Grapes of Galilee, Using Jesus To Sell Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Oct 2nd 2007 at 11:03AM

Using a cute rabbit or a kangaroo to sell wine is old news. Last week I mentioned wines with Hitler on the label; this week comes news of a wine importer going in a completely opposite direction -- it has Jesus on the label. The Grapes of Galilee is a new Israeli wine label aimed at American Christians. The grapes are grown in the region where Jesus Christ is said to have lived, and they are irrigated with water from the Jordan River, where he was baptized. Wine from Israel is nothing new, but most of the Israeli wine sold in the U.S. has previously been to Jewish consumers. In fact, the Grapes of Galilee wine comes from an existing Israeli winery, only the Jesus-themed label is new. As Ad Age reports, the importer, Pini Haroz, sees the chardonnay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon wines as being perfect for holidays and he is marketing it in areas with high concentrations of Catholics. The wine sells for $13.99 a bottle online.

Tags: catholic, christian, grapes of gailee, GrapesOfGailee, israeli wine, IsraeliWine, wine

Filed under: Wine

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Reader Comments (Page 4 of 11)

Karen Oct 9th 2007 9:53AM

The Right-Wing Conservative Christians use Jesus all the time to "sell" their message, even going so far as to tell the public what Jesus would have said or done in certain situations! I feel the Religious Right is using Jesus in MORE of a sacrilegious way than Pini Haroz!!

jjg Oct 9th 2007 10:49AM

Jesus needs comic relief? What a great image... Jesus surfing youtube or reading the Sunday funnies... this is a newer, hipper Jesus mind you.

Sharon Coy May 25th 2008 9:09PM

Using Jesus to sell something should never have become a problem. It simply just should not have been done - period! How far are those of the world who reject Jesus for Who He is and yet do not mind using His Name to make themselves richer (by the world's terms anway.)

Jesus threw the money changers out of the Temple during His time on earth, so I think one could safely say He is deeply saddened to know that some people are using His name to sell something and His main purpose for coming to earth was to Give us ALL the most precious gift of all, Life eternal by just believing in Him and choosing to live for Him. He came to GIVE not to sell and once you believe in Him, a life being His follower sells itself!

God Help America if we don't turn from our wicked ways!

rose Oct 9th 2007 10:02AM

God, some of you people like Gary T. stating that the church uses Jesus to sell something. Is that how you use faith? We dont have to sell anything to believe in Jesus and his good works. It's better to use the name of Jesus for the wine, then to use the Devils.

Tom Oct 9th 2007 11:00AM

If they want to use the Lord's image (one of the top ten no-nos), then they should also tithe, contributing at least 10% of their revenues, not profits, to the Lord's work.

Nye50 Oct 9th 2007 10:06AM

#19 - Right On! Or sell anything else to keep us in War. Can't get the Oil for the American Oil Companies Tycoons and can't go to Afganistan for there Oil if we aren't over there in our New American Hub. We've murdered their people and our youth for for this? This BOOB President and his OIL cronies need to be tried for TREASON against the United States of America and it's people.ALL IN THE NAME OF OIL. What a ruse.................

Ms. Love Oct 10th 2007 8:06PM

I feel that Jesus made wine in the Bible, therefore it should not be seen as disrespectful when his face appears on a bottle. However, I feel that the wine should be used for communion. And I believe that a majority of the profit made from this should be donated to a church whose followers worship Jesus.

Deborah Hudd Oct 9th 2007 10:11AM

I don't see any problem at all calling this wine "Grapes of Galilee" Just like the label says, "Grown by the sea of Galilee, watered by the river Jordan". What's wrong with that? It seems some 'Christians' like being mad at things and some of the people responding here are over-reacting. I think a lot of Christians would enjoy a wine that was grown and bottled in the Holy Land. Lighten up! Peace on Earth!

Who Would Jesus Date Oct 9th 2007 10:13AM

Fine by me!

www.WhoWouldJesusDate.blogspot.com

Jeepman Oct 9th 2007 10:21AM

Does anyone remember in the bible when Jesus got angry and overturned the tables in the temple where people were using God to make money? Jesus said, "This is the house of God and you have made it into a den of theives!" According to this scripture, I dont think Jesus would find this funny at all. His name is to be reveranced and glorified, not used as a marketing tool. I think it would grieve Him even more to know that it is His chosen people who have done this. I will pray for them.

Kim Oct 9th 2007 10:23AM

I see mechanics, etc. using Jesus to sell themselves all the time by putting the "Jesus Fish" or a Bible quote in their ads. Why is this any different?

Jesus drank wine, and this is probably similar to what he drank. Sounds proper to me.

KarenInTexas Oct 9th 2007 10:29AM

3. This doesn't really make sense as they refuse to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God. They are simply compromising their beliefs for a quick buck.

>>>>>>

The Mad Hatter: who said that the company REFUSED to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God? There's only so much space on the label of a wine bottle in which to print/write! Please-lighten up, will ya :-)

Correctionologisticist;) Oct 9th 2007 10:38AM

#12, Christmas is actually not a Christian holiday.
See: http://home.sprynet.com/~pabco/ptofxmas.htm

Or, just Google "The truth about Christmas".

Here, I already did it for you:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=the+truth+about+christmas

messiah Oct 9th 2007 10:36AM

you know, it's one thing to have your ass sold out and kicked through a roman gauntlet with a cross on your back to your own crucifixion at the top of a hill, but i'll be damned if anybody is going to use my likeness for their profit and no gain to me. that is the word of the lord.

these israeli wineries, in addition to mel gibson, the vatican gift shop, madonna, every athlete crossing himself after scoring and everybody using my soon-to-be copyrighted name in vain, are all oing to get a kick out of my jewish lawyer and our multi-million dollar lawsuit. shalom this.

by the way, it's pronounced "hey-zeus," not "cheese-us," so get into it.

i love you all, mostly

Mark Oct 9th 2007 10:36AM

If an American winery put Moses' picture on bottles wine and shipped them to Israil would it offend them?

KarenInTexas Oct 9th 2007 10:38AM

#10 (Robin) YOU SHOULD GROW UP AND STOP POSTING YOUR MESSAGES IN CAPITALS. IT IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING. NOT TO MENTION ANNOYING & CHILDISH!!

KarenInTexas Oct 9th 2007 10:38AM

#10 (Robin) YOU SHOULD GROW UP AND STOP POSTING YOUR MESSAGES IN CAPITALS. IT IS CONSIDERED SHOUTING. NOT TO MENTION ANNOYING & CHILDISH!!

Karen Oct 9th 2007 12:01PM

It may be tacky using Jesus as a selling point, but if it calls attention to him it might help people.

Bonbon Oct 9th 2007 10:50AM

In response to #66..........Moses or anything else that has to do with the Jewish faith WOULDN'T be posted on ANYTHING!! It is NOT commercialized like the Christian faith is!

craig theriault Oct 9th 2007 11:25AM

READ FOR YOURSELF WHAT JESUS SAID AND DID TO THE
MONEYCHANGERS - (READ MARK 11:15-17)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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