10 things you didn't know about wine

1. White wine can also be made from red grapes. This is because the wine color is defined by the extraction of pigments present in the grape skin, which are left out of the fermentation in the case of white wines. In fact, one of the main sparkling wines is Pinot Noir, a red grape! In the production of rosé wine, the red grape skins are in contact with the mixture just long enough to reach the pinkish tone.

2. Wine can be a powerful source of antioxidants. To get the same amount of antioxidants from a bottle of wine, you would need to drink 20 glasses of apple juice or 7 glasses of orange juice. But it is worth remembering that red wine has far more antioxidants than white!

There are a few reasons why wine pairs so well with food.

3. In the entire Old Testament, only one book contains no reference to wine, the book of Jonah. There are so many references that during Prohibition in the United States, when the manufacture, transport and sale of alcoholic beverages were banned, they tried to prove that the wine mentioned in the Bible was, in fact, grape juice without alcoholic fermentation. But the story didn't catch on!

4. People tend to harmonize wine and food because both produce a synergy, transforming two flavors into a special third. In addition, the wine would be able to clean the taste buds from the mouth, meaning each mouthful would be like the first. While red wine is more suitable for red meat, white wine goes well with fish and chicken.

5. Not all wine improves with age, to tell you the truth, almost none. Only 5% of all wine produced in the world will actually 'improve with age', and 95% of the world's production must be drunk within 1 year of reaching the market. Wines do change with age, some for the better, but most don't. This evolution depends on the mixture of acids, sugars, phenols and tannins, but the vast majority of wines produced are ready to drink and do not have much potential to age.

6. Champagne or sparkling wine? It all depends on where it was produced. Due to the Protected Designation of Origin (DOP) law in Europe, sparkling wines made outside the Champagne region of France can no longer be called champagne and only carry the nickname of sparkling wines. The custom of toasting with wine glasses dates back to ancient Greece.

7. The biggest wine producer in the world is France, followed by Spain, Italy and California. Spain has the largest vineyard in the world, but the French would have more vines per hectare than the Spaniards. In the United States, wine is produced in absolutely every state, including Alaska. It's no surprise that grapes are the most cultivated fruit in terms of hectares planted in the world!

8. In ancient Greece, the host took the first sip of wine to assure guests that the wine was not poisoned, hence the expression health. The act of toasting began in ancient Rome when the Romans continued the Greek tradition, but began to put a piece of toasted bread in each glass of wine to neutralize unwanted flavors or excessive acidity.
Wine. White wine should be served before red wine.

9. Planning a wine night but unsure which to serve first? Tradition calls for lighter wines beforehand, waiting for the meal to serve the heavier ones. Some guidelines are to serve white wine before red wine, newer before older wine, and dry wine before sweet.

10. Because wine has relaxing properties, drinking moderate amounts before sex could make it more enjoyable, especially for women. This is what an Italian study says, referring to the effect of two glasses of wine a day on sexual activity. Women would be more susceptible to the effects of drinking because they process it more slowly.

Sources: Come da Uva, Wine Tourism Spain and Fact Retriever