 How appropriate that the symbol so visible and important to this beautiful Napa Valley is also a healing fruit. Not only does the delicate skin of the grape provide protection for blood vessels throughout our bodies, but the seed itself inhibits cancer growth and heart failure. No wonder this fruit and its lovely wines have nourished mankind and joined in his life celebrations for thousands of years. The grape: a symbol of hope for health, prosperity and many more gatherings with those we love.
Fruit of all kinds were considered to be evidence of God’s kindness and a symbol of the goodness. Views on the significance of the wine vary between denominations. In Christian art, grapes often represent the blood of Christ, such as the grape leaves in Caravaggio’s John the Baptist. There is an element of birth/rebirth within the representation of the grapes. There is a connection to victory – as the ripe harvest shows the promise of rewards being reaped and turned into future sustenance. The domestication of purple grapes originated in Central Asia. Yeast, one of the earliest domesticated microorganisms, occurs naturally on the skins of grapes, leading to the innovation of alcoholic drinks such as wine. We use the grape here for its rejuvenating qualities. The grapes must die in a sense and be transformed into a differently living version of themselves as wine. We pray for the stamina needed as we wait for that same transformation in ourselves. |
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