Wine and the Bible (Plus Some Useful Wine Terminology)

Last summer I had the opportunity to do a presentation on "Wine and the Bible" at the First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG) in Philadelphia.  Being familiar with several scriptural references to wine, I was curious to do an exhaustive search and find out exactly where the Holy Book comes down with regard to drinking.  The results are enlightening and might surprise you.

Given the number of Protestant sects that eschew imbibing of any alcoholic beverages, one might think that all references to wine in the Bible would be negative, and that even the thought of drinking fermented fruit of the vine would be characterized as a sin (notwithstanding the occasion in which Jesus turns water into wine as well as the central role of wine in the most important sacrament in the Christian religion, that is, Communion).  In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.  There are well over 200 Scriptural quotes that relate to wine, and a rough estimation shows that the positive and negative connotations are about evenly split. I have chosen just a small sampling to share with you, by which it seems clear that the Lord wanted us to enjoy this intoxicating beverage, but in good moderation.

                                      

Favorable Quotations

And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart. Psalm 104:15

Four different versions of the same verse, Isaiah 25:6 :

1. On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

2. On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined.

3. On this mountain, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food, a banquet of well-aged wines— rich food full of marrow, and refined wines of the finest vintage

4. On Mount Zion the Lord who rules over all will prepare a feast for all the nations. The best and richest foods and the finest aged wines will be served.

Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Proverbs 31:7

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1

And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” Revelation 6:6

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” ⁴ And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” ⁶ Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.^{[a] 7} Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. ⁹ When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom ¹⁰ and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” ¹¹ This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2:1-10

Then all the Judeans returned from all the places to which they had been driven and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance. Jeremiah 40:12

Cautionary Quotations

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. Proverbs 20:1

It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. Romans 14:21

He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. Numbers 6:3

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them! Isaiah 5:11

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, Titus 2:3

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink. Proverbs 31:4,

Whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding. Hosea 4:11

Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine, and valiant men in mixing strong drink, Isaiah 5:22

Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, Judges 13:4

Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. Proverbs 21:17

He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. Genesis 9:21

You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. Psalm 60:3

These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed by wine, they stagger with strong drink, they reel in vision, they stumble in giving judgment. Isaiah 28:7

And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field, and in the vineyards no songs are sung, no cheers are raised; no treader treads out wine in the presses; I have put an end to the shouting. Isaiah 16:10

²⁹ Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
    Who has redness of eyes?
³⁰ Those who tarry long over wine;
    those who go to try mixed wine.
³¹ Do not look at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup
    and goes down smoothly.
³² In the end it bites like a serpent
    and stings like an adder.
³³ Your eyes will see strange things,
    and your heart utter perverse things.
³⁴ You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
    like one who lies on the top of a mast.^[h]
35 “They struck me,” you will say,^[i] “but I was not hurt;
    they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
    I must have another drink.” Proverbs 23:31

Symbolic

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” Matthew 26:27-29

Wine Terminology

Fermentation – Natural chemical process by which sugar is converted to alcohol and carbon dioxide (CO2) by the interaction of yeasts (natural or cultured) with the grape juice.

Malolactic Fermentation – Transformation of malic acids (as in apples) after fermentation into lactic acids (as in milk) triggered by natural or added bacteria.

Racking – Process of transferring (red) wines from one barrel to another to expose wine to oxygen and clarify before bottling.

Varietal – Type of grape used to make wine.  A “single varietal” wine uses only one type of grape.

Blend/Blending – A “blend” uses more than varietal to make the wine.  Typically, varietals are fermented and aged separately, then blended to make the final product.

Sur Lie Aging (Aging on the Lees) – Process in which a white wine is aged in contact with their lees, the mixture of dead yeast cells remaining after fermentation, resulting in a distinctive tangy, toasty flavor and smooth texture.

Tannins – Naturally occurring chemical compounds found primarily found in red grape skins, seeds and stems that impart a drying, astringent sensation to the mouth, akin to strong tea.

Bouquet/Nose – The aromas that emanate from a wine upon release from a sealed bottle and exposed to the air while swirled in a glass.

Acidity – Component of wine that imparts refreshing, crisp qualities and in turn complements foods in a palate-cleansing, appealing manner.  Typically, acidity is more prevalent in whites than reds.

Balance – The harmonious and complementary union of several aspects of wine, including fruit, acidity, tannins and alcohol.

Finish – The lingering impression of wine after it’s been swallowed (or expectorated): long-lasting or abrupt; clean and crisp, or dull and muddled; powerful or muted; complex or simple.