Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Three glasses of the three wine colors (from left to right), white, rosé and red.
16th century wine press
Wine boy at a symposium
Wine is an alcoholic beverage typically made of fermented grape juice.[1] The natural chemical balance of
grapes is such that they can ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes or other nutrients.
[2]
Wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast consumes the
sugars found in the grapes and converts them into alcohol. Different varieties of grapes and strains of
yeasts are used depending on the type of wine being produced.[3]
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 (not to be confused with the French term vin de pays).
Others, such as barley wine and rice wine (i.e., sake), are made from starchbased materials and
resemblebeer and spirit more than wine, 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.[4] The
commercial use of the English word "wine" (and its equivalent in other languages) is protected by law in
many jurisdictions.[5]
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.[6][7] Wine probably appeared in Europe at about 4500 BC in what is
now Bulgaria and Greece, and was very common in ancient Greece, Thrace and Rome. Wine has also
played an important role in religion throughout history. The Greek god Dionysos and
the Roman equivalentBacchus represented wine, and the drink is also used
in Christian and Jewish ceremonies such as the Eucharist (also called the Holy Communion) andKiddush.
The word "wine" derives from the ProtoGermanic "*winam," an early borrowing from the Latin vinum,
"wine" or "(grape) vine," itself derived from theProtoIndoEuropean stem *wino
(cf. Hittite: wiyana ,Lycian: Oino, Ancient Greek οῖνος oînos, Aeolic Greek ϝοίνος woinos).[8][9]
Contents
[hide]
• 1 History
• 2 Grape varieties
• 3 Classification
o 3.1 European classifications
o 3.2 Beyond Europe
• 4 Vintages
• 5 Tasting
• 6 Collecting
• 7 Production
o 7.1 Exporting countries
• 8 Uses
o 8.1 Religious uses
o 8.2 Ancient Religions
o 8.3 Judaism
o 8.4 Christianity
o 8.5 Islam
• 9 Health effects
• 10 Packaging
• 11 Storage
• 12 Film and television
• 13 See also
• 14 References
• 15 Further reading
• 16 External links
[edit]History
Main article: History of wine
Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest production of wine, made by fermenting grapes, took
place in sites in Georgia and Iran, from as early as 6000 BC.[6][7] These locations are all within the natural
area of the European grapevine Vitis vinifera.
A 2003 report by archaeologists indicates a possibility that grapes were used together with rice to produce
mixed fermented beverages in China as early as 7000 BC. Pottery jars from theNeolithic site
of Jiahu, Henan were found to contain traces of tartaric acid and other organic compounds commonly
found in wine. However, other fruits indigenous to the region, such ashawthorn, could not be ruled out.[10]
[11]
If these beverages, which seem to be the precursors of rice wine, included grapes rather than other
fruits, these grapes were of any of the several dozen indigenous wild species of grape in China, rather
than from Vitis vinifera, which were introduced into China some 6000 years later.[10]
The oldest known evidence of wine production in Europe is dated to 4500 BC and comes from
archaeological sites in Greece.[12][13] The same sites also contain the world’s earliest evidence of crushed
grapes.[12] In Ancient Egypt, six of 36 wine amphoras were found in the tomb of
King Tutankhamun bearing the name "Kha'y", a royal chief vintner. Five of these amphoras were
designated as from the King's personal estate with the sixth listed as from the estate of the royal house
of Aten.[14] Traces of wine have also been found in central Asian
Xinjiang
, dating from the second and first
millennia BC.[15]
In medieval Europe, the Roman Catholic Church was a staunch supporter of wine since it was necessary
for the celebration of Mass. Monks in France made wine for years, storing it underground in caves to age.
