe only the change of the church's official Mass wine and say nothing about the brand's future.
- The volumes, prices or contract terms involved in the switch to imported Mass wine. No figures or contract details appear in the documents.
- How far domestic grape growing has declined and why the production plant was relocated. Both are named only as reasons by the bishops' conference in a single document, without figures or further detail.
- Any reaction from Lotte Chilsung Beverage or from domestic grape farmers. No comment from the producer or growers appears in the documents.
- The bishops' conference said the new Mass wine will be used in Masses of the Korean Catholic Church from the 2026 Advent season, four weeks before Christmas. Reported by a single source so far
- The bishops' conference said the new wine will be supplied to parishes nationwide and cannot be sold commercially. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Korea Economic Daily reports that the Catholic Mass wine is being switched from the domestic “Majuang” to imported wine. [ 1 ]
- The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea says Australian “Sevenhill” and Italian “Alagna Vini” were selected as the new Mass wine, to be used from the 2026 Advent season. [ 2 ]
- Newsis reports the replacement of the Mass wine after 50 years and names the two new wines. [ 3 ]