Wine has been made and enjoyed by people for thousands of years.  It has a quality that brings people together and was used to celebrate important events such as births and weddings throughout history.  Even Jesus and His disciples used wine to commemorate the last supper and they were to repeat this ceremonial sharing of bread and wine in His name.  That ceremony is still celebrated by Christians all over the world today.  In countries where wine drinking is prevalent some studies show lower incidences of heart disease, cancer and some other illnesses.

There are three basic types of wine including white, red and rosé.  These different types are created by slightly altering the fermenting process.  White wine is created when the skins are removed before the fermentation begins, rosé is created when the skins are left on briefly and red wines have the skins left in longer.  In fact, the longer the skins are on, the darker the wine is.  In addition to these three basic types there are different varieties of each which is generally determined by the variety of grape that is used.

Wine experts describe different flavors and bouquets in wines as well.  The different flavors are created through a combination of different factors.  Wine that is fermented in wooden barrels, for instance will take on some of the flavor and aroma of the wood.  The bouquet is a fancy name for the way a wine smells.  In addition to the above mentioned wooden barrel, other factors that influence the wine’s bouquet are various chemical compounds that are released during the wine fermentation process.

Wine is enjoyed all throughout the world for a variety of reasons and occasions.  Understanding wine is not necessary to enjoy it, but it is important to understand drinking responsibly and not to drink and drive.