I am not a greek or hebrew scholar, so cannot address the linguistic issue
you raise, but I did read a treatise by Dr.Samuele Bacchiochi (interesting,
the name)(Gregorian Pontifical University now at Andrews University, and
yes, an Italian) on the use of the word translated as wine in the old and
new testament. He documented amply that the ancients had very
sophisticated methods for preserving grape juice in an unfermented state
indefinitely, and that new wine was "fresh squeezed" and old wine was stuff
reconstituted from the concentrated preserved stuff. He also suggested and
documented strongly that the NT use of the word translated as wine was
generally referring to the stuff tha didn' "ove in the cup".Although I
don't have the reference in front of me I can probably find a copy
somewhere if you are interested in the recipes he was able to find for
preserving the stuff.
Art
http://chadwicka.swau.edu