MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 21: A general view of atmosphere at the Wine Spectator Wine Seminar Far Niente, Dolce, Nickel & Nickel And EnRoute: A 35-Year Appreciation Of Great Winemaking & Great Friends during the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival at The James Royal Palm Hotel on February 21, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Food Network SoBe Wine & Food Festival)
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 21: A general view of atmosphere at the Wine Spectator Wine Seminar Far Niente, Dolce, Nickel & Nickel And EnRoute: A 35-Year Appreciation Of Great Winemaking & Great Friends during the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival at The James Royal Palm Hotel on February 21, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Food Network SoBe Wine & Food Festival)
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Wine has been with us almost since the beginning of time. Though not mentioned in the Bible, I’m pretty confident that Adam and Eve had a little bar there in Eden where they tossed back a few when not picking apples.

Liquor stores across America carry everything from “Two Buck Chuck” to the most expensive champagnes for every possible taste or occasion.

Some Fun Facts About Wine

  • The Greeks invented the toast, “Here’s to your health.” The host would always take a sip of wine to show guests the wine was not poisoned. I’m wondering why you would want to be a guest there if this test was part of the deal.
  • Women make better wine testers because they have a better since of smell than men. The “aroma” or “bouquet” of the wine is more evident to them.
  • An Italian study says that women who drink two glasses of wine each day will have a more enjoyable sex life than women who do not drink at all.
  • The Book of Jonah is the only book in the Old Testament without any reference to “fruit of the vine” or wine usage.
  •  Wine has many positive health effects. There is scientific evidence that wine in moderation can reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, stroke and gum disease. But, there is also evidence of certain kinds cancers including a risk of cancer of the esophagus and breast cancer.
  • Good wines will have a long pleasant aftertaste inferior wines will not.
  • The average kitchen is not a good place to store wine safely because it is usually too warm. Refrigerators are normally too cold as well for many wines. Ideal serving temps are 45-50 degrees for white and 50-60 degrees for red. If you are a true connoisseur get a temperature controlled wine cooler.
  • Start your meal with lighter wines and move to heaver wines as the meal progresses. White before red, younger before older, and dry before sweet.
  • Always hold a wine glass by the stem, not the bowl of the glass. The heat from your hand can affect the taste and temperature of the wine.
  • Wines don’t always improve with time. You can only expect a rare few to last longer than a decade. Most are produced ready to drink.
  • When the waiter hands you the cork it is not for you to smell it. The cork should have the date and identifying features of the wine. Cheap wines don’t have that info. You should also look for mold, drying or cracking, or any breaks in the cork.
  • The reason your girlfriend has a tough time holding her liquor is because she has less of an enzyme in her stomach lining that helps metabolize alcohol more efficiently. You better drive.
  • You can get about 720 bottles or 60 cases of wine from one ton of grapes. Each bottle of wine contains about 2.8 pounds of grapes.
  • An average glass of red or white wine will contain about 110 calories. The sweeter the wine the more calories you can expect.

Some Final Thoughts

Who discovered wine? Many think it was a Persian King by the name of Jamsheed. Some think he might have actually been Noah. A woman in his harem tried to commit suicide by ingesting fermented grapes that everyone thought were poisonous in those days.

Instead of dying, she ended up getting wasted and very happy. So she put her suicide on hold for the time being and helped herself to some more grapes.

I’m not a big wine drinker myself but I certainly don’t hate or fear wine. The technical name for that would be “Oenophobia.” Spring is here, so bar-b-q a steak, pour a little glass of bubbly, and enjoy your weekend. Bottoms up.

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