• Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation and crushing of grapes. The grape juice is placed in open wooden vats, steel tanks, or oak barrels. The natural sugars and yeast in the grape juice interact to create ethanol or alcohol.

  Wine is typically labeled and categorized by the type of grape varietal, the wine maker or wine house who makes it, the country and region from which it is grown, and the year it was produced.

  Wine is a complex beverage with flavor profiles that can range from strong and dry to light and sweet. Some of the best wines in the world, when stored properly, can last for decades and actually improve with aging in the bottle. Wine has a long and vibrant history with over 10,000 documented grape varietals in the world.

• 1. First Wines: Caucasia and Mesopotamia, 6000 BC
  2. 14th and 16th Centuries: Water shortage makes wine dietary staple of Europe
  3. 19th and 20th Centuries: Vineyards of California, Australia, South America and Canada enjoy recognition
  4. Alcohol in wine can vary from 8 to 15 percent
  5. The scientific or Latin name is Vitis vinifera
  6. Moderate wine intake by men and women over 60 prompts greater bone densityLiveScience.com: Wine and Beer May be Good for Your Bones (March 7, 2009)

• Most Popular Grape Varietals

  1. Cabernet Sauvignon
  2. Merlot
  3. Pinot Noir
  4. Zinfandel
  5. Syrah
  6. Cabernet Franc
  7. Malbec
  8. Grenache
  9. Nebbiolo
  10. Sangiovese
  11. Tempranillo
  12. Chardonnay
  13. Sauvignon Blanc
  14. Chenin Blanc
  15. Riesling
  16. Gewurztraminer

• Top 10 wine producing countries

  1. France
  2. Italy
  3. Spain
  4. United States
  5. Argentina
  6. Australia
  7. China
  8. South Africa
  9. Chile
  10. Germany

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