DIVINE VINTAGE

From Shiraz to Chardonnay, wine has been an essential part of the Jewish and Christian religious experience for millennia. These early traditions continue to influence today's robust wine connoisseurs offering a fascinating history and an assortment of varieties to discover. Here, wine expert Joel Butler teams up with biblical historian Randall Heskett for a remarkable adventure that explores the drinking habits of biblical figures 3,500 to 2,000 years ago. Along the way, they discover the truth behind how wine infiltrated the biblical world and astounding facts that any wine lover can take to their next tasting, including: * why the Fertile Crescent was the birthplace of wine * how the expansion of the Roman Empire resulted in the first wine connoisseurs * the myths of the Phoenician, Greek, Roman, and Jewish wine gods * how wine came to be used in sacrifices and other rites * why Jesus's first miracle was turning water into wine Divine Vintage also takes a close look at wines made with ancient techniques, and guides readers on how they too can experience these ancient wines today.