What does the Bible say about wine, and why did God create it? Most of us who grew up in church heard plenty about what wine does wrong and almost nothing about what it was made for. In this episode of Vintage Land, we go back to Scripture and ask the question directly, starting with Psalm 104:15.

Alana grew up in a Christian home where alcohol wasn’t permitted, and she shares what changed when she finally read that verse all the way through. Daniel admits this episode made him nervous to record.

We talk about:

• Why a grape is designed to become wine, with nothing added
• Wine and viticulture in Scripture, from Noah’s vineyard to the Prophets
• Wine’s place in Jewish life, from Shabbat to Passover to the wedding canopy
• The wedding at Cana, and why turning water into wine might be such a striking first miracle
• Wisdom’s table and Folly’s table in Proverbs 9
• The warning in Proverbs 23, and why abstaining can be wisdom too
• “Liquid prophecy”: vineyards returning to the land of Israel

Scripture referenced: Psalm 104:14–15, Genesis 9, Genesis 14, Genesis 49, Numbers 13, Exodus 7, Proverbs 9, Proverbs 23:29–35, Proverbs 31, John 2, John 15, James 1:5

On our table: Amphora Winery Med Red, from Israel

Find your wine: Not sure where to start? Take our wine quiz at israeligoodwine.com/quiz, or shop Israeli wines at israeligoodwine.com. You can also call, text or email our team and we’ll help you choose for your table.

Is drinking wine a sin? Where do you land? Tell us in the comments.