I don't know what it says about me as a Jew that I'm posting on Slate while my wife prepares the Passover meal, 3 hours before sundown on erev Pesach, but be that as it may and learn from it what you will, this is silly...

<blockquote> These days, there aren't many pagans around, and while intermarriage is an issue, it is generally agreed that wine is pretty far down the list of contributing factors.</blockquote>

Surely most of nonChristian unchurched America qualifies as Pagan... at least here in Portland Oregon. A good number of Jews are Pagans themselves.

As for intermarriage, among the orthodox nonkosher wine and food would readily be sited as a cause of intermarriage. If people feel no barrier in eating together, then they will, and friendship tends to lead to marriage.

The connection is quite direct and obvious, no?