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{{multiple image
| footer = Three glasses of the three wine colors (from left to right), white, [[rosé]] and red.
| image1 = White Wine Glas.jpg
| width1 = 140
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[[File:16th century wine press.jpg|thumb|right|16th century wine press]]
[[File:Banquet Louvre G133.jpg|thumb|Wine boy at a [[symposium]]]]
'''Wine''' is an [[alcoholic beverage]] typically made of [[fermentation (wine)|fermented]] [[grape]] juice.<ref name=britannica>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |title=wine |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9106005/wine |accessdate=2008-06-25 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Online}}</ref> The natural chemical balance of grapes is such that they can ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes or other nutrients.<ref>{{cite book |title=Vintage: The Story of Wine |last=Johnson |first=H. |year=1989 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=0671791826 |pages=11–6 }}</ref> Wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of [[yeast]]. Yeast consumes the sugars found in the grapes and converts them into [[Ethanol|alcohol]]. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are used depending on the type of wine being produced.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.2basnob.com/wine-introduction.html |title=Introduction to Wine |publisher=2basnob.com }}</ref>

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, [[Apfelwein|apple wine]] or [[elderberry wine]]) and are generically known as [[fruit wine]] or [[country wine]] (not to be confused with the [[French language|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 [[Distilled beverage|spirit]] more than wine, while [[ginger wine]] is [[Fortified wine|fortified]] with [[brandy]]. In these cases, the use of the term "wine" is a reference to the higher alcohol content, rather than production process.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avbc.com/news/BW.html |title=Barley Wine |accessdate=2008-06-25 |last=Allen |first=Fal |publisher=Anderson Valley Brewing Company}}</ref> The commercial use of the [[England|English]] word "wine" (and its equivalent in other languages) is protected by law in many jurisdictions.<ref name="Wine Label decoder">{{cite book |last=George |first=Rosemary |title=The Simon & Schuster Pocket Wine Label Decoder |year=1991 |publisher=Fireside |isbn=978-0671728977}}</ref>

Wine has a rich history dating back to around 6000&nbsp;BC and is thought to have originated in areas now within the borders of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Iran]].<ref name=independent8k>{{cite news |first=David |last=Keys |title=Now that's what you call a real vintage: professor unearths 8,000-year-old wine |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/now-thats-what-you-call-a-real-vintage-professor-unearths-8000yearold-wine-577863.html |work=[[The Independent]] |date=2003-12-28 |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref><ref name=archaeology96>{{cite journal |first=Mark |last=Berkowitz |title=World's Earliest Wine |url=http://www.archaeology.org/9609/newsbriefs/wine.html |publisher=Archaeological Institute of America |journal=Archaeology |volume=49 |issue=5 |year=1996 |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> Wine probably appeared in [[Europe]] at about 4500&nbsp;BC in what is now [[Bulgaria]] and [[Greece]], and was very common in [[ancient Greece]], [[Thrace]] and [[Ancient Rome and wine|Rome]]. Wine has also played an important role in religion throughout history. The [[Ancient Greek Religion|Greek]] god [[Dionysos]] and the [[Roman Religion|Roman]] equivalent [[Dionysus|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 language|Proto-Germanic]] "*winam," an early borrowing from the [[Latin]] ''vinum'', "wine" or "(grape) [[vine]]," itself derived from the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] stem *win-o- (cf. [[Hittite language|Hittite]]: ''wiyana'' ,[[Lycian language|Lycian]]: ''Oino'', [[Ancient Greek]] ''{{unicode|οῖνος}}'' - ''oînos'', [[Aeolic Greek]] ''{{unicode|ϝοίνος}}'' - ''woinos'').<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Harper |first=Douglas |encyclopedia=Online Etymology Dictionary |title=wine |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=wine |accessdate=2008-06-25 |year=2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Whiter |first=Walter |encyclopedia=Etymologicon Magnum, Or Universal Etymological Dictionary, on a New Plan |title=Wine |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=SRPVgBfSrdMC&pg=PA145&lpg=PA145&dq=foinos+wine&source=web&ots=58NDry0knJ&sig=yfPbZKi10TxJSR-mAt5LzlGLLRA |accessdate=2008-06-25 |year=1800 |publisher=Francis Hodson |pages=145}}</ref>
<!-- DUBIOUS/NOT SUPPORTED BY SOURCE: Similar words for wine or grapes are found in the [[Semitic languages]] (cf. [[Arabic language|Arabic]] ﻭﻳﻦ ''wayn'') and in [[Georgian language|Georgian]] (''ğvino''); some consider the term to be a ''[[wanderwort]]'', or "wandering
word".<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bretscher |first=Thomas |coauthors=Dominique Buchholz, Ruth Schlittler,
Joëlle Seiz and Simone Zahler |title=John Enjoys his Glass of Wine – Are there any English Words at all? |journal=EHistLing |volume=1 |pages=59–73 |url=http://www.ehistling.meotod.de/data/papers/group_e_pub.pdf |format=PDF|accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> -->

==History==
{{Main|History of wine}}
Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest production of wine, made by fermenting grapes, took place in sites in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Iran]], from as early as 6000&nbsp;BC.<ref name=independent8k /><ref name=archaeology96 /> These locations are all within the natural area of the [[Europe]]an grapevine ''[[Vitis vinifera]]''.

A 2003 report by [[archaeologist]]s indicates a possibility that grapes were used together with [[rice]] to produce mixed fermented beverages in [[China]] as early as 7000&nbsp;BC. Pottery jars from the [[Neolithic]] site of [[Jiahu]], [[Henan]] were found to contain traces of [[tartaric acid]] and other organic compounds commonly found in wine. However, other fruits indigenous to the region, such as [[Common hawthorn|hawthorn]], could not be ruled out.<ref name="PNAS">{{cite article | url=http://www.pnas.org/content/101/51/17593.full?sid=deed5ba2-d55a-40a6-89f0-e4051226b236 | title=Fermented beverages of pre- and proto-historic China | publisher=The National Academy of Sciences | work=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | author=Patrick E. McGovern, et al. | date=2003-09-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite article | url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/12/041219134133.htm | publisher=ScienceDaily LLC | work=ScienceDaily | title=Penn Museum Archaeochemist And International Scholars Confirm 9,000-Year History Of Chinese Fermented Beverages | date=2004-12-24}}</ref> If these beverages, which seem to be the precursors of [[rice wine]], included grapes rather than other fruits, these grapes were of any of the several dozen indigenous wild species of grape in China, rather than from ''Vitis vinifera'', which were introduced into China some 6000 years later.<ref name="PNAS"/>