[16]
There is an old English recipe which survived in various forms until the nineteenth century for refining
white wine using Bastard—bad or tainted bastardowine.[17] Wine was forbidden during the Islamic Golden
Age, until Geber and other Muslim chemists pioneered its distillation for cosmetic and medical uses.[18]
[edit]Grape varieties
Main article: List of grape varieties
Grape vineyard
Wine is usually made from one or more varieties of the European species Vitis vinifera, such as Pinot
Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, andMerlot. When one of these varieties is used as the
predominant grape (usually defined by law as a minimum of 75% or 85%), the result is a varietal, as
opposed to a blended, wine. Blended wines are not necessarily considered inferior to varietal wines;
some of the world's most expensive wines, from regions like Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley, are blended
from different grape varieties of the same vintage.[citation needed]
Wine can also be made from other species of grape or from hybrids, created by the genetic crossing of
two species. Vitis labrusca (of which theConcord grape is a cultivar), Vitis aestivalis, Vitis rupestris, Vitis
rotundifolia and Vitis riparia are native North American grapes usually grown for consumption as fruit or
for the production of grape juice, jam, or jelly, but sometimes made into wine.
Hybridization is not to be confused with the practice of grafting. Most of the world's vineyards are planted
with European V. vinifera vines that have been grafted onto North American species rootstock. This is
common practice because North American grape species are resistant to phylloxera, a root louse that
eventually kills the vine. In the late 19th century, most of Europe's vineyards (only excluding some of the
driest vineyards in Southern Europe) were devastated by the bug, leading to massive vine deaths and
eventual replanting. Grafting is done in every wineproducing country of the world except for Argentina,
the Canary Islands and Chile, which are the only ones that have not yet been exposed to the insect.[19]
In the context of wine production, terroir is a concept that encompasses the varieties of grapes used,
elevation and shape of the vineyard, type and chemistry of soil, climate and seasonal conditions, and the
local yeast cultures. The range of possibilities here can result in great differences between wines,
influencing the fermentation, finishing, and aging processes as well. Many wineries use growing and
production methods that preserve or accentuate the aroma and taste influences of their unique terroir.
[20]
However, flavor differences are not desirable for producers of massmarket table wine or other cheaper
wines, where consistency is more important. Such producers will try to minimize differences in sources of
grapes by using production techniques such as microoxygenation, tannin filtration, crossflow filtration,
thin film evaporation, and spinning cones.[21]
[edit]Classification
Wine grapes on a vine
Main article: Classification of wine
Regulations govern the classification and sale of wine in many regions of the world. European wines tend
to be classified by region (e.g. Bordeaux and Chianti), while nonEuropean wines are most often
classified by grape (e.g. Pinot Noir and Merlot). More and more, however, market recognition of particular
regions is leading to their increased prominence on nonEuropean wine labels. Examples of non
European recognized locales include Napa Valley in California,Willamette Valley in Oregon, Columbia
Valley in Washington, Barossa Valley and Hunter Valley in Australia, Central Valley in Chile, Hawke's
Bay andMarlborough in New Zealand, Okanagan Valley and Niagara Peninsula in Canada.
Some blended wine names are marketing terms, and the use of these names is governed
by trademark law rather than by specific wine laws. For example,Meritage (sounds like "heritage") is
generally a Bordeauxstyle blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and may also include Cabernet
Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Commercial use of the term "Meritage" is allowed only via licensing
agreements with an organization called the "Meritage Association".
[edit]European classifications
France has various appellation systems based on the concept of terroir, with classifications ranging
from Vin de Table ("table wine") at the bottom, through Vin de Pays and Appellation d'Origine Vin Délimité
de Qualité Supérieure (AOVDQS) up to Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) or similar, depending on
the region.[22][23] Portugal has something similar and, in fact, pioneered this technique back in 1756 with a
royal charter which created the "Demarcated Douro Region" and regulated wine production and trade.
[24]
Germany did likewise in 2002, although their system has not yet achieved the authority of those of the
other countries'.[25][26] Spain, Greece and Italy have classifications which are based on a dual system of
region of origin and quality of product.[27][28]
[edit]Beyond Europe
New World wine—wines from outside of the traditional wine growing regions of Europe tend to be
classified by grape rather than by terroir or region of origin, although there have been nonofficial attempts
to classify them by quality.[29][30]
[edit]Vintages
Main article: Vintage
A "vintage wine" is one made from grapes that were all or mostly grown in a particular year, and labeled
as such. Most countries allow a vintage wine to include a portion that is not from the labeled vintage.
Variations in a wine's character from year to year can include subtle differences in color, palate, nose,
body and development. Highquality red table wines can improve in flavor with age if properly stored.
