Wine and Place: Terroir, Theology, And the Modern Condition

How might the phenomenon of terroir--that feature of wine in which the wine truly communicates place--illuminate the task of theology, and with it the anti-modern core of faithful theological reflection and practice?

In the 228 references to wine in Holy Scripture, wine is referred to as, on the one hand, a normal part of human culture, and on the other hand, as symbolic and instrumental of God's love or wrath. It is presented biblically as a blessing from God, as an element to be used in sacred offerings and sacrifices, as gifts between people, and as a comparative of quality. For instance, in Scripture, something is (five different times) said to be "better even than wine." In 19 different biblical passages, the loss of wine is also an example of the curse of God.

For these and many other reasons, wine is a long-standing and serious topic of reflection and investigation. It was among the first topics explored in the serious study of the ancient philosophers. And most importantly, it was created by the God who intended its special function and use in the redemptive sacrifice and Table-fellowship of his Son in relation to his Church.

But what is it about wine that has for so long captivated us and which in its own way seems to put on display the very vulnerability and vitality of the human condition? In that conversation, one thing must at least be mentioned: the phenomenon of terroir; that special power of wine to communicate place. But the history of terroir as a concept, and the nature of terroir as a philosophical question, is the history and nature of our modern condition--one which has posed special challenges to theological study, reflection, and fellowship. Indeed, the task of theology bears striking similarities to viticulture and viniculture, to winemaking, and the aim of theology bears more than a passing resemblance to the idea of a wine's terroir.

To discuss this and more, Dr. Mark A. Garcia, President and Fellow in Scripture and Theology at Greystone Theological Institute, is joined by the Rev. Jesse Crutchley, pastor at Severn Run Evangelical Presbyterian Church (PCA) and member of Greystone’s Presidential Ministerial Council.