Okay, I'm not a theologian, and not really a great teacher. However, I will attempt to give you some idea of what Scripture says about drinking. Feel free to comment if you have insight that I miss!
Surely the grapevine was created by God, but the first story about alcohol definitely reflects the fallen nature of man. After the flood, Genesis 8 says, "Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he bacame drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent." This leads to a curse falling on one of his sons (you can read the story). Two things from this story: wine is appealing to men, and the consequences of getting drunk are not pleasant. Alcohol plays a role with Lot and his daughters (Genesis 19). Melchizedek brings Abraham bread and wine after his victory in battle (Genesis 14:18), which definitely reminds us of the last supper which Jesus, our high priest in the order of Melchizedek, shared with his apostles. New wine is part of the blessing that Isaac mistakenly gives to Jacob (Genesis 27:28; he drinks wine in verse 25), and the vine is part of the imagery in the blessing Jacob gives his own sons (Genesis 49). Jacob pours out wine as an offering to God in Genesis 35.
Wine is part of a man's crop on which he should tithe in the Law (Exodus 22:29), and it was used as an offering in the Temple (Leviticus 23:13). The Law also talks about the duties of Aaron and his descendents (the priests), who should not drink before entering the Temple (Leviticus 10:8-10), and a specially dedicated person called a Nazirite, who always abstained from alcohol (and even grape juice, see Numbers 6).
Wine is often associated with celebrations (1 Chron 12:39-40) Psalm 104 praises God: "You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth—wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin,and bread to give them strength." In light of this Scripture, it seems silly to say that bread is good to eat, but wine is inherently bad.
However, drunkenness is often condemned. Eli the priest accused Hannah of being drunk in 1 Samuel 1 and rebuked her. Sometimes wine is used to symbolize judgement, as in Psalm 75:8: "For the LORD holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgment, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs" (and many places in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Revelation, etc.) Proverbs 20:1 says that people who are led astray by drink are among the mockers, get into fights, and can't be wise. Proverbs 21:17 associates alcohol with poverty (see also Proverbs 23:30-32); kings are especially warned to stay away from it (Proverbs 31:4).
Solomon, as he pursued wisdom in Ecclesiastes, explored drinking as a potential lifestyle option (chapter 2). His conclusion in chapter 9 is, "So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun" (v.7-9). I recommend you never take advice from Ecclesiastes without reading it in context, with serious meditation. It is more a book of reflection than rules.
My husband likes to quote Proverbs 31:6: "Alcohol is for the dying, and wine for those in bitter distress," because unlike celebration or drunkenness, this verse refers to alcohol as a medicine. Paul, in the New Testament, told Timothy to not just drink water, but take a little wine for his stomach (1 Timothy 5:23). This verse says to me that there have always been people inclined to stay away from alcohol for moral reasons. I imagine Timothy, raised in a home where his father was a Gentile and his mother a believer, avoiding alcohol in zeal for his God and rejection of his culture. But that's my imagination. I imagine the culture of the Bible being filled with the kinds of people I encounter in my own life.
The two most commonly quoted Scriptures for Christians thinking about these things come from the New Testament. I have given you LOTS of Scripture about wine before writing about these so that you can see how much it is part of the Biblical picture of life. As you read the life of Jesus, you see the same culture--one in which alcohol is a part of man's experience. Wine to celebrate a wedding (John 2), wine to enjoy at a meal with friends (Luke 22:20), wine as medicine (Luke 10:34, Mark 15:23,36). People criticized Jesus for associating with drunkards (Luke 7:33-35), even here a reference to alcohol's dangerous side.
Okay, so the two "big" Scriptures. Ephesians 5:18 says, "Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit." The obvious command here is to not be drunk; drink can be dangerous. The Scripture doesn't just give you a "don't"; it also says to BE filled with the Spirit. In Him, we find all the joy and freedom that people seek in drunkenness. Romans 14:21 says, "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble." Sure, you have freedom as a Christian. Be aware of who is watching you, and how your actions will speak about your Lord. God is always more important than your comfort or your fun.
My basic conclusion is that it was part of the life of man. Like money, it can be used for good, but also tempt us to where we don't want to be. Things are pretty neutral; how we use those things are very telling about our own character.
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