[1]
Consequently, it is not uncommon for wine enthusiasts and traders to save bottles of an especially good
vintage wine for future consumption.
In the United States, for a wine to be vintage dated and labeled with a country of origin or American
Viticultural Area (AVA) (such as "Sonoma Valley"), it must contain at least 95% of its volume from grapes
harvested in that year.[31] If a wine is not labeled with a country of origin or AVA the percentage
requirement is lowered to 85%.[31]
Vintage wines are generally bottled in a single batch so that each bottle will have a similar taste. Climate
can have a big impact on the character of a wine to the extent that different vintages from the same
vineyard can vary dramatically in flavor and quality.[32] Thus, vintage wines are produced to be individually
characteristic of the vintage and to serve as the flagship wines of the producer. Superior vintages, from
reputable producers and regions, will often fetch much higher prices than their average vintages. Some
vintage wines, like Brunellos, are only made in betterthanaverage years.
Nonvintage wines can be blended from more than one vintage for consistency, a process which allows
wine makers to keep a reliable market image and maintain sales even in bad years.[33][34] One recent study
suggests that for normal drinkers, vintage year may not be as significant to perceived wine quality as
currently thought, although wine connoisseurs continue to place great importance on it.[35]
[edit]Tasting
Main article: Wine tasting
Judging color is the first step in tasting a wine
Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. Wines are made up of chemical
compounds which are similar or identical to those in fruits, vegetables, and spices. The sweetness of
wine is determined by the amount of residual sugar in the wine after fermentation, relative to the acidity
present in the wine. Dry wine, for example, has only a small amount of residual sugar. Inexperienced wine
drinkers often tend to mistake the taste of ripe fruit for sweetness when, in fact, the wine in question is
very dry.
Individual flavors may also be detected, due to the complex mix of organic molecules such
as esters and terpenes that grape juice and wine can contain. Tasters often can distinguish between
flavors characteristic of a specific grape (e.g., Chianti and sour cherry) and flavors that result from other
factors in wine making, either intentional or not. The most typical intentional flavor elements in wine are
those that are imparted by aging in oak casks; chocolate, vanilla, or coffee almost always come from the
oak and not the grape itself.[36]
Banana flavors (isoamyl acetate) are the product of yeast metabolism, as are spoilage aromas such as
sweaty, barnyard, bandaid (4ethylphenol and4ethylguaiacol),[37] and rotten egg (hydrogen sulfide).
[38]
Some varietals can also have a mineral flavor, because some salts are soluble in water (like limestone),
and are absorbed by the wine.
Wine aroma comes from volatile compounds in the wine that are released into the air.[39] Vaporization of
these compounds can be sped up by twirling the wine glass or serving the wine at room temperature. For
red wines that are already highly aromatic, like Chinon and Beaujolais, many people prefer them chilled.[40]
[edit]Collecting
See also: Aging of wine and Storage of wine
Château Margaux, a First Growth from the Bordeaux region of France, is highly collectible.
Outstanding vintages from the best vineyards may sell for thousands of dollars per bottle, though the
broader term fine wine covers bottles typically retailing at over about $US 3050.[41] "Investment wines"
are considered by some to be Veblen goods—that is, goods for which demand increases instead of
decreases as its price rises. The most common wines purchased for investment include those
from Bordeaux, Burgundy, cult wines from Europe and elsewhere, andVintage port. Characteristics of
highly collectible wines include:
1. A proven track record of holding well over time
2. A drinking window plateau (i.e., the period for maturity and approachability) that is many
years long
3. A consensus amongst experts as to the quality of the wines
4. Rigorous production methods at every stage, including grape selection and appropriate
barrelageing
Investment in fine wine has attracted fraudsters who prey on their victims' ignorance of this sector of the
wine market. Wine fraudsters often work by charging excessively high prices for offvintage or lower
status wines from famous wine regions, while claiming that they are offering a sound investment
unaffected byeconomic cycles. Like any investment, proper research is essential before investing.
