There are so many facts about wine that are little known. For example, did you know that grapes are commonly referred to as "fruit," but they are actually classified as a berry? Here are some more of our favorites facts:
• The earliest known traces of wine are from China (c. 7000 BC), Georgia (c. 6000 BC), Iran (c. 5000 BC), and Sicily (c. 4000 BC) [1]
• In the United States, for a wine to be vintage-dated and labeled with a country of origin or American Viticultural Area (AVA; e.g., Sonoma Valley), 95% of its volume must be from grapes harvested in that year [1]
• The UK was the world's largest importer of wine in 2007 [1]
• Most wines are sold in glass bottles and sealed with corks (50% of which come from Portugal) [1]
• The world’s biggest red wine consumers are the Chinese [2]
• Wine Names Usually Indicate Location or Grape Varieties [2]
• Women get drunk faster from wine because of their water to fat ratio [2]
• Grape skin is especially rich in antioxidants [2]
• Red Wines are well attributed to positive health benefits. It lowers your chances of having a stroke compared to nondrinkers. For men and women who drink moderately, it lessens their chance of developing Type 2 diabetes by 30% [3]
• “Oenophobia” is the fear of wine [3]
• Wine glasses should be held by the stem as to not raise the temperature of the wine with your hand [3]
• Wine bottles are generally stored on their side so the cork doesn't dry out [3]
• Wine contains no fat and no cholesterol [3]
• To get the same amount of antioxidants you find in wine, you would need to drink 20 glasses of apple juice or seven glasses of orange juice [3]
• The Romans are believed to be the first to call different grape varieties by different names [4]
• There are more than 8,000 grape varieties known to scientists, and more than 1,300 varieties are currently used to make wine around the world [4]
• Research shows that white wines keep lung tissues healthy [4]
• White wines generally have less alcohol and fewer calories than reds [4]
• Grapes grown in warmer climates, like the Napa Valley, are usually more ripe when picked, making for sweeter wines [4]
• California is the fourth-largest wine producer in the world, just behind France, Italy, and Spain [4]
• The first aromas to hit the nose are associated with aspects of the grapes, while later aromas are connected to the winemaking process and how the wine aged [4]
• Some wineries will print food suggestions on the wine’s label [4]
References:
