Do You Know Wine?

You may think you know wine, but there’s always more to learn. Here are some wine facts and did-you-knows guaranteed to impress your fellow wine lovers:

• In 1801, Thomas Jefferson spent 12% of his $25,000 Presidential salary on wine.

• There are over 5,000 wine grape varieties in the world—many of which have multiple names.

• The Book of Jonah is the only book in the Old Testament that contains no reference to wine or the vine.

• The Romans mixed lead with wine to improve preservation, flavor, and texture. Unfortunately, lead is poisonous.

• Of the wine sold in restaurants, 55% is red wine.

• Red wine becomes lighter in color as it ages, but white wine becomes darker.

• There are more chemical compounds in wine than in blood.

• There are about 44 million bubbles in a bottle of sparkling wine.

• 90% of wine produced in America comes from California.

• Airén is the world’s most widely planted grape variety in terms of area planted; it is grown primarily in Spain where it is used to make white wine and brandy.

• And finally, a Latin proverb: “It is well to remember that there are five reasons for drinking: the arrival of a friend; one’s present or future thirst; the excellence of the wine; or any other reason.”