The Magic of Wine: A Toast

Human magic
“Grapes are the most noble and challenging of fruits.”  —Malcolm Dunn, head gardener to the 7th Viscount Powerscourt (circa 1867)

There are nearly one million acres of grapes planted for wine, juice and fresh fruit. Grapes are the highest value fruit crop in the United States, and represent 36% of the value of noncitrus fruit crops.

Vineyards are also vital to human well-being, supporting thousands of American jobs in agriculture: 55,902 in independent vineyards, 44,079 in suppliers of agricultural products and 9,194 in local communities — 109,175 total in 2022.

Wine country tourism also fuels the agricultural economy, with more than 49 million tourists and $16 billion in tourist expenditures in 2022, supporting 155,035 jobs and filling local tax coffers in all 50 states. Magic!

Wine’s economic impact on the American economy in 2022 totaled $276,073,312,709 — $276 billion! That included 10,637 wine producers, 1.84 million jobs, $95 billion in annual wages, 49 million tourist visits, $16 billion in tourist expenditures, $22 billion in total taxes, $14 billion in federal taxes, and $8 billion in state and local taxes.

That humble fermented grape juice is liquid gold.

Shared magic
“A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry.” —Ecclesiastes 10:19

Wine is mentioned in the Bible 247 times. Of those, 40 are negative, mostly warning against abuse; 145 are positive, often in the context of meals, blessings and worship; and 62 are neutral, mostly describing situations. With a few notable exceptions, such as John the Baptist, Daniel and members of a few sects, wine was also widely consumed at daily meals and communal feasts, and it’s offered at sacrifices and blessings.

“A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine.” – Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Wine is also an integral part of daily living for many people — an ingredient in cooking, an aperitif, a meal accompaniment and a family bond. Restaurants are rated not just on their cuisine, but on their wine lists. Entire books are written on which wines go with which foods, but the rules are made to be broken because it all comes down to what wines people like best.

“Wine, to me, is passion. It’s family and friends. It’s warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It’s culture. It’s the essence of civilization and the art of living.”  —Robert Mondavi

In the major wine-producing regions of the world, that magical beverage not only graces the landscape with vineyards, but also the table in concert with other locally grown ingredients. It is as natural a part of meals as the bread and olive oil, a social lubricant facilitating friendship and the spark of family warmth.

Universal magic
“Water divides the people of the world.  Wine unites them.”  –Anonymous

Perhaps most importantly, wine brings people together. Wine is used to launch ships, toast peace treaties, celebrate births, graduations, weddings, holidays or just the joy of being together with family and friends. 

If music is the universal language, wine is the global toast. So let us take a moment  away from this troubled world to wish each other a more peaceful and joyful future in whatever language is appropriate:

• Cheers (English)
• L’chaim (Hebrew)
• Slainte (Irish Gaelic, pronounced SLAHN-juh)
• Serefe (Turkish, cheh-reh-FEH)
• Kanpai (Japan, Kan-pie)
• Salud (Spain, Sah-LUD)
• Prost (Germany, Prohst)
• Sante (France, Sahn-tay)
• Saude (Portugal, Saw-OO-de)
• Geonbae (Korea, Guun-bae)
• Skal (Sweden, Skawl)
• Gesondheid (Afrikaans, Ge-sund-hate)
• Ganbei (China, Gan-bay)
• Yamas (Greek, Ya-Mas)

“Wine is Life.”  —Petronius

Let’s celebrate the magic of wine in 2024.

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