Its all about wines !!! - "If your heart is warm with happiness, you'll need a glass; If sorrow chills your heart, have two!" - Hannu

Introduction to Wine

Intro: Wine has a rich history dating back to around 6000 BC and is thought to have originated in areas now within the borders of Georgia and Iran. It's an alcoholic beverage often made by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast which consume the sugars found in the grapes and convert them into alcohol. There are hundreds of different types of wines from all over the world. The type of grape used in wine-making determines the variety of wine produced. 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, apple wine or elderberry wine) and are generically known as fruit wine or country wine.

Color of wine: The color comes from the skin of the grapes. The juice that comes from nearly every variety of grape when pressed is white or clear. This is true of red grapes as well. The color or pigments of red grapes are found in the skins of the grapes. In order to make a red wine from red grapes, it is necessary to leave the skins in contact with the juice during fermentation. When the skins are placed in the fermenting 'must', the pigments leech out of the skins and color the wine. When red grapes are pressed and the skins are kept out, the color of the wine remains white and is considered a 'blanc de noirs' (a white wine from red grapes).

Alcohol in wine (% by Vol): Alcoholic strength is the ethanol (the main product of fermentation) in wine. It is measured in percentage as opposed to proof, which is how alcohol is measured in hard liquor. In the U.S., if a label simply says “Table Wine” then the alcohol content is between 11% and 14%. In Europe the variance is between 8.5% and 14%. The dessert wine usually contains 14-20% alcohol, and Port wine around 20%.

Vintage Wine: A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. Most countries allow a vintage wine to include a portion of wine that is not from the year denoted on the label. For example, in the United States and European Union, the requirement is 85%. The opposite of a vintage wine is a non-vintage wine, which is usually a blend from the produce of two or more years. This is a common practice for wine-makers seeking a consistent style of wine, year on year.
Vintage Port Wine

Dry Wine: Dry wine is the opposite of sweet wine. For cultures where wine is consumed often, dry is the only wine used with meals. Sweet wine is used only as desserts wine. A wine is said to be dry when little or no sugar is left after the fermentation process. It is also said to have "fermented right out".