Little-Known Facts About Red Wines

Red Wines

Wine is an alcoholic beverage that is consumed by people all over the world. In some regions of the world, it is consumed more and in some less. However it is, wine is one of few medically approved alcoholic beverages, if consumed in moderation, of course. According to the color, wines are divided into white, rose, black and red wines. In terms of the amount of sugar, wines are divided into dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet. Take a look at some interesting facts about white and red wines you probably did not know.

  • The older the white wine is, the darker the color it is. Red wines are totally opposite – the longer they age, the lighter the color. The color of red wines can range from purple to brown color, while the color of white wines ranges from a pale yellow – green to brown.
  • Wines, especially red wines contain many beneficial antioxidants that protect the heart. However, a statistics have shown that white wine can slightly increase the risk of getting specific kind of cancer of the digestive system, particularly the esophagus. Therefore, follow doctor’s orders and do not consume more than 1 to 2 glasses of wine per day.
  • One glass of red wine contains about 90 calories, which equals to one slice of white bread. Two glasses of wine contain equal amount of calories as one serving of spaghetti.
  • Aside from being strong antioxidant, red wines are also known for high concentration of B vitamins, especially with vitamin B2 and nicotinic acid (B3).
  • Traditionally, light wines are served prior to serving heavier during the main meal. Another interesting fact is that white wines should always be served before red wines; younger wines before aged ones; and dry before sweet wines.
  • The smell of younger wines is referred to as “aroma”, while the smell of mature red wines is known as a “bouquet”.
  • Nowadays, the corks are replaced by screw caps and not just on less expensive wines. In fact, at the moment, about 75% of screw caps seal the Australian wines.
  • In ancient Greece, the main host would take the first sip of the wine to ensure it was safe to drink. This is how the custom of toast was born.
  • Top 10 countries that produce the most wine are: Italy, France, Spain, United States, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Chile and Portugal.