Zorba, one of the world’s great nuannaarpoqians, questions the soul-expanding miracle of wine. A key aspects of his vivid living is his constant questioning and fresh experience of ordinary things. Nothing jaded or stale about his engagement with what many people take for granted.

“Now, whatever is this red water, boss, just tell me!  An old stock grows branches, and at first there’s nothing but a sour bunch of beads hanging down.  Time passes, the sun ripens them, they become as sweet as honey, and then they’re called grapes.  We trample them; we extract the juice and put it into casks; it ferments on its own, we open it on the feast-day of St. John-the-Drinker, it’s become wine!  It’s a miracle!  You drink the red juice and, lo and behold, your soul grows big, too big for the old carcass, it challenges God to a fight.  Now tell me, boss, how does it happen?” 

See here another example of his wonder, with a glass of wine to hand, of course. 

Source: Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis, trans. Carl Wildman, Faber & Faber, p. 56

Photo credit: Couleur at pixabay