It is quite the romantic quote. I've always liked it however, like HatMan said, I have no idea who may have said it.
It can though, have a tie with history:
"In Ancient Egypt, wine was considered only for the holy, perhaps in part because wine growing conditions were harsh and it was difficult to harvest a favourable crop and then produce a laudable wine. For this part of human civilization, the elite drank wine and the masses drank beer."
Hmm, cooperate to make the rich happy?
Great civilizations are noted by the class differences. . .
Some societies later became to think of wine as the water of life because of its great part in trade. Perhaps it stems out of that thought.
I have heard of the French drink their wine to pay their debt for being given civilization.
My first year history prof mentioned something about the Romans, who took from the Greeks, felt the idea of wine making was a sign of a great cultured civilization.
I found something referring to this idea. I don't know how reputable this site is:
"The beverage of the Roman world, as with the Greeks, was wine. It was more than a mere drink, but a sign of civilization. For beer, though known, was seen as fit for barbarians."
web page Oh well.
I agree with the secrecty aspect. Ah, people get so secretive. The history of glass making entertains us with such a history as well.
Off to read. . .
