Interesting Facts About Wine

Red wine can only be produced from red grapes, white wine can be produced from both white and red grapes.

There are approximately 20 million acres of grapes planted across the world.

Grapes are ranked as the world’s number one fruit.

There are about 75 grapes in each cluster.

Wine is considered more complex than blood serum it has so many organic chemical compounds.

The average life span of a grape vine is 25 years; grape vines are actually capable of producing grapes for more than 100 years.

A glass of wine (about 4 oz.) contains about 85 calories.

The wine industry generates more than 145,000 jobs in California.

The first corkscrew was invented in the mid-1800s.

Since the 1980’s the number of commercial wineries in the U.S. has tripled.

Portugal the world's leading cork producer,  has 1/3 of the world's cork forests and supplies 85-90% of the cork used in the U.S.

One acre of grapevines equals about 800 gallons of wine. 

There are approximately 20 million acres are planted to grapes worldwide.

California exports wine to 164 countries.  

There are 10,000 of wine grapes varieties exist worldwide.

A bottle of opened wine stored in the refrigerator lasts 10 times longer than it would if stored at room temperature.

Dom Perignon - cellar master who is generally credited with “inventing” the Champagne making process, was blind.

To prevent Champagne or sparkling wine from foaming out of the glass, pour an ounce, which will settle quickly. Pouring the remainder of the serving into this starter will not foam as much.

Old wine never turns to vinegar. It spoils by oxidation.

Grapevines cannot reproduce reliably from seed.

Before harvest, the canopy of leaves at the top of the vine is often cut away to increase exposure to the sun.

Mycoderma bacteria convert ethyl alcohol into acetic acid, turning wine into vinegar. However, most incidents of spoiled wine are due to air induced oxidation of the fruit.

In the year 2000, Americans spent $20 billion on wine.

There were 847 wineries in California. In the year 2000.

The first Labels were put on wine bottles in the early 1700s.

Wine is often called the nectar of the gods, but Sangiovese is the only grape named after a god. Sangiovese means “blood of Jove”

Americans drink more wine on Thanksgiving than any other day of the year.

Putting ice and kosher salt in a bucket will chill white wine or Champagne faster.

Château Petrus (the most expensive of the Bordeaux wines) is made from at least 95% Merlot grapes.