The oldest known evidence of wine production in Europe is dated to 4500&nbsp;BC and comes from archaeological sites in [[Greece]].<ref name=disc07>{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Viegas |title=Ancient Mashed Grapes Found in Greece |url=http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/03/16/oldgrapes_arc.html?category=archaeology&guid=20070316120000 |work=Discovery News |publisher=Discovery Communications |date=2007-03-16 |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Bureau Report |title=Mashed grapes find could re-write history of wine |url=http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=361797&sid=FTP |publisher=Zee News |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> The same sites also contain the world’s earliest evidence of crushed grapes.<ref name=disc07 /> In [[Ancient Egypt]], six of 36 wine [[amphora]]s were found in the tomb of King [[Tutankhamun]] bearing the name "Kha'y", a royal chief [[vintner]]. Five of these amphoras were designated as from the King's personal estate with the sixth listed as from the estate of the royal house of [[Aten]].<ref>{{cite book | author=Johnson, Hugh | title=Vintage: The Story of Wine | pages=32 | publisher=Simon and Schuster | year=1989}}</ref> Traces of wine have also been found in [[central Asia]]n [[Xinjiang]], dating from the second and first millennia BC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sytu.edu.cn/zhgjiu/u5-2.htm |title=Wine Production in China |accessdate=2008-06-25 |last=Rong |first=Xu Gan |coauthors=Bao Tong Fa |work=Grandiose Survey of Chinese Alcoholic Drinks and Beverages}}</ref>

In [[Middle Ages|medieval Europe]], the [[Roman Catholic Church]] was a staunch supporter of wine since it was necessary for the celebration of [[Eucharist (Catholic Church)|Mass]]. [[Monk]]s in [[France]] made wine for years, storing it underground in caves to age.<ref name="Phillips pg 62-63">{{cite book |last=Phillips |first=Rod |title=A Short History of Wine |date=2002-11-12 |publisher=Harper Perennial |isbn=978-0060937379 |pages=62–63}}</ref> There is an old English recipe which survived in various forms until the nineteenth century for refining white wine using Bastard—bad or tainted ''[[Bastardo (grape)|bastardo]]'' wine.<ref>{{cite episode
| title = The Great Resource
| episodelink =
| series = Tales from the Palaces
| serieslink = Tales from the Palaces
| airdate = 2006-11-03
| series = 1
| number = 9}}</ref> Wine was forbidden during the [[Islamic Golden Age]], until [[Geber]] and other [[Alchemy (Islam)|Muslim chemists]] pioneered its [[distillation]] for [[cosmetics|cosmetic]] and [[Islamic medicine|medical]] uses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history-science-technology.com/Notes/Notes%207.htm |title=Alcohol and the Distillation of Wine in Arabic Sources |accessdate=2008-06-25 |last=Al-Hassan |first=Ahmad Y. |authorlink=Ahmad Y Hassan}}</ref>

==Grape varieties==
{{Main|List of grape varieties}}
[[File:Grape Vineyard.jpg|thumb|right|Grape vineyard]]

Wine is usually made from one or more [[Variety (biology)|varieties]] of the European [[species]] ''[[Vitis vinifera]]'', such as [[Pinot Noir]], [[Chardonnay]], [[Cabernet Sauvignon]], and [[Merlot]]. When one of these varieties is used as the predominant grape (usually defined by law as a minimum of 75% or 85%), the result is a ''[[varietal]]'', as opposed to a ''blended'', wine. Blended wines are not necessarily considered inferior to varietal wines; some of the world's most expensive wines, from regions like [[Bordeaux]] and the [[Rhone Valley]], are blended from different grape varieties of the same [[vintage]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}

Wine can also be made from other species of grape or from [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]], created by the genetic crossing of two species. ''[[Vitis labrusca]]'' (of which the [[Concord grape]] is a [[cultivar]]), ''[[Vitis aestivalis]]'', ''[[Vitis rupestris]]'', ''[[Vitis rotundifolia]]'' and ''[[Vitis riparia]]'' are native [[North America]]n grapes usually grown for consumption as fruit or for the production of grape juice, jam, or jelly, but sometimes made into wine.

Hybridization is not to be confused with the practice of [[grafting]]. Most of the world's vineyards are planted with European ''V. vinifera'' vines that have been grafted onto North American species rootstock. This is common practice because North American grape species are resistant to [[phylloxera]], a root louse that eventually kills the vine. In the late 19th century, most of Europe's vineyards (only excluding some of the driest vineyards in Southern Europe) were devastated by the bug, leading to massive vine deaths and eventual replanting. Grafting is done in every wine-producing country of the world except for [[Argentina]], the [[Canary Islands]] and [[Chile]], which are the only ones that have not yet been exposed to the insect.<ref name="Robinson pg 97">{{cite book |last=Robinson |first=Jancis |title=Jancis Robinson's Wine Course: A Guide to the World of Wine |date=2006-04-28 |publisher=Abbeville Press |isbn=978-0789208835 |pages=97}}</ref>

In the context of wine production, ''[[terroir]]'' is a concept that encompasses the varieties of grapes used, elevation and shape of the vineyard, type and chemistry of soil, climate and seasonal conditions, and the local yeast cultures. The range of possibilities here can result in great differences between wines, influencing the fermentation, finishing, and aging processes as well. Many wineries use growing and production methods that preserve or accentuate the [[aroma (wine)|aroma]] and taste influences of their unique ''terroir''.<ref name="Johnson & Robinson pg 22-23">{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Hugh |coauthors=Jancis Robinson |title=The World Atlas of Wine |date=2001-09-13 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley |isbn=978-1840003321 |pages=22–23}}</ref> However, flavor differences are not desirable for producers of mass-market [[table wine]] or other cheaper wines, where consistency is more important. Such producers will try to minimize differences in sources of grapes by using production techniques such as [[micro-oxygenation]], tannin filtration, cross-flow filtration, thin film evaporation,
and spinning cones.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://winegeeks.com/articles/85 |title=High Alcohol is a Wine Fault... Not a Badge of Honor |accessdate=2008-06-25 |last=Citriglia |first=Matthew |date=2006-05-14 |publisher=GeekSpeak, LLC}}</ref>

==Classification==
[[File:Wine grapes03.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Wine grapes on a vine]]
{{Main|Classification of wine}}
Regulations govern the classification and sale of wine in many regions of the world. European wines tend to be classified by region (e.g. [[Bordeaux wine|Bordeaux]] and [[Chianti]]), while non-European wines are most often classified by grape (e.g. [[Pinot Noir]] and [[Merlot]]). More and more, however, market recognition of particular regions is leading to their increased prominence on non-European wine labels. Examples of non-European recognized locales include [[Napa Valley AVA|Napa Valley]] in [[California]], [[Willamette Valley]] in [[Oregon]], [[Columbia Valley]] in [[Washington]], [[Barossa Valley]] and [[Hunter Valley]] in [[Australia]], [[Chile_wine#Wine_regions|Central Valley]] in [[Chile]], [[Hawke's Bay]] and [[Marlborough, New Zealand|Marlborough]] in [[New Zealand]], [[Okanagan Valley]] and [[Niagara Peninsula]] in [[Canada]].

Some blended wine names are marketing terms, and the use of these names is governed by [[trademark]] law rather than by specific wine laws. For example, [[Meritage]] (sounds like "heritage") is generally a Bordeaux-style blend of [[Cabernet Sauvignon]] and Merlot, and may also include [[Cabernet Franc]], [[Petit Verdot]], and [[Malbec]]. Commercial use of the term "Meritage" is allowed only via licensing agreements with an organization called the "Meritage Association".

