Divine Vintage: Following the Wine Trail from Genesis to the Modern Age

Winner of the Gourmand Wine Books prize for 'Best Drinks Writing Book' in the UK. Wine connoisseur Joel Butler and biblical historian Randall Heskett trace the biblical wine trail to examine what wines were consumed 2,000 to 3,500 years ago, from the time of Abraham through Jesus. The book explores the origins of wine, addresses the myth of Shiraz, and explains how wine became integrated into the biblical world. The narrative covers wine-related practices and beliefs across ancient cultures, including the wine gods of Phoenician, Greek, Roman, and Jewish traditions, the development of kosher wine, and wine's role in sacrifices and religious rites. It also examines contemporary wines produced using ancient winemaking techniques and identifies wines associated with biblical figures including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.