The Times Union, largest daily in the Albany, New York area, reported on three wine shops hosting special wine tastings of Da Vinci Chianti , "in conjunction with the premiere of the expected blockbuster movie, 'The Da Vinci Code' " in its "Life-Food" section on Wednesday, May 17, 2006.

According to the newspaper report, three Capital District liquor stores will be pouring the 2003 vintage, along with Da Vinci Chianti Classico 2001 and Da Vinci Chianti Riserva 2000 on Saturday, May 20th.

To join in on a "celebration" that mocks God and offends the religious beliefs millions of Christians and Jews throughout the world, sinks advertising to an abysmal level of intolerance and bigotry.

Here is my letter to the editor of the Times Union in response to this act of greed and hatred:


To the Editor:

Some people would do anything to make a buck but the Capital District liquor chain that is having a wine-tasting (Times Union, May 17, 2006) to coincide with the opening of the nonsensical, critically panned movie The Da Vinci Code, clearly seeks to profit off the bigotry, paganism, and hatred toward women that this movie promotes.

That the wine and spirits stores in Loudonville, Slingerlands, and Clifton Park would base a marketing ploy on a movie which serves as a vehicle to attack both Christian and Jewish beliefs is both mean-spirited and down-right evil.