Other Articles of Interest:

• Grape Varieties (See also "Grapes")
• Classification of Wine

Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of grapes. Wine is defined as the product by fermentation of unmodified grape juice; their natural chemical balance is such that grapes ferment completely without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes or other nutrients. Although other fruits such as apples, berries and blackcurrants are also fermented, their wines are normally named after the fruit (for example, "apple wine" or "elderberry wine") and are generically known as fruit wine or country wine. Others, such as barley wine and rice wine (e.g. sake) are made from starch-based materials and bear more resemblance to beers, 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.

History Of Wine

The earliest evidence suggesting wine production comes from archaeological sites in Georgia and Iran, dating from 6000 to 5000 BC. The archaeological evidence becomes clearer, and points to domestication of grapevine, in Early Bronze Age sites of the Near East, Sumer and Egypt from around the third millennium BC. In Egypt, wine became a part of recorded history, playing an important role in ancient ceremonial life.

Wine was common in classical Greece and Rome. Dionysus was the Greek god of wine and revelry, and wine was frequently referred to in the works of Homer and Aesop. Many of the major wine producing regions of Western Europe today were established by the Romans. Wine making technology improved considerably during the time of the Roman Empire. Many grape varieties and cultivation techniques were known. Barrels were developed for storing and shipping wine.

In medieval Europe, the Christian Church was a staunch supporter of wine which was necessary for the celebration of the Catholic Mass. In places such as Germany, beer was banned and considered pagan and barbaric while wine consumption was viewed as civilized and a sign of conversion.

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