(TRAVEL) I’ve been interested in Roman wine history for years and written about it in "In the Shadow of Rome," in Wine Enthusiast in January 2023, and “Why is a Vineyard Growing on Palatine Hill?” in Decanter this past February.

As a history buff and a wine writer, as I wrote those stories about what Romans were drinking 2,000 years ago, I couldn't help wondering, “What did Jesus drink?”

Barring some extraordinary archeological findings (I'm not ruling that out), we will never know for sure. But the Bible and Judea provide some clues. Today's visitors to Israel have the chance to learn more about the Bible-wine connection through the new “Wines of the Bible Route.”

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The route journeys through Judea and traces the viticultural history of the area. Judea lies between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and includes two wine regions, Judea Hills and Judea Foothills.

But let’s start with the Bible. For a religious book, the Bible sure talks a lot about wine. Of course, wine was more than a celebratory drink in those days; it was sustenance. The water was not reliably clean enough, and wine was considered the safer bet.

The Bible mentions wine in religious celebrations and blessings. Most associate the Bible's wine with its symbolic use as the blood of Christ, representing his sacrifice for humanity's sins. The ritual of drinking his “blood “in the form of red wine is still carried out in many religions today.

“Wine has played a critical role in the Middle East for thousands of years. Its production and consumption have significant implications for understanding the cultural, economic, and religious practices in the region, especially in relation to the Jewish presence in the Holy Land," said Emanuela Panke, who serves as president of Iter Vitis (“The paths of the vine”).

Iter Vitis is the Council of Europe's non-profit organization that promotes and preserves the European heritage of wine and viticulture.

“Viticulture was a significant aspect of life in ancient Israel,” Panke said. “The climate and geography of the region were conducive to grape cultivation, and wine production became a key agricultural activity.”

Wine is culture

Part of Iter Vitis’ mission is to educate and help promote historic wine routes. Most are in Europe; many border the Mediterranean, including the Middle East and parts of Africa. Iter Vitis studies the historical significance of the areas and expands the understanding of wine and culture in the context of this history.

“Wine is culture,” Panke said. “Iter Vitis is reinterpreting the role of wine as a tool for dialogue and cultural integration in a modern context.”

The Old Testament references wine, vineyards and grape cultivation, illustrating how vine paths have connected people for millennia. Wine history parallels human history, linking ancient places and times to today. The route brings wine and religious history to life. Wine can also bring cultures together. Panke points out that in Judea today, Arabic Christians and Israeli Jews work together in the vineyards and wineries.

“Wine has been a significant tool for intercultural dialogue in Europe long before the concept of cultural diplomacy was conceived,” Panke said. “The history of viticulture, vineyards and wine transportation creates connections that transcend geographical borders, embodying the essence of the cultural routes of the Council of Europe. Iter Vitis has consistently facilitated dialogue between countries with different languages, religions, and political systems.”

Signs of a viticultural past

Created by Iter Vitis and the Judean government, the “Wines of the Bible Wine Route” is not just a wine trail but a project with current-day cultural effects. In August 2020, the Judean wine region became Israel's first official wine appellation — making it the logical spot to establish the wine route.

If there were any doubt, the region's archeological findings further evidence wine's role in ancient daily life and religious practices.

“Excavations have uncovered ancient wine presses, storage jars, and remnants of vineyards throughout Israel, particularly in regions like Galilee and Judea," Panke said. "Archeological evidence points to a vine-growing and wine-producing past dating back to at least the late Neolithic period.”

Traveling the Wines of the Bible Route and sampling wine along the way gives a whole sensory experience. The route offers fascinating places like Ayalon Valley, in the Judean Foothills, where the Clos de Gat Winery sits near where Joshua defeated the Five Kings. Named for an ancient “gat” (Hebrew for wine press) and pre-dating the Roman period by a thousand years, the Clos de Gat's 3,000-year-old grape press is one of the oldest in the world.

One of the most famous legends and biblical stories, the battle of David and Goliath, took place in the southern part of Judea, the Ella Valley, the site of the Ella Valley Winery today.

Ideal winemaking conditions

Along with its 5,000 years of viticultural history, Israel has an ideal combination of natural conditions for cultivating wine grapes. The Judean Hills’ vineyards grow on terraces built on the mountain slopes and Judean Foothills’ vineyards grow in dry riverbeds. Its numerous river valleys bring cool air from the mountains and allow afternoon breezes from the sea to waft over the vines.

The sizeable diurnal shift (difference in temperature from day to night) helps slow fruit ripening and retains acidity in the grape. Judean red and white wines show fresh aromas and flavors of Mediterranean herbs.

So, what did Jesus drink? The varieties grown today are primarily international: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Merlot, Shiraz, Argaman, Petite Sirah, Petite Verdot, and Cabernet Franc for reds and Chardonnay, Colombard, Emerald Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat of Alexandria for whites.

It's most likely that Jesus poured and drank Judea's native grapes — Argaman, Baladi Asmar, Bittuni, Dabouki, Hamdani/ Marawi and Jandali — grapes that would no longer exist were it not for the tenacious grape growers and winemakers of the region who are keeping traditions, culture and viticulture alive.

While living in Italy for nearly a decade, Randolph was legal counsel for Fendi in Rome and, as a side gig, a freelance travel writer. After relocating to Sonoma County, Calif., she dusted off her journalism degree to craft stories full-time as Roma to Sonoma. She's led readers into the cellars and vineyards of hundreds of wine brands as a copywriter and contributor to publications such as Wine Enthusiast, AFAR, Napa Valley Life, Haute Living San Francisco and Decanter.