| Wine is a popular and important beverage that | | | | the word "wine" is used interchangeably to |
| accompanies and enhances a wide range of | | | | describe both fermented (Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs |
| European and Mediterranean-style cuisines, from | | | | 23:20, Proverbs 23:29-35) and unfermented grape |
| the simple and traditional to the most | | | | juice (Isaiah 65:8, Hosea 4:11, Joel 1:5). This has led |
| sophisticated and complex. Red, white and | | | | to some conflicts over the issue of the use of |
| sparkling wines are the most popular, and are also | | | | alcohol in the church. However, wine continues to |
| known as light wines, because they only contain | | | | remain an essential part of the Eucharistic rites in |
| approximately 10-14% alcohol. (Alcohol | | | | the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and |
| percentages are usually by volume.) The | | | | Anglican denominations of Christianity. Much of the |
| apéritif and dessert wines contain 14-20% | | | | New World wine industry was created by the |
| alcohol, and are fortified to make them richer and | | | | Spanish conquistadores to provide sacramental |
| sweeter than the light wines. Although there are | | | | wine, as the native grapes did not prove suitable |
| many classes of dinner wines, they can be | | | | to the purpose. |
| categorized under six specific classes as follows: | | | | It was used in nearly all Protestant groups until |
| Apéritif (or better known as "appetizer | | | | Welch's created commercial grape juice in 1869 |
| wines"): include dry sherry, Madeira, Vermouth, | | | | by applying pasteurization to grapes to stop the |
| and other flavored wines, made to be consumed | | | | natural fermentation process. The influence of the |
| before eating a meal. | | | | temperance movement and Prohibition also |
| Red wines are usually dry and go well with such | | | | convinced some of them to switch from wine to |
| main-course dishes as red meats, spaghetti, and | | | | grape juice; there is an ongoing debate in many |
| highly-seasoned foods. | | | | American Protestant denominations as to whether |
| Rosé wines (also called "pink wines") can be | | | | the Greek and Hebrew words for wine refer to |
| served with almost any dish, but are considered | | | | alcoholic wine or grape juice, though outside such |
| best with seafood, salads, cold cuts, pork, and | | | | circles the terms are believed to refer to alcoholic |
| curries. | | | | wine and the debate is considered meaningless. |
| White wines can be very dry to rather sweet, | | | | Wine is also a very integral part of Jewish laws |
| these wines should be served chilled, and go well | | | | and traditions. The Kiddush, a blessing prior to |
| with white meats, seafood, and fowl. | | | | eating on the Sabbath and other holidays, is |
| Sparkling wines can be served at any meal with | | | | required to be said over wine. On Pesach |
| any course. These wines are frequently served at | | | | (Passover) during the seder it is also required to |
| banquets, formal dinners and weddings. Sparkling | | | | drink four cups of wine.[12] In American Jewish |
| wines can be white, pink (rosé), or red. The | | | | practice it is common to use a kosher wine made |
| best known sparkling wines come from the | | | | from Concord grapes, though the wine produced |
| Champagne region in France. Sparkling wines from | | | | is not popular outside Jewish liturgical circles; it has |
| Spain are called Cava, and in Germany they are | | | | become increasingly common to use higher-quality |
| called Sekt. Although often served throughout a | | | | kosher wines (often grown and made in Israel) at |
| meal, sparkling wines do not generally pair well | | | | the Passover table. |
| with main meals, and should be served as an | | | | Wine based drinks |
| apéritif or with certain entrées. | | | | Brandy: A general term for distilled wine which has |
| Table wine is not bubbly, although some have a | | | | been aged for at least 2 years. |
| very slight carbonation, the amount of which is | | | | Calimocho: A cheap alcoholic drink, comprising 50% |
| not enough to disqualify them as table wines. | | | | red wine and 50% cola drink. |
| According to U.S. standards of identity, table | | | | Mulled wine (known in Scandinavia as Glögg |
| wines may have an alcohol content that is no | | | | and in Germany as Glühwein): A red wine, |
| higher than 14%. In Europe, light wine must be | | | | combined with spices, and usually served hot. |
| within 8.5% and 14% alcohol by volume. As such, | | | | Sangria: A wine punch, comprising red wine, |
| unless a wine has more than 14% alcohol, or it | | | | chopped fruits, sugar, and a small amount of |
| has bubbles, it is a table wine or a light wine. In | | | | brandy or other spirits. |
| reality, in those regions where grapes ripen fully, | | | | Spritzer: A tall, chilled drink, usually made of white |
| such as California's hot Central Valley, a large | | | | wine and soda water. |
| portion of New World red wines have between | | | | Wine cooler: An alcoholic beverage made from |
| 14 and 15.5% alcohol, yet are still certainly 'table | | | | wine and fruit juice, often in combination with a |
| wines' in the practical sense. | | | | carbonated beverage and sugar. |
| Dessert wines range from medium-sweet to | | | | Zurracapote: A popular Spanish alcoholic drink |
| very sweet. These wines are classified under | | | | comprised mainly of red wine, spirit, fruit juice, |
| dessert wines only because they are sometimes | | | | sugar and cinnamon. |
| served with desserts. Among these are port | | | | Rebujito: A mixture of manzanilla wine, mixed with |
| wine, sweet sherry, Tokaji (Tokay), Sauternes | | | | a soft drink like Sprite or 7 Up. |
| and muscatel. | | | | Medical implications |
