Elixir of the Gods: 36 Interesting Facts About Wine
Wine is considered one of the noblest drinks in the world. Winemaking originates from time immemorial. Wine is mentioned in the Bible and the Koran, Greek and Roman mythology, where there were wine gods (for example, Dionysus). It is worth noting that almost every nation has its own legend that tells about the appearance of the divine elixir - wine. There is a whole science that studies this grape alcoholic drink - oenology.
In this issue you will find 36 more interesting facts about wine.
(Total 36 photos)
1. "Aroma" refers to the smell of a young wine, while a more aged drink has a more subtle smell, referred to as a "bouquet". (Matthew Rogers)
2. In ancient Greece, the owner of the house was the first to take a sip of wine during a feast, so that the guests would be convinced that the drink was not poisoned. Thus, the expression “drink to health” arose. (dutchbaby)
3. Wine tasting is essentially a smell assessment. Therefore, women are better suited to the role of tasters than men, as they have a more sensitive sense of smell, especially during their reproductive years. (Céline Aussourd)
4. Not all wines improve with time. The vast majority of wines are immediately ready to drink and have no potential, and only a few will improve when stored for decades. (The Hamster Factor)
5. Red wine has a red color due to the fact that during the fermentation process it is saturated with the color of the grape skin. White wine does not go through the fermentation process. (Philippe Put)
6. In ancient Rome, women were forbidden to drink wine. The husband had every right to kill his wife in case of violation of this law. In 194 BC. Divorce was introduced instead of the death penalty. (Fred Art)
7. The oldest bottle of wine in the world was found near the German city of Speyer and dates back to 325 AD. The exhibit is in the Historical Museum of the Palatinate. (Dontworry)
8. Regular but moderate drinking of wine can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke. (matt)
9. While wine has a beneficial effect on the body, it can also cause cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular the esophagus. There is also a risk of breast cancer. (Matthieu Aubry)
10. During wine tasting, you need to hold the liquid in your mouth for a while and only then swallow it (or spit it into a spittoon). Good wine will have a long aftertaste while poor quality wine will not. (Jean-Philippe Rebuffet)
11. Expensive, heavier foods go well with heavy wine; light foods require light wine. In addition, red wine is typically served with red meat, white wine with white meat or fish, and sweet wine for dessert. (James)
12. Many mistakenly believe that champagne was invented by the monk Dom Pérignon. And although the merit of the discoverer does not belong to him, he made a significant contribution to the improvement of sparkling wines. (Dan Dickinson)
13. Under European Union law, sparkling wine produced outside the French province of Champagne cannot be called "champagne". (Porto Bay Events)
14. Traditionally, it is customary to serve light wines first and only then move on to heavier ones. In addition, white wine should be served before red wine, young wine before old wine, and dry wine before sweet wine. (Mark Hintsa)
15. Ice wine is a German invention that is a dessert wine made from grapes frozen on the vine. (maifel2001)
16. A standard glass of dry white or red wine contains about 110 calories. The sweeter the wine, the more calories. (Josh Kenzer)
17. In the ancient world, wine helped establish contacts between peoples and was a means of trade. For example, the Greeks exchanged the drink for precious metals, and the Romans for slaves. (Valerie Everett)
18. Hammurabi's law code includes a law that punishes wine sellers in case of fraud. According to this law, they must be drowned in the river. (Roberto Verzo)
19. There is a right way and a wrong way to hold a glass of wine. Hold the glass by the stem, not by the bowl itself, as the warmth of your palm will heat the drink. (fried toast)
20. The right combination of wine and food forms a “synergy” of taste that cannot be achieved when drinking wine or food separately. (Mikko Kuhna)
21. An oenologist is a specialist in making wines, evaluating soil, water and the drink itself. (jalb)
22. Red wine makes up 55% of wine sales in restaurants. (Hideya Hamano)
23. European wines are usually named after their geographical location (eg Chassagne Montrachet or Bordeaux), while non-European wines (eg Pinot noir, Merlot) are named after a grape variety. (Eustaquio Santimano)
24. Women are more susceptible to the effects of wine than men. The fair sex has less enzyme in the gastric mucosa, which is necessary for the efficient metabolism of alcohol. (Kat NLM)
25. As a rule, red wine has stronger antioxidant properties than white wine and contains resveratrol, which reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. (Jon)
26. In most cases, the wine is served in a glass with curved edges, which help to “hold” the aromas. The thinner the glass and rim, the better. (slack12)
27. Wine grape varieties rank first among the world's fruit crops in terms of sown fields. (tribp)
28. The kitchen is the worst place to store wine. As a rule, the kitchen is quite hot. The refrigerator is also not satisfactory for storing a drink due to excessive cold. (design build habit)
29. Gray rot in certain cases is a benign fungus, thanks to which elite sweet dessert wines are made. (Edwin)
30. When archaeologists opened the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922, inside they found jugs of wine, which were marked with the date of manufacture, the name of the winemaker and the notes "very good wine." (Marina)
31. "Standard of War and Peace" (2600-2400 BC) - the first known illustration of drinking wine. (Scott Sherrill Mix)
32. Oenophobia - fear of wine. (JustCallMe_♥Bethy♥_)
33. A cork teaser is a person who constantly talks about opening a bottle of wine but never does. (matt)
34. Wine that tastes watery is considered "watered down". It could have been made from grapes that were harvested during heavy rain. (iesse)
35. As a rule, with age, red wines lose color, acquiring a brick red hue. White wines turn golden brown. (Robert Allen)
36. One ton of grapes is 60 cases of wine or 720 bottles, i.e. one bottle of wine contains approximately 1270 g of grapes. (James)
Keywords: Alcohol | Wine | Winemaking | Facts