===European classifications===
France has various [[appellation]] systems based on the concept of terroir, with classifications ranging from [[Vin de Table]] ("table wine") at the bottom, through [[Vin de Pays]] and [[Appellation d'Origine Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure]] (AOVDQS) up to [[Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée]] (AOC) or similar, depending on the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.terroir-france.com/wine/rates.htm |title=Wine classification |accessdate=2007-06-22 |work=French Wine Guide}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wineanorak.com/terroir2.htm |title=Terroir revisited: towards a working definition |accessdate=2007-06-22 |last=Goode |first=Jamie}}</ref> [[Portugal]] has something similar and, in fact, pioneered this technique back in 1756 with a royal charter which created the "Demarcated Douro Region" and regulated wine production and trade.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.250rdd.utad.pt/en/index.html |title=The Spirit of the Commemorations |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> Germany did likewise in 2002, although their system has not yet achieved the authority of those of the other countries'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.germanwinesociety.org/wine_classification.htm |title=About German Wine |accessdate=2007-06-22 |work=German wine society }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thewinedoctor.com/regionalguides/germanylawsandclassifications.shtml |title=German Wine Guide: Wine Laws and Classifications |accessdate=2007-06-22 |work=The Winedoctor}}</ref> [[Spain]], [[Greece]] and [[Italy]] have classifications which are based on a dual system of region of origin and quality of product.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.winesfromspain.com/icex/cda/controller/pageGen/0,3346,1549487_4938361_4938888_1_-1,00.html |title=Land of wines |accessdate=2007-07-17 |work=Wines from Spain}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wineintro.com/regions/classification.html |title=Wine Classification — by Region or by Wine Type? |accessdate=2007-07-17 |work=Wine Intro}}</ref>

===Beyond Europe===
[[New World wine]]—wines from outside of the traditional wine growing regions of Europe tend to be classified by grape rather than by ''terroir'' or region of origin, although there have been non-official attempts to classify them by quality.<ref> {{cite web |url=http://www.nicks.com.au/Index.aspx?link_id=76.907 |title=Towards an Australian Wine Classification |last=Chlebnikowski |first=Simon |coauthors=Alex Chlebnikowski |accessdate=2008-06-26 |publisher=Nicks Wine Merchants}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.camwheeler.com/wine/2005/langtons-australian-wine-classification-iv/ |title=Langton's Australian Wine Classification IV |accessdate=2008-06-26 |date=2007-07-27}}</ref>

==Vintages==
{{Main|Vintage}}
A "vintage wine" is one made from grapes that were all or mostly grown in a particular year, and labeled as such. Most countries allow a vintage wine to include a portion that is not from the labeled vintage. Variations in a wine's character from year to year can include subtle differences in color, palate, nose, body and development. High-quality red table wines can improve in flavor with age if properly stored.<ref name=britannica /> Consequently, it is not uncommon for wine enthusiasts and traders to save bottles of an especially good vintage wine for future consumption.

In the [[United States]], for a wine to be vintage dated and labeled with a country of origin or [[American Viticultural Area]] (AVA) (such as "[[Sonoma Valley]]"), it must contain at least 95% of its volume from grapes harvested in that year.<ref name="27 CFR 4.27"> [[Title 27 of the United States Code]], [[Code of Federal Regulations]] [http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=33fc0c0194b58b6fe95208945b5c637a&rgn=div5&view=text&node=27:1.0.1.1.2&idno=27#27:1.0.1.1.2.3.25.8 §4.27]</ref> If a wine is not labeled with a country of origin or AVA the percentage requirement is lowered to 85%.<ref name="27 CFR 4.27" />

Vintage wines are generally bottled in a single batch so that each bottle will have a similar taste. Climate can have a big impact on the character of a wine to the extent that different vintages from the same vineyard can vary dramatically in flavor and quality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frenchscout.com/wine-vintages |title=Wine vintages, vintage charts |accessdate=2008-06-26 |last=Breton |first=Félicien |publisher=French Scout}}</ref> Thus, vintage wines are produced to be individually characteristic of the vintage and to serve as the flagship wines of the producer. Superior vintages, from reputable producers and regions, will often fetch much higher prices than their average vintages. Some vintage wines, like [[Brunello di Montalcino|Brunello]]s, are only made in better-than-average years.

Non-vintage wines can be blended from more than one vintage for consistency, a process which allows wine makers to keep a reliable market image and maintain sales even in bad years.<ref>{{cite news |first=Clive |last=Platman |title=Wine: Lovely bubbly |date=2002-10-02 |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BPOC&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F671027250245CB&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |work =[[Birmingham Post]] |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |year=2006 |month=May |title=Change to Vintage Date Requirements (2005R-212P) |journal=[[Federal Register]] |volume=71 |issue=84 |url=http://regulations.justia.com/view/43285/ |accessdate=2008-06-26 |pages=25748 |author=Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau}}</ref> One recent study suggests that for normal drinkers, vintage year may not be as significant to perceived wine quality as currently thought, although wine connoisseurs continue to place great importance on it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liquidasset.com/WEILVDQS.PDF |format=PDF|title=Parker v. Prial: The Death of the Vintage Chart |accessdate=2008-06-26 |last=Weil |first=Roman L. |date=2001-05-25}}</ref>

==Tasting==
{{Main|Wine tasting}}
[[File:Tempranillowine.jpg|thumb|left|Judging color is the first step in tasting a wine]]
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. Wines are made up of chemical compounds which are similar or identical to those in fruits, vegetables, and [[spice]]s. The [[sweetness of wine]] is determined by the amount of residual sugar in the wine after fermentation, relative to the acidity present in the wine. [[Dry wine]], for example, has only a small amount of residual sugar. Inexperienced wine drinkers often tend to mistake the taste of ripe fruit for sweetness when, in fact, the wine in question is very dry.

Individual flavors may also be detected, due to the complex mix of organic molecules such as [[ester]]s and [[terpene]]s that grape juice and wine can contain. Tasters often can distinguish between flavors characteristic of a specific grape (e.g., [[Chianti]] and sour cherry) and flavors that result from other factors in wine making, either intentional or not. The most typical intentional flavor elements in wine are those that are imparted by aging in oak casks; chocolate, vanilla, or coffee almost always come from the oak and not the grape itself.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frenchscout.com/types-of-wine |title=Types of wine |accessdate=2008-06-26 |last=Breton |first=Félicien |publisher=French Scout}}</ref>

Banana flavors ([[isoamyl acetate]]) are the product of yeast metabolism, as are spoilage aromas such as sweaty, barnyard, band-aid ([[4-Ethylphenol|4-ethylphenol]] and [[4-ethylguaiacol]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.etslabs.com/scripts/ets/pagetemplate/blank.asp?pageid=193 |title=''Brettanomyces'' Monitoring by Analysis of 4-ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol |accessdate=2008-06-26 |author=ETS Laboratories |date=2001-03-15}}</ref> and rotten egg ([[hydrogen sulfide]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.etslabs.com/scripts/ets/pagetemplate/blank.asp?pageid=350 |title=Sulfides in Wine |accessdate=2008-06-26 |author=ETS Laboratories |date=2002-05-15}}</ref> Some varietals can also have a mineral flavor, because some salts are soluble in water (like limestone), and are absorbed by the wine.

