“HOW is it possible to celebrate the wedding and have a party if you lack what the prophets indicated was a typical element of the messianic banquet?”

Any idea who said that, extolling the virtues of wine?

While water is necessary to live, this person went on to say, “wine expresses the abundance of the banquet and the joy of the feast".

Pope Francis. That's who said it. Yep, he is indeed a cool pope.

These quotes were attributed to him when he was taking an in-depth look at Jesus’ famous first miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana.

He noted: “A wedding feast lacking wine embarrasses the newlyweds – imagine finishing the wedding feast drinking tea? It would be an embarrassment!”

Exactly. Imagine indeed. In fact, imagine any social dinner without wine!

Pope Francis's appreciation of God's own nectar last year saw him named an honorary sommelier by Italian Sommelier Association president Franco Maria Ricci.

But he is by no means the first Holy Father to have such a love. Indeed, just take a look at one of the world's great wines, Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Meaning New Castle of the Pope, Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a winegrowing village on the Rhone in France, not far from Avignon, so called because its castle built atop a hill was home to the pontiff for a time during the 14th Century, before the papacy returned to Rome.

Almost all of its cultivable land is planted with grapevines, with the red wine produced there and in four adjoining communes all granted Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) status. The quality of the grapes and blends (originally of up to 13 varieties) suggest there has been a divine influence, too.

Surely it's not just coincidence that the pope of the time opted to live there.

Supermarket bottles these days often cost upwards of £15 or £20 but when you catch one on offer for anything less than that, it's usually worth dipping in.

And so we did, with a 2016 Blason Du Rhone C-du-P, which is currently down from £22.49 to £14.99 at Waitrose, until April 17.

This one is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre grapes from old low-yielding vines on sparse, boulder-covered soils around the ancient village.

Rich and flavoursome, it has a lovely smoothness, plenty of spicy fruit and lots of complexity to take your time with.

It goes particularly well with roast beef or lamb, casseroles and hard cheeses.

It will also develop in the bottle for a few years yet, too, if you want to store and save, but it is already a heavenly tipple. Indeed, Jesus could have done worse than turning the water into this wine.

A similar tipple also currently on offer at Waitrose - and cue a very tenuous link to the papacy - is one that shares its name with the very first pope, Peter. (Well, it would if there were three of them.)

The Esprit des Trois Pierres Costières de Nîmes, down from £8.79 to £6.49 until April 17, like the aforementioned C-du-P, is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre.

Also hailing from the Rhone valley (Costieres de Nimes is also an ancient wine area), the price makes it a good budget alternative and it's a lovely tipple, too, with blackberry and plum flavours and subtle twist of spice and pepper.

Happy Easter, Pope Francis.