[edit]Production
Main article: Winemaking
See also: List of wineproducing countries and List of wineproducing regions
Wine production by country 2006[42]
Rank Country
(with link to wine article)
France
1
Italy
2
Spain
3
United States
4
Argentina
5
Australia
6
China
7
South Africa
8
Chile
9
Germany
10
Wine production by country 2007[42]
Italy
1 5,050,000
France
2 4,711,600
Spain
3 3,645,000
United States
4 2,300,000
Argentina
5 1,550,000
China
6 1,450,000
South Africa
7 1,050,000
Australia
8 961,972
Germany
9 891,600
Chile
10 827,746
Wine grapes grow almost exclusively between thirty and fifty degrees north or south of the equator. The
world's southernmost vineyards are in the Central Otago region of New Zealand'sSouth Island near the
45th parallel,[43] and the northernmost are in Flen, Sweden, just north of the 59th parallel.[44]
[edit]Exporting countries
Top ten wine exporting countries in 2006[45]
Rank Country
Italy*
1
France
2
Spain*
3
Australia
4
Chile*
5
United States
6
Germany
7
Argentina
8
Portugal
9
South Africa
10
World**
* Unofficial figure. ** May include official, semiofficial or estimated data.
2006 export market shares[45]
France
1 34.9%
Italy
2 18.0%
Australia
3 9.3%
Spain
4 8.7%
Chile
5 4.3%
United States
6 3.6%
Germany
7 3.5%
Portugal
8 3.0%
South Africa
9 2.4%
New Zealand
10 1.8%
The UK was the world's biggest importer of wine in 2007.[46]
[edit]Uses
Per capita annual wine consumption: less than 1 litre. from 1 to 7 litres. from 7 to 15 litres. from 15 to 30 litres. More than 30
litres.
Wine is a popular and important beverage that accompanies and enhances a wide range
of European and Mediterraneanstylecuisines, from the simple and traditional to the most sophisticated
and complex. Wine is important in cuisine not just for its value as a beverage, but as a flavor agent,
primarily in stocks and braising, since its acidity lends balance to rich savory or sweet dishes. Red, white,
and sparkling wines are the most popular, and are known as light wines because they are only 10–
14% alcoholcontent by volume. Apéritif and dessert wines contain 14–20% alcohol, and are sometimes
fortified to make them richer and sweeter.
Some wine labels suggest opening the bottle and letting the wine "breathe" for a couple hours before
serving, while others recommend drinking it immediately. Decanting—the act of pouring a wine into a
special container just for breathing—is a controversial subject in wine. In addition to aeration, decanting
with a filter allows one to remove bitter sediments that may have formed in the wine. Sediment is more
common in older bottles but younger wines usually benefit more from aeration.[47]
During aeration, the exposure of younger wines to air often "relaxes" the flavors and makes them taste
smoother and better integrated in aroma, texture, and flavor. Older wines generally fade, or lose their
character and flavor intensity, with extended aeration.[48] Despite these general rules, breathing does not
necessarily benefit all wines. Wine should be tasted as soon as it is opened to determine how long it
should be aerated, if at all.
[edit]Religious uses
See also: Kosher wine, Christianity and alcohol, and Islam and alcohol
[edit]Ancient Religions
The use of wine in religious ceremonies is common to many cultures and regions. Libations often included
wine, and the religious mysteries of Dionysus used wine as a sacramentalentheogen to induce a mind
altering state.
[edit]Judaism
Wine is an integral part of Jewish laws and traditions. The Kiddush is a blessing recited over wine or
grape juice to sanctify the Shabbat or a Jewish holiday. On Pesach (Passover) during the Seder, it is a
Rabbinic obligation of men and women to drink four cups of wine.[49] In the Tabernacle and in the Temple
in Jerusalem, the libation of wine was part of the sacrificial service.[50] Note that this does not mean that
wine is a symbol of blood, a common misconception which contributes to the myth of the blood libel. A
blessing over wine said before indulging in the drink is: "Baruch atah Hashem (Adonai) elokeinu melech
haolam, boray p’ree hagafen"—"Praised be the Eternal, Ruler of the universe, who makes the fruit of the
vine."
[edit]Christianity
All alcohol is strictly forbidden under Islamic law, but especially inPersia, there has been a long tradition of drinking wine.