Wine aroma comes from volatile compounds in the wine that are released into the air.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Gómez-Míguez |first=M. José |coauthors=Manuela Gómez-Mígueza, Isabel M. Vicarioa and Francisco J. Heredia |year=2007 |month=April |title=Assessment of colour and aroma in white wines vinifications: Effects of grape maturity and soil type |journal=Journal of Food Engineering |volume=79 |issue=3 |pages=758–764 |doi=10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2006.02.038 |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T8J-4JWFGMW-2/2/23595bac8aab73913dd9b4aed36bb8c9 |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref> Vaporization of these compounds can be sped up by twirling the wine glass or serving the wine at room temperature. For red wines that are already highly aromatic, like [[Chinon]] and [[Beaujolais]], many people prefer them chilled.<ref name="Johnson & Robinson pg 44-45">{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Hugh |coauthors=Jancis Robinson |title=The World Atlas of Wine |date=2001-09-13 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley |isbn=978-1840003321 |pages=44–45}}</ref>

==Collecting==
{{See also|Aging of wine|Storage of wine}}
[[File:Margaux94 1.jpg|right|thumb|upright|[[Château Margaux]], a [[First Growth]] from the Bordeaux region of France, is highly collectible.]]
Outstanding vintages from the best vineyards may sell for thousands of [[United States dollar|dollars]] per bottle, though the broader term '''fine wine''' covers bottles typically retailing at over about $US 30-50.<ref>For example, [[Berry Brothers & Rudd]], one of the world's largest dealers, start "Fine wine" prices at about £25 - in March 2009 with a wine from [[Au Bon Climat]] [http://www.bbr.com/fine-wine/offers website "Fine wine offers"].</ref> "Investment wines" are considered by some to be ''[[Veblen good]]s''—that is, goods for which demand increases instead of decreases as its price rises. The most common wines purchased for investment include those from [[Bordeaux wine|Bordeaux]], [[Burgundy wine|Burgundy]], [[cult wine]]s from [[Europe]] and elsewhere, and [[Port wine|Vintage port]]. Characteristics of highly collectible wines include:

#A proven track record of holding well over time
#A drinking window plateau (i.e., the period for maturity and approachability) that is many years long
#A consensus amongst experts as to the quality of the wines
#Rigorous production methods at every stage, including grape selection and appropriate barrel-aging

Investment in fine wine has attracted fraudsters who prey on their victims' ignorance of this sector of the wine market.<!-->Couldn't find any evidence that this article ever existed <ref>McCoy, Elin. "Trophy Status and History Trump Taste in Fuss Over Old Wines." Bloomberg.com, [[March 20]], [[2007]].</ref></!--> [[Wine fraud]]sters often work by charging excessively high prices for off-vintage or lower-status wines from famous wine regions, while claiming that they are offering a sound investment unaffected by [[economic cycle]]s. Like any investment, proper research is essential before investing.

==Production==
{{Main|Winemaking}}
{{See also|List of wine-producing countries|List of wine-producing regions}}
{{Col-begin|width=80%}}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Wine production by country 2006'''<ref name="FAO567">[http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/DesktopDefault.aspx?PageID=567 FAO] production statistics</ref>
! Rank !! Country<br /><small>(with link to wine article)</small> !! Production<br /><small>([[tonnes]])</small>
|-
!1
| {{flagicon|France}} '''[[French wine|France]]''' || align="right"|5,349,333
|-
!2
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italian wine|Italy]] || align="right"|4,711,665
|-
!3
| {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spanish wine|Spain]] || align="right"|3,643,666
|-
!4
| {{flagicon|US}} [[American wine|United States]] || align="right"|2,232,000
|-
!5
| {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Argentine wine|Argentina]] || align="right"|1,539,600
|-
!6
| {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian wine|Australia]] || align="right"|1,410,483
|-
!7
| {{flagicon|China}} [[Chinese grape wine|China]] || align="right"|1,400,000
|-
!8
| {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South African wine|South Africa]] || align="right"|1,012,980
|-
!9
| {{flagicon|Chile}} [[Chilean wine|Chile]] || align="right"|977,087
|-
!10
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[German wine|Germany]] || align="right"|891,600
|}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Wine production by country 2007'''<ref name="FAO567" />
! Rank !! Country<br /><small>(with link to wine article)</small> !! Production<br /><small>([[tonnes]])</small>
|-
!1
| {{flagicon|Italy}} '''[[Italian wine|Italy]]''' || align="right"|5,050,000
|-
!2
| {{flagicon|France}} [[French wine|France]] || align="right"|4,711,600
|-
!3
| {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spanish wine|Spain]] || align="right"|3,645,000
|-
!4
| {{flagicon|US}} [[American wine|United States]] || align="right"|2,300,000
|-
!5
| {{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Argentine wine|Argentina]] || align="right"|1,550,000
|-
!6
| {{flagicon|China}} [[Chinese grape wine|China]] || align="right"|1,450,000
|-
!7
| {{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South African wine|South Africa]] || align="right"|1,050,000
|-
!8
| {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian wine|Australia]] || align="right"|961,972
|-
!9
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[German wine|Germany]] || align="right"|891,600
|-
!10
| {{flagicon|Chile}} [[Chilean wine|Chile]] || align="right"|827,746
|-
|}
{{Col-end}}
Wine grapes grow almost exclusively between thirty and fifty degrees north or south of the [[equator]]. The world's southernmost vineyards are in the [[Central Otago]] region of New Zealand's [[South Island]] near the 45th parallel,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wineoftheweek.com/regions/otago.html |title=New Zealand Wine Regions - Central Otago |accessdate=2008-06-26 |last=Courtney |first=Sue |date=2005-04-16}}</ref> and the northernmost are in [[Flen]], [[Sweden]], just north of the 59th parallel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beer100.com/history/winehistory.htm |title=Wine History |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref>

===Exporting countries===
{{Col-begin|width=80%}}
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Top ten wine exporting countries in 2006'''<ref name="FAO535">[http://faostat.fao.org/site/535/DesktopDefault.aspx?PageID=535 FAO]</ref>
! Rank
! width="140"|Country
! width="100"|1000 [[tonnes]]
|-
!1
|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italian wine|Italy]]* || align="center"|1,793
|-
!2
|{{flagicon|France}} [[French wine|France]] || align="center"|1,462
|-
!3
|{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spanish wine|Spain]]* || align="center"|1,337
|-
!4
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian wine|Australia]] || align="center"|762
|-
!5
|{{flagicon|Chile}} [[Chilean wine|Chile]]* || align="center"|472
|-
!6
|{{flagicon|United States}} [[American wine|United States]] || align="center"|369
|-
!7
|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[German wine|Germany]] || align="center"|316
|-
!8
|{{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Argentine wine|Argentina]] || align="center"|302
|-
!9
|{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Portuguese wine|Portugal]] || align="center"|286
|-
!10
|{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South African wine|South Africa]] || align="center"|272
|-bgcolor="whitesmoke"
!colspan=2|World** || align="center"|'''8,353'''
|}
<small><nowiki>* Unofficial figure. ** May include official, semi-official or estimated data.</nowiki></small>
{{Col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2006 export market shares<ref name="FAO535" />
! Rank
! width="140"|Country
! width="110"|Market share<br><small>(% of value in US$)</small>
|-
!1
|{{flagicon|France}} [[French wine|France]] || align="center"|34.9%
|-
!2
|{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italian wine|Italy]] || align="center"|18.0%
|-
!3
|{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Australian wine|Australia]] || align="center"|9.3%
|-
!4
|{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spanish wine|Spain]] || align="center"|8.7%
|-
!5
|{{flagicon|Chile}} [[Chilean wine|Chile]] || align="center"|4.3%
|-
!6
|{{flagicon|United States}} [[American wine|United States]] || align="center"|3.6%
|-
!7
|{{flagicon|Germany}} [[German wine|Germany]] || align="center"|3.5%
|-
!8
|{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Portuguese wine|Portugal]] || align="center"|3.0%
|-
!9
|{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[South African wine|South Africa]] || align="center"|2.4%
|-
!10
|{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[New Zealand wine|New Zealand]] || align="center"|1.8%
|}
{{Col-end}}

