Wine of the Lees
When I came across the phrase “Wine of the Lees,” it sparked my curiosity. I wondered how it works in winemaking. Is it a distinct type of wine, or does it denote a particular process in the production of wine? So, I explored how Lees shape the flavor and quality of wine.
According to the King James Bible Dictionary, Wine on the Lees refers to the residual sediment—primarily dead yeast cells, grape pulp, seeds, and tartrates—that settles at the bottom of a fermentation vessel after wine is made. When making wine, leaving it in contact with this sediment tends to enhance the wine's flavor. In winemaking, it is known as “aging the lees or sur lie aging (which is French for “on the lees”). Some winemakers stir the lees back into the liquid with a paddle to maximize contact, a practice known as Bâtonnage. (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/lees/)
In ancient times, leaving wine undisturbed in its sediment allowed it to preserve, concentrate, and grow stronger, richer, and more flavorful (though leaving it too long would spoil it). Thus, a "feast of wines on the lees" signifies a rich, well-aged, and high-quality wine prepared for a grand celebration. https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/weekly/id/355/have-we-settled-on-our-lees.htm),
When the Prophet Isaiah uses "Wine on the Lees," he implies a lavish banquet that God prepares for all people. With the finest possible wine, it represents God’s abundant provision in celebration of victory over both death and sin. Even the Savior alludes to this same banquet when He instituted communion during the Last Passover with His disciples by stating: But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. {Matthew 26:29 KJV} The Savior makes note of a future celebration that He has not yet celebrated with all His people. Nevertheless, He is waiting to gather all His people, and then there will be a great banquet entitled the marriage supper of the Lamb, as recorded by John in Revelation 19:9. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Remember, in the ancient world, especially in Biblical times, banquets marked major life events like weddings. In Isaiah 25, all the people who wait on the Lord receive this celebration that includes a lavish banquet featuring “Wine on the Lees.” Because this wine is the finest ever, it reminds you of the Savior’s first miracle to begin his ministry. He turns common water into wine, generating a profound statement from the master of the banquet: “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” John 2:10 (NKJV).
Since water does not have the correct molecules to create wine, like sugar, grapes, or fermentation products like yeast, such a miracle is more than minor. In other words, one can rearrange different molecules by mixing drinks, but oxygen alone can never become carbon, and hydrogen never becomes nitrogen. Therefore, molecules in water are so different from those in wine that this miracle is not very different from the initial creation itself, in which God creates something from nothing just by speaking, and everything that He did was GOOD. The Latin phrase is Creatio ex nihilo.
In modern celebrations, the mood changes with the introduction of strong beverages or alcoholic mixtures, like when the punch bowl becomes spiked. We usually associate wine and strong drinks with traditional celebrations, suggesting that intoxication may occur. However, this form of intoxication is distinctly negative, whereas Wine on the Lees reflects positivity that invites the presence of the Holy Spirit because of Creatio Ex Nihilo. This perspective aligns with the teachings of the Apostle Paul, who emphasizes a spiritual dimension to such experiences. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Ephesians 5:18 KJV.
As a divine act of grace, God orchestrates this sacred celebration, transforming a discarded ruin planet into a magnificent venue. In this holy gathering, the Lord of hosts promises an abundant banquet for all people. Imagine a lavish feast featuring generous servings of the finest meats, full of flavor and richness, paired with wine that has aged to perfection (Wine of the Lees). This celebration is not just of food and drink, but a joyful communion with God, reflecting His grace and love, as described in Isaiah 25:6 (KJV).
