Wine has been around for centuries and has become part of people’s many aspects of life, especially on special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and the holidays. Wines are either put on display on the finest wine racks or kept chilled in stylish and durable wine refrigerators to ensure an excellent and fresh glass of wine is served.
Integration of Wine in Religions
Since wine is one of the earliest alcoholic drinks of modern civilization, it was able to embed itself into nearly all major religions of the globe.
Since the beginning, religions of Middle East and Europe gradually integrated wine into their religious rites and ceremonies, upholding its popularity as well as its existence throughout the advancement of human civilization. For a long time, wine recipes were protected by religious factions as well as reigning families of the empires of Egypt and Sumerian as a close protected secret, however when wine ultimately managed to spread in Ancient Rome and Greece it initiated a completely new group of gods, rites and ceremonies that are fixed on this enthralling and bewitching alcoholic brew. As those early civilizations collapsed, wine was able to live through the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages protected by the Christians and Jews who were guided by Bible where wine was mentioned and used.
Wine and Religious Practices
The earliest religions that incorporated wine into their religious rites and ceremonies were the Egyptians and Sumerians. Throughout their sovereignty which lasted for thousands of years, they acclaimed wine by giving their respect and reverence to numerous gods whom they deemed were the reason why wine was created. The Sumerians revered their Lady of the Wine, Geshtin, whereas the Egyptians worshipped Renenutet, their goddess of wine and harvest. Archaeologists discovered comprehensive hydrographical accounts of how wine was created as well as its use in religion and life. Moreover, some wines were utilized as a component of the embalming and afterlife rituals of the Egyptians as archaeologist have also found pots of red wine beneath the pyramids in the Pharaohs’ tombs.
The most well-known religion that made use of wine was by Christians. In the early periods of their faith, Christians began the practice of sipping Communion wine wherein it symbolizes the Jesus Christ’s blood. In accordance with the Christians’ beliefs, wine consumption is only advised in moderation, and the wine being mentioned in the Bible numerous times have fortified their beliefs. In the Bible, the most renowned account wherein wine was used stem from “The Last Supper,” which illustrates how Jesus, with his disciples, shared wine and bread and instructed them to make it a remembrance of Him.