The UK was the world's biggest importer of wine in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7827713.stm|title=UK tops world wine imports table|date=2009-01-14|publisher=BBC}}</ref>

==Uses==
[[File:Wine consumption world map.png|300px|thumb|right|[[Per capita]] annual wine consumption:
{{legend|#eeeeee|less than 1 litre.}}
{{legend|#eed4d3|from 1 to 7 litres.}}
{{legend|#dea2a0|from 7 to 15 litres.}}
{{legend|#ae6f6d|from 15 to 30 litres.}}
{{legend|#5f0400|More than 30 litres.}}]]
Wine is a popular and important [[beverage]] that accompanies and enhances a wide range of [[Cuisine of Europe|European]] and [[Mediterranean diet|Mediterranean]]-style [[cuisine]]s, from the simple and traditional to the most sophisticated and complex. Wine is important in cuisine not just for its value as a beverage, but as a flavor agent, primarily in [[stock (food)|stock]]s and [[braising]], since its acidity lends balance to rich [[Basic taste#Savouriness|savory]] or [[sweet]] dishes. Red, white, and sparkling wines are the most popular, and are known as ''light wines'' because they are only 10–14% [[alcohol]]-content by volume. [[Apéritif]] and [[dessert wine]]s contain 14–20% alcohol, and are sometimes fortified to make them richer and sweeter.

Some wine labels suggest opening the bottle and letting the wine "breathe" for a couple hours before serving, while others recommend drinking it immediately. [[Decanter|Decanting]]—the act of pouring a wine into a special container just for breathing—is a controversial subject in wine. In addition to aeration, decanting with a filter allows one to remove bitter sediments that may have formed in the wine. Sediment is more common in older bottles but younger wines usually benefit more from aeration.<ref name="Johnson & Robinson pg 46">{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Hugh |coauthors=Jancis Robinson |title=The World Atlas of Wine |date=2001-09-13 |publisher=Mitchell Beazley |isbn=978-1840003321 |pages=46}}</ref>

During aeration, the exposure of younger wines to air often "relaxes" the flavors and makes them taste smoother and better integrated in aroma, texture, and flavor. Older wines generally ''fade'', or lose their character and flavor intensity, with extended aeration.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Fruity character and breathing times | date=2005-09-18 | publisher= | url =http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:KLSC&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10CBABDF8E627AD8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated4&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 | work =[[New Straits Times]] | pages = | accessdate = 2007-10-24 | language = }}</ref> Despite these general rules, breathing does not necessarily benefit all wines. Wine should be tasted as soon as it is opened to determine how long it should be aerated, if at all.

===Religious uses===
{{See also|Kosher wine|Christianity and alcohol|Islam and alcohol}}

===Ancient Religions===
The use of wine in religious ceremonies is common to many cultures and regions. [[Libation]]s often included wine, and the [[Dionysian Mysteries|religious mysteries]] of Dionysus used wine as a sacramental [[entheogen]] to induce a mind-altering state.

===Judaism===
Wine is an integral part of [[halakha|Jewish laws and traditions]]. The ''[[Kiddush]]'' is a blessing recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify the [[Shabbat]] or a [[Jewish holiday]]. On Pesach ([[Passover]]) during the Seder, it is a Rabbinic obligation of men and women to drink four cups of wine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm |title=Pesach: Passover |last=Rich |first=Tracey R |work=Judaism 101}}</ref> In the [[Tabernacle (Judaism)|Tabernacle]] and in the [[Temple in Jerusalem]], the libation of wine was part of the sacrificial service.<ref>{{cite book |last=Neusner |first=Jacob |title=The Halakhah: An Encyclopaedia of the Law of Judaism |publisher=BRILL |year=2000 |location=Boston, Massachusetts |pages=82 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=XThbHMAHbNAC |isbn=9004116176}}</ref> Note that this does not mean that wine is a symbol of blood, a common misconception which contributes to the myth of the [[blood libel]]. A blessing over wine said before indulging in the drink is: ''"Baruch atah Hashem ''(Adonai)'' elokeinu melech ha-olam, boray p’ree hagafen"''—"Praised be the Eternal, Ruler of the universe, who makes the fruit of the vine."

===Christianity===
[[File:Mei.jpg|thumb|left| All alcohol is strictly forbidden under [[Islamic law]], but especially in [[Persia]], there has been a long tradition of drinking wine.]]
:{{See also|Christianity and alcohol|Alcohol in the Bible}}
In [[Christianity]], wine is used in a sacred rite called the [[Eucharist]], which originates in [[Gospel]] accounts of the [[Last Supper]] in which [[Jesus]] shared bread and wine with his disciples and commanded his followers to "do this in remembrance of me" ([[Gospel of Luke]] 22:19). Beliefs about the nature of the Eucharist vary among [[Christian denomination|denominations]] (see [[Eucharistic theologies contrasted]]).

While most Christians consider the use of wine from the grape as essential for validity of the [[sacrament]], many Protestants also allow (or require) unfermented, [[pasteurization|pasteurized]] grape juice as a substitute. Wine was used in Eucharistic rites by all Protestant groups until an alternative arose in the late 1800s. [[Methodism|Methodist]] [[dentist]] and [[prohibition]]ist [[Thomas Bramwell Welch]] applied new pasteurization techniques to stop the natural fermentation process of [[grape juice]]. Some Christians who were part of the growing [[temperance movement]] pressed for a switch from wine to grape juice, and the substitution spread quickly over much of the United States and to other countries to a lesser degree.<ref>{{cite news |title=Almost Like Wine |date=1956-09-03 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,824374,00.html |work=[[Time Magazine]] |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref> There remains an ongoing debate between some American [[Protestant]] denominations as to whether wine can and should be used for the Eucharist or allowed as an ordinary beverage.

===Islam===
All alcohol is strictly forbidden under [[Islamic law]]. It is only permitted for medicinal reasons. Iran and Afghanistan used to have a [[Viticulture in Iran|thriving wine industry]] that disappeared after the [[Iranian Revolution|Islamic Revolution]] in 1979 and earlier in Afghanistan. However, people of [[Nuristan]] in Afghanistan have produced wine since ancient times and still do so.<ref>{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Tait |title=End of the vine |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/oct/12/worlddispatch.iran |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=2005-10-12 |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref> In [[Greater Persia]] , ''mei'' (Persian wine) has been a central theme of [[poetry]] for more than a thousand years.

