It says that Wine has a special blessing because it becomes "Li'eluya" - elevated. What exactly does that mean? Please explain in detail and if you can please provide any sources from the Torah to prove how making wine from grapes is an elevation.
Mishael, New York, USA
The superiority of wine is the fact that most people grow grapes in order to produce wine. (Indeed, the trees are called vines and not grape-trees.) And I suppose the taste of wine is much superior to that of grapes. Bear in mind also the role that wine plays, not only in Halachah, but also at dinner tables.
The Tosfos Yom Tov cites the Pasuk in Tehilim (104) "And wine to make the heart of a person happy".
You also have the Pasuk in Shoftim, which the Gemara on the same page quotes "And the vine said to them "Shall I stop producing my wine, which makes God and man happy?"
Be'Virchas Kol Tuv
Eliezer Chrysler