Wine
hideWine is an alcoholic beverage typically made of fermented grape juice. The natural chemical balance of grapes is such that they can ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes or other nutrients. Wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast consumes the sugars found in the grapes and converts them into alcohol. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are used depending on the type of wine being produced.
Although other fruits such as apples and berries can also be fermented, the resultant wines are normally named after the fruit from which they are produced (for example, apple wine or elderberry wine) and are generically known as fruit wine or country wine (not to be confused with the French term vin de pays). Others, such as barley wine and rice wine (i.e., sake), are made from starch-based materials and resemble beer and spirit more than wine, while ginger wine is fortified with brandy. In these cases, the use of the term "wine" is a reference to the higher alcohol content, rather than production process. The commercial use of the English word "wine" (and its equivalent in other languages) is protected by law in many jurisdictions.
Wine has a rich history dating back to around 6000 BC and is thought to have originated in areas now within the borders of Georgia and Iran. Wine probably appeared in Europe at about 4500 BC in what is now Bulgaria and Greece, and was very common in ancient Greece, Thrace and Rome. Wine has also played an important role in religion throughout history. The Greek god Dionysos and the Roman equivalent Bacchus represented wine, and the drink is also used in Christian and Jewish ceremonies such as the Eucharist (also called the Holy Communion) and Kiddush.
The word "wine" derives from the Proto-Germanic "*winam," an early borrowing from the Latin vinum, "wine" or "(grape) vine," itself derived from the Proto-Indo-European stem *win-o- (cf. Hittite: wiyana ,Lycian: Oino, Ancient Greek οῖνος - oînos, Aeolic Greek ϝοίνος - woinos).
For more information about Wine, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with wine
Exploring the Stone Age pantry
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Dec 17, 2009 |
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The consumption of wild cereals among prehistoric hunters and gatherers appears to be far more ancient than previously thought, according to a University of Calgary archaeologist who has found the oldest example ...
Why or 'wine-not' let New York groceries sell wine?
Dec 16, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A Cornell researcher has developed simulation models to predict the economic implications of selling wine in New York grocery stores. With a new law, the state could reap about $22 million a year.
Controlling key enzyme in brain offers clue for future obesity treatment
Dec 15, 2009 |
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The Sirt1 enzyme in the body has generated enormous attention as a possible secret to living longer. Some scientists believe that fasting and drinking wine appear to aid in this quest because both likely activate ...
Study: How restaurants reap higher wine sales
Dec 09, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A Cornell study has identified four strategies that restaurants use to reap higher wine sales: including the wine list on the food menu and listing prices without a dollar sign.
What's the best hangover cure? Truth be told, there isn't one
Dec 09, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- With the holiday party season at hand, UNC's Dr. James C. Garbutt offers these tips about how to enjoy a few drinks responsibly -- while sparing yourself and those around you from the potentially ...
Researchers explore new ways to prevent spinal cord damage using a vitamin B3 precursor
Nov 05, 2009 |
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Substances naturally produced by the human body may one day help prevent paralysis following a spinal cord injury, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College. A recent $2.5 million grant from the New York State ...
Red, White Wine, Fish And Science
Oct 29, 2009 |
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The long-standing rule of matching wine and food -- red wine with red meat and white wine with fish -- actually has a scientific explanation, according to two scientists working for the Mercian Corporation, ...
Greeks uncorked French passion for wine
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Oct 23, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The bottle sitting in your wine rack at home is probably labelled as a juicy, full-bodied French number, with dark berry flavours and a long, complex finish.
A scientific basis the 'golden rule' of pairing wines and foods
Oct 21, 2009 |
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Scientists in Japan are reporting the first scientific explanation for one of the most widely known rules of thumb for pairing wine with food: "Red wine with red meat, white wine with fish." The scientists ...
Fruit fly pest identified in wine grapes
Oct 15, 2009 |
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A newly recognized pest in Oregon continues to concern fruit growers and researchers with the recent discovery of a Spotted Wing Drosophila fly in a sample of Willamette Valley wine grapes.
Call it twine? Twitter makes wine for charity
Oct 15, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Everyone likes a wine with character. How about one with 140 of them? Yes, the people at Twitter - the social media site on which users post messages no longer than 140 characters - are getting into ...
Renewable hydrogen production becomes reality at winery
Sep 29, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The first demonstration of a renewable method for hydrogen production from wastewater using a microbial electrolysis system is underway at the Napa Wine Company in Oakville. The refrigerator-sized hydrogen ...
Genetic discovery could break wine industry bottleneck
Sep 24, 2009 |
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One of the best known episodes in the 8000-year history of grapevine cultivation led to biological changes that have not been well understood - until now. Through biomolecular detective work, German researchers have uncovered ...
Genomics sciences guarantees better results in the art of winemaking
Sep 09, 2009 |
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While the art of fine winemaking is a beautiful thing, winemakers are increasingly turning to the power of science to give them the tools they need to ensure a high quality pour each and every time.
Taking the stress off yeast produces better wine
Sep 09, 2009 |
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Turning grape juice into wine is a stressful business for yeasts. Dr Agustin Aranda from the University of Valencia, Spain has identified the genes in yeast that enable it to respond to stress and is investigating ways to ...
