Wine is an alcoholic drink made through the fermentation of juices obtained from grapes, honey, flowers and malt or grain. Most countries manufacture wine products for local and global export; some even making a respected and well-trusted brand name in the wine-making industry. Wine and its Origins Ever since man learned to make certain wine from grapes, the use of wine has long been woven into the fabric of human life for daily use or on special occasions. The first discovery made with regards to the existence of wine was during the Neolithic Period (8500-4000 BC), when archaeologists found that the yellowish residue of a jar unearthed at the site of Hajji Firuz Tepe in Iran had previously contained wine. Another proof is the said beverage had existed way back during the Biblical times; it is used in Bibles and Scriptures with variations like yayin (Hebrew), which means to boil up or to be in ferment; oinos (Greek); and vinun (Latin). Wines are mainly distinguished by their color, flavor, aroma and alcoholic content. They can be deep red, white or rose depending on the juice concentration and length of time the concoction was allowed to ferment. Although for most connoisseurs, they can tell which country the drink came from because the wine tastes of the place where the grapes were cultivated. French red wines have become very popular in quality and use; in particular they go well with red meat such as beef, roasts, lamb and duck, veal and more. But its popularity can be attributed mainly on the controversies surrounding it made by experts who discovered that consuming red wine in moderation is good for the heart. Red wines are known to contain anti-oxidants that help prevent damage to the arteries by eliminating the formation of fatty lesions and blood clots, lower blood pressure, cholesterol and stroke. |
