Wine is an alcoholic drink made of fermented grapes. Drinks similar to wine can also be made of many other fruits or flowers but they need some name to differentiate them from grape wine (like honey wine).

Wine derives from the the Old English word win, that comes from the Proto-Germanic winam which came from the Latin word vinum, which can either mean "wine" or "vine".

Some say that the Republic of Georgia is the birthplace of modern-day wine. Wine may probably have been made in the valleys of Georgia for over 7,000 years. According to a Georgian legend, wine was first fabricated between 7000 and 5000 BC, when a Caucasian man found out that grape juice became joyful juice when buried during the winter in a compartment in a shallow hole.

Other early known proof of a fermented drink similar to wine is from a Chinese village called Jiahu dating from 6000 to 7000 BC. The wine, discovered in 16 buried jars, had millet, rice, beeswax (from honey) and either hawthorn fruit or wild grape in it. A 3,000 year old bronze jar has also been unearthed, still containing a similar liquid wine.

Ancient pottery jars discovered in Iran indicate that grape wine was made as far back as 5,500 BC. It is the oldest wine ever found and it is in the museum of Pennsylvania. This discovery is particularly significant, as Iran was not usually a grape-growing area, the main crops were mostly grains and beer was the favorite drink back then. As ancient Babylon was located on the Silk Road from China to the Mediterranean, wine was most likely used as a commodity for trade.

In Ancient Egypt, wine was important in ceremonial life. Although wild grapes were never grown there, a highly valued winemaking industry was established in the Nile Delta. The industry was probably the trade result between Egypt and Canaan during the Early Bronze Age, beginning from at least the Third Dynasty (2650 - 2575 BC), the start of the Old Kingdom period (2650 - 2152 BC). Winemaking pictures on tomb walls, and the lists of offerings that came along with them, included wine that was definitely produced in the vineyards of the delta. By the end of the Old Kingdom, five wines produced in the Delta, made part of a "menu," for the afterlife. The culture of wine in Europe came from the Greeks who spread the art of grape-growing and winemaking in Ancient Greece and Roman times.

Today, the regions that most produce wine worldwide are Europe, South America, California and New Zealand. The largest wine export nations are Italy, France, Spain, Australia, Chile, USA, Germany, South Africa, Portugal, Moldova, Hungary, Croatia and Argentina.

Wine history is very important for finding out why Europe has become such a wine capital. The worldwide influences on the area, the local climate, the soil, the grape species and the taste for the beverage made this drink become one of the most valuable foodstuffs in the world. A person who understands wine, understands the land, and therefore understands class and the arts.

About the Author

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Wine

A synopsis on Aging Wine.

Wine - A Special Drink For Special Occasions


Wine is an alcoholic drink made of fermented grapes. Drinks similar to wine can also be made of many other fruits or flowers but they need some name t...


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Aging Wine Items For Viewing

Wine Decanter Glass Stopper - Large


You'll find these brilliant spheres of glass only at The Wine Enthusiast. While their true purpose is to top off decanters and provide an airtight seal for wines and spirits we see them also as spectacular paperweights and objects d'arts. Available in small and large sizes each with a subtly flattened base to prevent rolling.


Price: 16.95 USD



Aging Wine in the news

Bodega Mendel Malbec Mendoza 2004

Packed with layers of crushed plum and boysenberry fruit, with exotic spice notes, this richly textured wine is carried by fresh acidity to the long, dark finish. Has the structure for aging. Drink now through 2009. 2,620 cases made.

Can I eat anything I want as long as I drink red wine?

A study published yesterday in the journal Nature has been called the "Holy Grail of aging research." In the study, obese mice fed large amounts of red-wine extract developed none of the cork wine health problems normally associated with obesity. Find out if obese humans should switch from white wine to red wine.

Holiday Wine and Food Pairing Wine Class

Dec 12, 2006 (Tue): Florida Estates Winery St. Petersburg, located just 1 mile west of I-275 at exit 25 (38th Avenue North) or 2 blocks east of US 19, will host a food & wine pairing wine class. It's a lot of fun and a great way to learn something new about wine. Join Florida Estates Winery's Tasting Room Expert Rory Robertson as he shares his experiences and educational knowledge of wine in a detailed wine class. wine retail Topics Covered: ~Brief History of Wines ~Wine Grape Varietals ~Wine Grape Diseases ~Wine Glass Styles and Uses ~Cork History, Evolution & Uses ~Oak Aging ~Wine Tasting & Rating Wines ~Sampling of Wines & Discussion Location: Florida Estates Winery St. Petersburg Tasting Room, 3101 37th Avenue North For more information and to RSVP, please call: 727-526-2113 or email to: corp@flewn.com Cost is $20.00 prepaid in advance, $25.00 at the door (includes wine tasting, snacks, dessert and logo wine glass)

WINE OF THE WEEK: Aging brings out cab's complexity, rich flavors

Sometimes extra aging allows a wine to find itself. Such is the case with this cabernet from 1996. Released last fall, as other wineries were releasing 1997 and even 1998 cabernets, this is a wine of considerable complexity and charm.

Wine Lover | Wine Lovers

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