References to wine and religion exist as far back as Ancient Egypt. In Ancient Egypt wine was regarded as a gift from the gods. This belief may have come from the fact that Egyptian wine was only available to the socially elite classes.

Wine was used in funeral rites as well. The higher the social status of the deceased, the greater quantity of wine was used to anoint his body and belongings before entombment. Some Pharaohs, such as King Tutankhamen, were given jars of wine in their tombs in order to accompany the royal spirit on its journey to the underworld. The Ancient Persians also shared the belief that wine was a gift from the gods and would make toasts in order to praise those gods.

The Greeks and Romans also gave wine a place in their religious beliefs. The Greek god Dionysus, was thought to promote vegetation and fruitfulness. Wine was said to be a gift to the people from him, and one of his festivals held in late December was for the celebration of the new wine of the vintage. The Romans continued this practice with their god Bacchus. Their devotion to Bacchus led to the development of wine-making techniques that continued to be unequalled until the 17th century.

Wine plays a major role in the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian cultures. In Jewish ritual, each sabbath begins with a blessing chanted over a cup of wine, which the whole family then shares. Specific amounts of wine must also be drunk at Passover, weddings and circumcisions. Although wine is a strong component of the Jewish faith, the Dionysian idea that intoxication is a higher state of consciousness is rejected.

The rise of the Islamic Empire halted the production of wine. Since the consumption of alcohol was prohibited by the Islamic code of law and theology, the development of wine making was almost stopped in a geographic area that stretched from northern India to Spain.

In Christian ritual wine is also given a role of importance. The first miracle of Jesus at Cana occurred when he turned water into wine at a wedding feast, thereby setting the stage for later use of wine in Christian practices. The Christian Eucharist also relates to the consumption of wine. The last supper and the symbolism of Christ's sacrifice of himself has many interpretations and different rituals. Many of these, including the Catholic mass call for the use of wine in the performance of the Eucharist.

Wine has even influenced the way we look at our health. People throughout the centuries have consumed wine in order to escape from their daily worries and problems. Recently, we have even found evidence of medical benefits from the moderate consumption of wine. These newly discovered advantages have led more people to drink wine now than ever before.