Wine is sold in tinted bottles because wine spoils when exposed to light.
The vintage date on a bottle of wine refers to the year the grape was picked not the year it was bottled.
During prohibition in the United States, grape juice concentrate manufacturers took advantage of the big drinking lust Americans had and put a great warning sticker on their product saying “After you mix the concentrate with water, please do not keep the mix in a barrel for 20 days as it will turn into wine.”
A standard glass of dry red or white wine contains around 110 calories. Sweeter wine has more calories.
In ancient Greece, a dinner host would take the first sip of wine to assure guests the wine was not poisoned, hence the phrase “drinking to one’s health.”
China surpasses France in the consumption of red wine. The color of red is also considered a lucky color in China.
The custom of bumping glasses with a “cheers” greeting came from old Rome where they used this method to make sure no one is trying to poison the other.
Red wines are known to contain many beneficial antioxidants that have cardio-protective effects and anti-cancer properties. Grape skin is especially rich in antioxidants. Since red wine is fermented together with its skin, it has more antioxidants than white wine which is processed without its skin.
Unless your wine bottle has an artificial cork or cap don’t keep them standing up as this can cause the cork to dry, shrink and air might get in the bottle. Always keep the bottles lying down.
By swirling your wine in a glass oxygen is invited into the glass which allows the aromas to escape.
It is not good to keep your wine in the kitchen. The heat there is too much and may damage the wine’s quality.
