Inside a candlelit room at a west Houston Italian restaurant, the Israeli government sought to change Israel’s international image with help from one of the world’s oldest industries: wine — glasses and glasses of wine.

The government recently teamed up with its wine industry and U.S. importers to promote the beverages made from grapes grown on the land immortalized by biblical figures Noah, Samson, and David and Goliath.

These days, Israel is known more for conflict and tension than for its wines, local Israeli government officials said.

“Israeli wine can help rebrand Israel,” said wine importer Richard Shaffer, who is working with the government by hosting wine-tasting parties.

Wine production began in Israel millennia ago, Shaffer said, peppering his wine dinner speech with biblical references.

Read the whole article about Israeli wine in the Houston Chronicle