==Health effects==
<!-- PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL HEALTH BENEFIT CLAIMS IN THIS SECTION ARE REFERENCED OR THEY MAY BE REMOVED -->

{{nutritionalvalue | name=Red table wine | kJ=355 | fat=0.0 g | protein=0.1 g | carbs=2.6 g | sugars=0.6 g | alcohol=10.6 g | source_usda=1 | noRDA=1 | right=1 | note=10.6&nbsp;g alcohol is 13%vol.<br />100&nbsp;g wine is approximately 100&nbsp;ml (3.4&nbsp;fl oz.)<br />Sugar and alcohol content can vary.}}
{{See also|Wine and health}}
{{alcohealth}}
Although excessive alcohol consumption has adverse health effects, [[epidemiological]] studies have consistently demonstrated that moderate consumption of alcohol and wine is [[Association (statistics)|statistically associated]] with a decrease in death due to [[cardiovascular]] events such as [[heart failure]].<ref name=Lindberg>{{cite journal |last= Lindberg |first= Matthew L. |coauthors= Ezra A. Amsterdam |title= Alcohol, wine, and cardiovascular health |journal= Clinical Cardiology |volume=31 |issue=8 |pages=347–51 |year=2008 |pmid=18727003 |doi=10.1002/clc.20263}}</ref> In the [[United States]], a boom in red wine consumption was initiated in the 1990s by the TV show ''[[60 Minutes]]'', and additional news reports on the ''[[French paradox]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |journal= Journal of Consumer Marketing |date=1994 |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=17–24 |title= The impact of media stories concerning health issues on food product sales: management planning and responses |last=Dodd |first= Tim H. |coauthors=Steve Morse |doi=10.1108/07363769410058894}}</ref> The French paradox refers to the comparatively lower incidence of [[coronary heart disease]] in France despite high levels of [[saturated fat]] in the traditional French diet. Some epidemiologists suspect that this difference is due to the higher consumption of wines by the French, but the scientific evidence for this theory is limited. The average moderate wine drinker is more likely to exercise more, to be more health conscious, and to be of a higher educational and socioeconomic class, evidence that the association between moderate wine drinking and health may be related to [[confounding factor]]s.<ref name=Lindberg/>

Population studies have observed a [[J curve]] association between wine consumption and the risk of heart disease. This means that heavy drinkers have an elevated risk, while moderate drinkers (at most two five-ounce servings of wine per day) have a lower risk than non-drinkers. Studies have also found that moderate consumption of other alcoholic beverages may be cardioprotective, although the association is considerably stronger for wine. Also, some studies have found increased health benefits for red wine over white wine, though other studies have found no difference. Red wine contains more [[polyphenol]]s than white wine, and these are thought to be particularly protective against cardiovascular disease.<ref name=Lindberg/>

A chemical in red wine called [[resveratrol]] has been shown to have both cardioprotective and chemoprotective effects in animal studies.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Olas |first=Beata |coauthors=Barbara Wachowicz, Joanna Saluk-Juszczak and Tomasz Zieliński |year=2002 |month=August |title=Effect of resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound, on platelet activation induced by endotoxin or thrombin |journal=Thrombosis Research |volume=107 |issue=3 |pages=141–145 |url=http://www.thrombosisresearch.com/article/PIIS0049384802002736/abstract |accessdate=2008-06-26 |doi=10.1016/S0049-3848(02)00273-6}}</ref> Low doses of resveratrol in the diet of middle-aged mice has a widespread influence on the genetic levers of aging and may confer special protection on the heart. Specifically, low doses of resveratrol mimic the effects of what is known as [[caloric restriction]] - diets with 20-30 percent fewer calories than a typical diet.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Barger |first=Jamie L. |coauthors=Tsuyoshi Kayo, James M. Vann, Edward B. Arias, Jelai Wang, Timothy A. Hacker, Ying Wang, Daniel Raederstorff, Jason D. Morrow, Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, David B. Allison, Kurt W. Saupe, Gregory D. Cartee, Richard Weindruch, Tomas A. Prolla |year=2008 |month= |title=A Low Dose of Dietary Resveratrol Partially Mimics Caloric Restriction and Retards Aging Parameters in Mice |journal=[[PLoS ONE]] |volume=3 |issue=6 |url=http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0002264 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0002264 |accessdate=2008-06-26 |pages=e2264}}</ref> Resveratrol is produced naturally by grape skins in response to fungal infection, including exposure to yeast during [[Fermentation (wine)|fermentation]]. As white wine has minimal contact with grape skins during this process, it generally contains lower levels of the chemical.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Frémont |first=Lucie |year=2000 |month=January |title=Biological effects of resveratrol |journal=Life Sciences |volume=66 |issue=8 |pages=663–673 |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T99-3YJYV42-1/2/f3e6d1a78598fb9c6de3e20b58bdc475 |accessdate=2008-06-26 |doi=10.1016/S0024-3205(99)00410-5}}</ref> Other beneficial compounds in wine include other [[polyphenols (wine)|polyphenols]], [[antioxidant]]s, and [[flavonoid]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last=de Lange |first=D.W. |year=2007 |month= |title=From red wine to polyphenols and back: A journey through the history of the French Paradox |journal=Thrombosis Research |volume=119 |issue=4 |pages=403–406 |url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T1C-4KCXJ95-2/2/78efd7cd7ed0ce19403d64d649518c2a |accessdate=2008-06-26|doi=10.1016/j.thromres.2006.06.001}}</ref>

Red wines from the south of France and from [[Sardinia]] in Italy have been found to have the highest levels of ''[[Proanthocyanidin|procyanidins]]'', which are compounds in grape seeds suspected to be responsible for red wine's heart benefits. Red wines from these areas have between two and four times as much procyanidins as other red wines. Procyanidins suppress the synthesis of a peptide called [[endothelin-1]] that constricts blood vessels.<ref> {{cite journal |title=Oenology: Red wine procyanidins and vascular health |journal=Nature |date= |first=R. |last=Corder |coauthors=W. Mullen, N. Q. Khan, S. C. Marks, E. G. Wood, M. J. Carrier and A. Crozier |volume=444 |issue=566 | pages=566 |doi=10.1038/444566a |url=http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7119/abs/444566a.html |accessdate=}}</ref>

A 2007 study found that both red and white wines are effective anti-bacterial agents against strains of ''[[Streptococcus]]''.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Antibacterial Activity of Red and White Wine against Oral Streptococci|journal=Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry |year=2007 |first=M. |last=Daglia |coauthors=A. Papetti, P. Grisoli, C. Aceti, C. Dacarro, and G. Gazzani |volume=55 |issue=13 |pages=5038 |id= |doi=10.1021/jf070352q}}</ref> Also, a report in the October 2008 issue of ''Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention'', posits that moderate consumption of red wine may decrease the risk of [[lung cancer]] in men.<ref>[http://newswise.com/articles/view/544833/ Red Wine May Lower Lung Cancer Risk] Newswise, Retrieved on October 7, 2008.</ref>

While evidence from laboratory and [[epidemiological]] (observational) studies suggest a cardioprotective effect, no controlled studies have been completed on the effect of alcoholic drinks on the risk of developing heart disease or stroke. Excessive consumption of alcohol can cause [[cirrhosis]] of the liver and [[alcoholism]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/quickstats/general_info.htm |title=General Information on Alcohol Use and Health |accessdate=2008-06-26 |author=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention}}</ref> the [[American Heart Association]] cautions people to "consult your doctor on the benefits and risks of consuming alcohol in moderation."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4422 |title=Alcohol, Wine and Cardiovascular Disease |accessdate=2008-06-26 |author=American Heart Association}}</ref>

