Elixir of the Gods: 36 interesting facts about wine

Wine is considered one of the most noble drinks in the whole world. Winemaking originates from time immemorial. Wine is mentioned in the Bible and the Koran, Greek and Roman mythology, where there were their own gods of wine (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 studying this grape alcoholic drink-oenology.

In this issue you will find 36 more interesting facts about wine.

1. "Aroma" is the smell of young wine, while a more aged drink has a more subtle smell, called a "bouquet". (Matthew Rogers)

2. In ancient Greece, the host of the house during the feast was the first to take a sip of wine, so that the guests would make sure that the drink was not poisoned. Thus, the expression "drink to health" arose. (dutch­ba­by)

3. Wine tasting is, in fact, an assessment of the smell. Therefore, women are better suited to the role of tasters than men, since they have a more sensitive sense of smell, especially during the reproductive age. (Céline Aussourd)

4. Not all wines improve with time. The vast majority of wines are immediately ready for consumption 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 peel. White wine does not undergo 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. (FredArt)

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 located in the Historical Museum of the Palatinate. (Dont­wor­ry)

8. Regular but moderate wine consumption can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, 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 the wine tasting, it is necessary to hold the liquid in your mouth for a while and only then swallow it (or spit it into a spittoon). A good wine will have a long aftertaste, while a low — quality wine will not. (Jean-Philippe Rebuffet)

11. Expensive, heavier products are combined with heavy wine; light products require light wine. In addition, red wine is usually served with red meat, white wine - with white meat or fish, and sweet wine - for dessert. (James)

12. Many people mistakenly believe that champagne was invented by the monk Dom Perignon. 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. According to the legislation of the European Union, sparkling wine produced outside the French province of Champagne cannot be called "champagne". (Por­to­Bay 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, young wine before old, and dry wine before sweet. (Mark Hintsa)

15. Ice wine is a German invention, which is a dessert wine made from grapes frozen on a 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 promoted the establishment of 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. The Code of Laws of Hammurabi 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 and wrong way to hold a glass of wine. It is necessary to hold the glass by the stem, and not by the cup itself, since the heat of your palm will heat the drink. (Fried Toast)

20. The right combination of wine and food forms a" synergy " of taste, which cannot be achieved when drinking wine or food separately. (Mikko Kuhna)

21. An oenologist is a specialist in the production of wines, the assessment of the soil, water and the drink itself. (jalb)

22. Red wine accounts for 55% of wine sales in restaurants. (Hideya HAMANO)

23. European wines are usually named after their geographical location (for example, Chassagne-Montrachet or Bordeaux), while non-European wines (for example, Pinot Noir, Merlot) are named after the grape variety. (Eustaquio Santimano)

24. Women are more susceptible to the effects of wine than men. The fair sex has less of an enzyme in the gastric mucosa, which is necessary for the effective metabolism of alcohol. (Kat N.L.M.)

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 contribute to the" retention " of flavors. The thinner the glass and the rim, the better. (slack12)

27. Wine grape varieties occupy the first place among the world's fruit crops in terms of the area of sown fields. (tribp)

28. The kitchen is the worst place to store wine. As a rule, it is quite hot in the kitchen. The refrigerator is also not satisfactory for storing a drink due to excessive cold. (design­build­in­hab­it)

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 grave of Tutankhamun in 1922, they found jugs of wine inside, on which the date of manufacture, the name of the winemaker and the notes "very good wine"were indicated. (Mari­na)

31. "The Standard of War and Peace" (2600-2400 BC) is 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 says that he will open a bottle of wine, but never does it. (Matt)

34.Wine that seems watery to the taste is considered "diluted". It could be made from grapes that were harvested during heavy rain. (iesse)

35. As a rule, with age, red wines lose their color, acquiring a brick-red hue. White wines acquire golden-brown shades. (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)