Reference

Judges 8:2

And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi–ezer?
1

And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.

2

And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi–ezer?

3

God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.

4

And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

Counter-Arguments

The strongest case that this verse does not belong in this theme.

Symbolic / Non-Fermented Wine

The verse uses "gleaning of the grapes" and "vintage" which are terms directly related to the harvesting and processing of grapes for wine production. While it's possible to interpret "gleaning" as referring to the less potent, initial product (grape juice), the term "vintage" strongly implies the full process of winemaking, which historically and culturally included fermentation. The comparison is about the *quality* or *abundance* of the harvest/product, not necessarily its alcoholic content.