Wine's effect on the brain is also under study. One study concluded that wine made from the [[Cabernet Sauvignon]] grape reduces the risk of [[Alzheimer's Disease]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Wang |first=Jun |coauthors=Lap Ho, Zhong Zhao, Ilana Seror, Nelson Humala, Dara L. Dickstein, Meenakshisundaram Thiyagarajan, Susan S. Percival, Stephen T. Talcott and Giulio Maria Pasinetti |year=2006 |title=Moderate Consumption of Cabernet Sauvignon Attenuates β-amyloid Neuropathology in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease |journal=FASEB |volume=20 |pages=2313–2320 |url=http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/full/20/13/2313 |accessdate=2008-06-25 |doi=10.1096/fj.06-6281com |pmid=17077308}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine Reduces The Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease |url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060918163551.htm |work=ScienceDaily |publisher=ScienceDaily LLC |date=2007-09-21 |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> Another study concluded that among alcoholics, wine damages the hippocampus to a greater degree than other alcoholic beverages.<ref>{{cite news |first=Vanessa |last=Allen |title=Wine is worse for brain than beer, scientists reveal in blow for women drinkers |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-535988/Wine-worse-brain-beer-scientists-reveal-blow-women-drinkers.html |work=Daily Mail |publisher=Associated Newspapers Ltd |date=2008-03-17 |accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref>

[[Sulphites]] are present in all wines and are formed as a natural product of the fermentation process, and many wine producers add [[sulfur dioxide]] in order to help preserve wine. Sulfur dioxide is also added to foods such as dried [[apricot]]s and [[orange juice]]. The level of added sulfites varies, and some wines have been marketed with low sulfite content.<ref>[http://www.winesofcanada.com/larchhill2.html Ageing and Storing Wines], Wines of Canada, Retrieved 5 June 2007</ref> Sulphites in wine can cause some people, particularly those with [[asthma]], to have adverse reactions.

Professor [[Valerie Beral]] from the [[University of Oxford]] and lead author of the [[The Million Women Study]] asserts that the positive health effects of red wine are "an absolute myth." Professor [[Roger Corder]], author of ''The Red Wine Diet'', counters that two small glasses of a very tannic, procyanadin rich wine would confer a benefit, although "most supermarket wines are low procyanadin and high alcohol."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8079816.stm| title=Alcohol: Is it really good for you?| date={{date|2009-06-08}}| publisher=BBC News| accessdate={{date|2009-06-08}}}}</ref>

==Packaging==
[[File:Corks019.jpg|thumb|Assorted wine corks]]

{{See also|Cork (material)|Closure (bottle)|Alternative wine closures|Wine bottle|Box wine|Screw cap (wine)}}
Most wines are sold in [[wine bottle|glass bottles]] and are sealed using [[cork (material)|corks]] (50% of production comes from [[Portugal]]).{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} An increasing number of wine producers have been using [[Alternative wine closures|alternative closures]] such as [[Screw cap (wine)|screwcaps]], or synthetic [[plastic]] "corks". In addition to being less expensive, alternative closures prevent [[cork taint]], although they have been blamed for other problems such as excessive [[reduction (chemistry)|reduction]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}

Some wines are packaged in heavy plastic bags within cardboard boxes, and are called ''[[box wine]]s'', or cask wine. These wines are typically accessed via a tap on the side of the box. Box wine can maintain an acceptable degree of freshness for up to a month after opening, while bottled wine will more rapidly [[oxidize]], and is considerably degraded within a few days.

Environmental considerations of wine packaging reveal benefits and drawbacks of both bottled and box wines. Glass used to make bottles has a decent environmental reputation, as it is completely recyclable, whereas plastics as used in box wines are typically considered to be much less environmentally friendly. However, wine bottle manufacturers have been cited for [[Clean Air Act]] violations. A New York Times editorial suggested that box wine, being lighter in package weight, has a reduced [[carbon footprint]] from its distribution. Boxed wine plastics, even though possibly recyclable, can be more labor-intensive (and therefore expensive) to process than glass bottles. And while a wine box is recyclable, its plastic wine bladder most likely is not.<ref>Muzaurieta, Annie Bell, thedailygreen.com (October 1, 2008). [http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/glass-wine-bottles-environment-44100108 Holy Hangover! Wine Bottles Cause Air Pollution]</ref>

==Storage==
{{Main|Storage of wine}}
''[[Wine cellar]]s'', or ''wine rooms'' if they are above-ground, are places designed specifically for the storage and aging of wine. In an ''active'' wine cellar, temperature and humidity are maintained by a climate control system. ''Passive'' wine cellars are not climate-controlled, and so must be carefully located. Wine is a natural, perishable food product; when exposed to heat, light, vibration or fluctuations in temperature and humidity, all types of wine, including red, white, sparkling, and fortified, can spoil. When properly stored, wines can maintain their quality and in some cases improve in aroma, flavor, and complexity as they age. Some wine experts contend that the optimal temperature for aging wine is {{convert|55|°F|°C}}.<ref>fineliving.com [http://www.fineliving.com/fine/simply_wine/article/0,,fine_15098_2518659,00.html Storing Wine]</ref> Wine refrigerators offer an alternative to wine cellars. They are available in capacities ranging from small 16-bottle units to furniture pieces that can contain 400 bottles.

[[File:Wine Barrels.jpg|thumb|right|Oak Wine Barrels]]
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|+Related professions
!Name
!Description
|-
|[[Cooper (profession)|Cooper]]
|Craftsman of wooden barrels and casks. A [[cooperage]] is a company that produces such casks.
|-
|[[Garagistes|Garagiste]]
|An amateur wine maker, or a derogatory term used for small scale operations of recent inception, usually without pedigree and located in Bordeaux.
|-
|[[Négociant]]
|A wine merchant, most specifically those who assemble the produce of smaller growers and winemakers and sells them under their own name.
|-
|[[Oenologist]]
|Wine scientist or wine chemist; a student of [[oenology]]. A [[winemaker]] may be trained as oenologist, but often hires a consultant instead.
|-
|[[Sommelier]]
|A restaurant specialist in charge of assembling the [[wine list]], educating the staff about wine, and assisting customers with their wine selections.
|-
|[[Vintner]], [[Winemaker]]
|A wine producer; a person who makes wine.
|-
|[[Viticulturist]]
|A person who specializes in the science of grapevines. Can also be someone who manages vineyard pruning, irrigation, and pest control.
|}