| Cooking wines typically contain a significant | | | | The health effects of wine (and alcohol in general) |
| quantity of salt. It is a wine of such poor quality, | | | | are the subject of considerable ongoing study. In |
| that it is unpalatable by itself and intended for use | | | | the USA, a boom in red wine consumption was |
| only in cooking. (Note, however, that most | | | | touched off in the 1990s by '60 Minutes', and |
| cooking authorities advise against cooking with | | | | other news reports on the French paradox. |
| any wine one would find unacceptable to drink.) | | | | It now seems clear that regular consumption of |
| The labels on certain bottles of wine suggest that | | | | up to 1-2 drinks a day (1 standard drink is |
| they need to be set aside for an hour before | | | | approximately equal to 5 oz, or 125 ml, of 13% |
| drinking to breathe, while other wines are | | | | wine) does reduce mortality, due to a |
| recommended to be drunk as soon as they are | | | | 10%–40% lower risk of coronary |
| opened. "Breathing" means allowing a wine to | | | | heart disease, especially for those over the age |
| aerate before drinking. Generally, younger wines | | | | of 35 or so (see Alcohol consumption and health). |
| benefit from some aeration, while older wines do | | | | Originally, the effect was observed with red wine. |
| not. The word, "younger", refers to the first one | | | | Compounds, known as polyphenols, are found in |
| third of a wine’s life, which varies from | | | | larger amounts in red wine, and there is some |
| wine type to wine type and from wine to wine. | | | | evidence that these are especially beneficial. One |
| For most red wines, "younger" means up to one | | | | particularly interesting polyphenol antioxidant found |
| to two years, while for white wines, it could mean | | | | in red wine is resveratrol, to which numerous |
| as little as a few months. However, with every | | | | beneficial effects have been attributed. Red wine |
| rule, there are exceptions: for a Beaujolais | | | | also contains a significant amount of flavonoids |
| Nouveau, younger is measured in months, if not | | | | and red anthocyanin pigments that act as |
| weeks; for a hearty Barossa Shiraz, it could be up | | | | antioxidants. With excessive consumption, |
| to ten years. "Older", as one would expect, refers | | | | however, any health benefits may be offset by |
| to the last one third of a wine's life. | | | | the increased rate of various alcohol-related |
| During aeration, the exposure of younger wines | | | | diseases, primarily cancers of mouth, upper |
| to air often "relaxes" the flavours and makes | | | | respiratory tract, and ultimately, cirrhosis of liver, |
| them taste smoother and better integrated in | | | | especially if consumption of red wine is |
| aroma, texture, and flavor. Wines that are older | | | | immoderate. |
| generally fade (lose their character and flavor | | | | Other studies have shown that similar beneficial |
| intensity) with extended aeration. Breathing, | | | | effects on the heart can be obtained from |
| however, does not benefit all wines, and should | | | | drinking beer, and distilled spirits. However, recent |
| not therefore be taken to the extreme. In | | | | studies show that only red wine reduces the risk |
| general, wine should be tasted as soon as it is | | | | of contracting several types of cancer where |
| opened to determine how long it may be aerated, | | | | beer and other alcoholic beverages show no |
| if at all. It should then be tasted every 15 minutes | | | | change. Dr. Sinclair of Harvard University and |
| until the wine is, according to individual preference, | | | | others claim that resveratrol is the active |
| ready to drink. As a general rule, younger white | | | | molecule responsible for the significant difference |
| wines normally require no more than 15-30 | | | | in lowering cancer risks and that the required |
| minutes of aeration while younger red wines | | | | amounts are only found in red wine. Trace |
| should be no more than 30-60 minutes. If in | | | | amounts of resveratrol exist in grapes, white and |
| doubt, it is better to err on the side of too little | | | | red wine and peanuts. |
| aeration than too much. Note that 'aerating' a wine | | | | Sulfites (or sulphites) are chemicals that occur |
| involves more than removal of the cork. For | | | | naturally in grapes and also are added to wine as |
| aeration to provide any benefit whatsoever, the | | | | a preservative. They can trigger a severe and |
| wine must be decanted. | | | | life-threatening allergic reaction in a small |
| Religious uses | | | | percentage of consumers, primarily asthmatics. In |
| Wine is also used in religious ceremonies in many | | | | the USA nearly all commercially produced wine, |
| cultures and the wine trade is of historical | | | | including that with no added sulfites, is required to |
| importance for many regions. Libations often | | | | state on the label "contains sulfites." In other |
| included wine, and the religious mysteries of | | | | countries they do not have to be declared on the |
| Dionysus are usually thought to have used wine | | | | label, leading to a common mistaken belief that |
| as an entheogen. | | | | only wine from the USA contains sulfites. Many |
| The New Testament states that Jesus' first | | | | consumers who have adverse reactions to wine, |
| miracle was to turn water into wine (John 2:1-11), | | | | such as headaches or hangovers, blame added |
| and the Old Testament states that the | | | | sulfites but are probably reacting instead to |
| fermentation of grapes was known by Noah after | | | | naturally-occurring biogenic amines such as |
| the great flood described in Genesis. (Gen. | | | | histamine. The quantity of sulfites in a glass of |
| 9:20-21). However, it is also believed by some that | | | | wine is the same as in a serving of dried apricots. |