Grapes are really berries that grow in bunches on long, twining vines that can produce up to 50 bunches per season. Grapevines can produce for up to 60 years or longer. In winemaking, vines are meticulously pruned to limit the number of grapes, thus intensifying the flavor of the wine. Grapes appear in Greek and Roman mythology with the invention of wine, and its intoxicating properties are associated with the god Dionysus (Roman name, Bacchus). Wine was first regarded as a sacred beverage and it remains steeped in symbolism today in many Christian churches.