30 Fascinating Facts About Wine That You Never Knew
Wine is an old-age tradition that has been around for centuries. It is a sophisticated drink that takes years to produce to achieve the perfect taste. Every bottle is fermented with science and history.
Here are some fun, weird, and amusing facts about wines.
1. Grapes are the most planted fruit all over the world.
2. A ton of grapes can be produced into 720 bottles of wine.
3. To quench their thirst, people drank wine instead of water centuries ago. During that time, water wasn't clean all the time, and natural fermentation, when the wine is made, could kill germs caused by typhi (salmonella) and cholera.
4. Apparently, some people have a "fear of wine," and it's called oenophobia.
5. During the early Roman times, it was forbidden for women to drink wine. Wives who were caught by their husbands drinking wine could be killed if caught in the act.
6. Women are more susceptible to the effects of wine than men. It's partly due to biology, as women have fewer enzymes in the stomach lining required to break down alcohol.
7. In ancient Greece, the host of dinner would take the first sip of wine to assure that the wine served to guests wasn't poisoned. The act of courtesy was where the phrase "drinking to one's health" originated.
8. There are 10,000 varieties of wine grapes existing worldwide.
9. "Aroma" is the term for the fragrance of young wine, while "Mellow" is for old wine.
10. Wine tasters "swirl" the wine in their glass to release its aromas. They don't also fill the glass more than a third full to leave a space where these aromas can collect.
11. A glass of good wine has a lengthy, more lingering aftertaste.
12. At a wine-tasting event, it is okay to spit the wine out. When attending such events, it is acceptable to take a sip of wine and hold it in your mouth for a few seconds and then decide to swallow or spit it out. It also allows guests to taste multitudes of wine without getting drunk.
13. The largest bottle of wine is the "Nebuchadnezzar." It equates to 20 regular-sized bottles or around 15 liters.
14. The top three most significant producers of wine in the world are France, Spain, and Italy. The US (California) ranks fourth, followed by China in fifth place.
15. While China is only the fifth-largest wine-producing country globally, it is the leading market for red wine. It's not only because of the flavor, but the red color of the wine is considered lucky in Chinese culture and is favored by the government.
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16. "Toasting" originated in ancient Rome when they retained Greek traditions. It's derived from dropping a piece of toasted bread in wine to soften bitter tastes.
17. Wine had been previously kept in goatskin bags. The Englishman Sir Kenelm Digby (1603-1665) invented the dark green wine bottle we all know today.
18. The three most prominent types of wine are the Italian Cavit, the Chile Concha y Toro, and the Australian Yellowtail.
19. Wine is made with grapes, but not with the typical table grapes that can be bought at the supermarket.
20. There is a right and wrong way to hold a wine glass. The proper way is to hold by the stem so that the hand does not warm the glass and increase the temperature of the wine.
21. For cork-capped wines, bottles are stored lying down to keep the cork from dwindling and drying out and avoid it from possibly dropping in the wine. The liquid coming into contact with the cork also prevents air-leakage into the bottle.
22. Wine meeting the air quickly spoils it.
23. Wines have so many organic compounds that it is more complex than blood serums.
24. Bottles with animal symbols on the label are known as "critter wine."
25. There are 400 different Oak species available for wood to be sourced as wine barrels.
26. You need to drink 7 glasses of orange juice or 20 glasses of apple juice in order to get the same amount of antioxidants in wine.
27. For pairing in meals, heavier food goes well with a heavier wine. Red wine is usually served with red meat, while white wine is served with chicken or fish. When it comes to pairing wine with dessert, go for sweet wine.
28. The sweetness of wine is reduced when you chill it. Red wine, however, loses its fruity flavor if it becomes too warm.
29. Pouring grape juice into a capped tin and keeping it warm will make it taste like wine, but does not make a delicious drink.
30. From reducing the risk of cancer to promoting longevity, drinking red wine has been attributed to positive health benefits as long as you drink moderately.
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