WINE

They say you can talk about most civilizations by reference to wine, grain or goats. 

I think the same is true of religion: you can discuss most world religions by reference to wine, grain and goats as well!

In the Ancient Near East (A.N.E.) wine, grain, and oil were used as currency before the minting of coins. These three show up together almost ubiquitously. It was also the trade of these goods down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that gave rise to written language for taxation purposes. 

It wasn’t until I had been a wine enthusiast for about a decade that I started really pondering the significance of Jesus holding up wine and saying that the symbol of the Gospel was contained in the cup. (Just as the cup held symbolic value for the liberation of the Hebrews from Egypt in the Old Testament). 

Salvation and wine. That’s quite a pair to ponder!

As I’ve gone deeper into the wine industry as a lead educator and associate, the historian in me has begun to marvel at how drinking wine is like consuming history. 

Fine wine is all about time and place. It is about the earth and creation. It is about craft and passion. Fine wine has the ability to point to the highest of religious symbolism in the abstract and it has the ability to slow us down, ground us in the present, and center meaningful conversations around our tables.

I’ve been exploring about nine key turning points in world history that are wrapped up with the story of wine. I’m excited for you to be able to journey with me deeper into an understanding of our shared past and the role that food & drink has played throughout. 

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