==In Popular Culture==
*''[[Falcon Crest]]'', USA 1981–1990: A popular [[CBS]] primetime soap opera about the fictional Falcon Crest winery and the family who owned it, set in a fictional "Tuscany Valley" in California. A wine named "Falcon Crest" even went on the market.
*''[[A Walk in the Clouds]]'' 1995. A love story set in a Mexican-American family's traditional vineyard showcasing different moments in the production of wine.
*''[[Mondovino]]'', USA/France 2004. A documentary film directed by American film maker [[Jonathan Nossiter]], exploring the impact of [[globalization]] on various wine-producing regions.
*''[[Sideways]]'', 2004. A comedy/drama film, directed by [[Alexander Payne]], with the tagline: "In search of wine. In search of women. In search of themselves." Wine, particularly [[Pinot Noir]], plays a central role. The film caused the Pinot Noir sales to rise in the USA, known as 'the Sideways Effect'.<ref>Abbott, John, ''Decanter.com'' (November 3, 2008). [http://www.decanter.com/news/271334.html 'Sideways effect' confirmed]</ref>
*''[[A Good Year]]'', 2006. Ridley Scott directs Russell Crowe in an adaptation of [[Peter Mayle]]'s novel.
*''[[Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure]]'', UK 2006–7. "Wine ponce" [[Oz Clarke]] tries to teach motor head [[James May]] about wine. The first series saw them traveling through the wine regions of France, and the second series saw them drive throughout California.
*''Crush'', USA 2007. Produced and directed by [[Bret Lyman]], this is a documentary short that covers the 2006 grape harvest and crush in California's wine country. It also features winemaker Richard Bruno.
*''[[Bottle Shock]]'' (USA 2008) tells a story centered around the [[Judgment of Paris (wine)|Paris Wine Tasting of 1976]], in addition to portraying the birth of the Napa wine industry.
*''The Judgment of Paris'' (in production, USA 2010) is to based on journalist [[George M. Taber]]'s account of the same Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 that was fictionalized in ''Bottle Shock''.
*''[[Red Red Wine]]'' is a song written by [[UB40]].

==See also==
{{portal|Wine|Red_Wine_Glas.jpg}}
{{Main|Outline of wine}}
<div style="column-count:3;-moz-column-count:3;-webkit-column-count:3">
*[[Acids in wine]]
*[[Aging of wine]]
*[[Beverage]]
*[[Fruit wine]]
*[[Glossary of wine terms]]
*[[Non-grape based wine]]
*[[Wine accessory]]
*[[Wine clubs]]
*[[Wine tasting descriptors]]
*[[Winemaking]]
*[[Screw cap (wine)]]
*[[Cork material|Cork]]
*[[Oak (wine)]]
</div>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
<div class="references-small">
*{{cite book | last = Foulkes | first = Christopher | year = 2001 | title = Larousse Encyclopedia of Wine | publisher = Larousse | isbn = 2-03-585013-4 }}
*{{ cite book | title = Hugh Johnson's Wine Companion | authorlink = Hugh Johnson | last = Johnson | first = Hugh | publisher = Mitchell Beazley | edition = 5th | year = 2003 | isbn = 978-1840007046}}
*{{ cite book | title = Wine for Dummies | last = McCarthy | first = Ed | coauthors = Mary Ewing-Mulligan, Piero Antinori | publisher = HarperCollins | isbn = 0-470-04579-5 | year = 2006 }}
*{{ cite book | title = The Wine Bible | last = MacNeil | first = Karen | publisher = Workman | isbn = 1-56305-434-5 | year = 2001 }}
*{{cite book | title = Planet Wine: A Grape by Grape Visual Guide to the Contemporary Wine World | first = Stuart | last = Pigott | publisher = Mitchell Beazley | isbn = 978-1840007763 | year = 2004 }}
*{{ cite book | title = The Oxford Companion to Wine | edition = 3rd | authorlink = Jancis Robinson | last = Robinson | first = Jancis | location = Oxford | publisher = OUP | isbn = 0-19-860990-6 | year = 2006 }}
*{{ cite book | title = Windows on the World Complete Wine Course | last = Zraly |first = Kevin | publisher = Sterling | isbn = 1-4027-3928-1 | year = 2006 }}
</div>

==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
*[http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/page/2008/sep/04/1 ''The Guardian'' & ''Observer'' Guide to Wine]
*[http://www.wineanorak.com The wine anorak] by wine writer [[Jamie Goode]]

{{Wines}}
{{Wine by country}}
{{Alcoholic beverages}}

[[Category:Wine| ]]

[[Category:Symbols of Dionysus]]

[[af:Wyn]]
[[als:Wein]]
[[ang:Ƿīn (drinc)]]
[[ar:نبيذ]]
[[an:Bin]]
[[arc:ܚܡܪܐ (ܫܬܝܐ)]]
[[frp:Vin]]
[[ast:Vinu]]
[[az:Şərab]]
[[zh-min-nan:Phô-tô-chiú]]
[[be:Віно]]
[[be-x-old:Віно]]
[[bs:Vino]]
[[br:Gwin]]
[[bg:Вино]]
[[ca:Vi]]
[[ceb:Alak]]
[[cs:Víno]]
[[cy:Gwin]]
[[da:Vin]]
[[de:Wein]]
[[et:Vein]]
[[el:Κρασί]]
[[es:Vino]]
[[eo:Vino]]
[[ext:Vinu]]
[[eu:Ardo]]
[[fa:شراب]]
[[fr:Vin]]
[[fur:Vin]]
[[ga:Fíon]]
[[gd:Fìon]]
[[gl:Viño]]
[[gan:葡萄酒]]
[[ko:포도주]]
[[hr:Vino]]
[[io:Vino]]
[[id:Anggur (minuman)]]
[[ia:Vino]]
[[is:Vín]]
[[it:Vino]]
[[he:יין]]
[[jv:Anggur (minuman)]]
[[ka:ღვინო]]
[[sw:Divai]]
[[ku:Şerab]]
[[la:Vinum]]
[[lv:Vīns]]
[[lb:Wäin]]
[[lt:Vynas]]
[[lij:Vin]]
[[li:Wien]]
[[lmo:Vin]]
[[hu:Bor]]
[[mk:Вино]]
[[ml:വീഞ്ഞ്]]
[[mr:ग्रेप वाईन]]
[[arz:نبيت]]
[[ms:Wain]]
[[mwl:Bino]]
[[mn:Дарс]]
[[nah:Octli]]
[[nl:Wijn]]
[[nds-nl:Wien]]
[[ja:ワイン]]
[[nap:Vino]]
[[no:Vin]]
[[nn:Vin]]
[[nrm:Vîn]]
[[oc:Vin]]
[[pms:Vin]]
[[nds:Wien (Drunk)]]
[[pl:Wino]]
[[pt:Vinho]]
[[ro:Vin]]
[[qu:Winu]]
[[ru:Вино]]
[[sah:Вино]]
[[sc:Binu]]
[[sco:Wine]]
[[sq:Vera (pije alkoolike)]]
[[scn:Vinu]]
[[simple:Wine]]
[[sk:Víno]]
[[sl:Vino]]
[[sr:Вино]]
[[sh:Vino]]
[[fi:Viini]]
[[sv:Vin]]
[[tl:Alak]]
[[ta:வைன்]]
[[th:ไวน์]]
[[tr:Şarap]]
[[uk:Вино]]
[[vec:Vin]]
[[vi:Rượu vang]]
[[fiu-vro:Vein]]
[[wa:Vén]]
[[vls:Wyn]]
[[war:Vino]]
[[yi:וויין]]
[[zh-yue:葡萄酒]]
[[bat-smg:Vīns]]
[[zh:葡萄酒]]

Revision as of 11:37, 9 December 2009

Matt Cuddihee Rules

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