See also: Christianity and alcohol and Alcohol in the Bible
In Christianity, wine is used in a sacred rite called the Eucharist, which originates
in Gospel accounts of the Last Supper in which Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples and
commanded his followers to "do this in remembrance of me" (Gospel of Luke 22:19). Beliefs about
the nature of the Eucharist vary among denominations (see Eucharistic theologies contrasted).
While most Christians consider the use of wine from the grape as essential for validity of
the sacrament, many Protestants also allow (or require) unfermented, pasteurized grape juice as a
substitute. Wine was used in Eucharistic rites by all Protestant groups until an alternative arose in
the late 1800s. Methodist dentist and prohibitionist Thomas Bramwell Welch applied new
pasteurization techniques to stop the natural fermentation process ofgrape juice. Some Christians
who were part of the growing temperance movement pressed for a switch from wine to grape juice,
and the substitution spread quickly over much of the United States and to other countries to a lesser
degree.[51] There remains an ongoing debate between some AmericanProtestant denominations as
to whether wine can and should be used for the Eucharist or allowed as an ordinary beverage.
[edit]Islam
All alcohol is strictly forbidden under Islamic law. It is only permitted for medicinal reasons. Iran used
to have a thriving wine industry that disappeared after the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
[52]
In Iran (Persia), mei (Persian wine) has been a central theme of poetry for more than a thousand
years.
[edit]Health effects
Red table wine
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 80 kcal 360 kJ
Carbohydrates 2.6 g
Sugars 0.6 g
Fat 0.0 g
Protein 0.1 g
Alcohol 10.6 g
10.6 g alcohol is 13%vol.
100 g wine is approximately 100 ml (3.4 fl oz.)
Sugar and alcohol content can vary.
Source: USDA Nutrient database
See also: Wine and health
Alcohol and Health
Shortterm effects of alcohol
Longterm effects of alcohol
Alcohol and cardiovascular disease
Alcoholic liver disease
Alcoholic hepatitis
Alcohol and cancer
Alcohol and weight
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Alcoholism
Blackout (alcoholrelated amnesia)
WernickeKorsakoff syndrome
Recommended maximum intake
Wine and health
Although excessive alcohol consumption has adverse health effects, epidemiological studies have
consistently demonstrated that moderate consumption of alcohol and wine is statistically
associated with a decrease in death due to cardiovascular events such as heart failure.[53] In
the United States, a boom in red wine consumption was initiated in the 1990s by the TV show 60
Minutes, and additional news reports on theFrench paradox.[54] The French paradox refers to the
comparatively lower incidence of coronary heart disease in France despite high levels of saturated
fat in the traditional French diet. Some epidemiologists suspect that this difference is due to the
higher consumption of wines by the French, but the scientific evidence for this theory is limited. The
average moderate wine drinker is more likely to exercise more, to be more health conscious, and to
be of a higher educational and socioeconomic class, evidence that the association between
moderate wine drinking and health may be related to confounding factors.[53]
Population studies have observed a J curve association between wine consumption and the risk of
heart disease. This means that heavy drinkers have an elevated risk, while moderate drinkers (at
most two fiveounce servings of wine per day) have a lower risk than nondrinkers. Studies have
also found that moderate consumption of other alcoholic beverages may be cardioprotective,
although the association is considerably stronger for wine. Also, some studies have found increased
health benefits for red wine over white wine, though other studies have found no difference. Red
wine contains more polyphenols than white wine, and these are thought to be particularly protective
against cardiovascular disease.[53]
A chemical in red wine called resveratrol has been shown to have both cardioprotective and
chemoprotective effects in animal studies.[55] Low doses of resveratrol in the diet of middleaged
mice has a widespread influence on the genetic levers of aging and may confer special protection on
the heart. Specifically, low doses of resveratrol mimic the effects of what is known ascaloric
restriction diets with 2030 percent fewer calories than a typical diet.[56] Resveratrol is produced
naturally by grape skins in response to fungal infection, including exposure to yeast
during fermentation. As white wine has minimal contact with grape skins during this process, it
generally contains lower levels of the chemical.[57] Other beneficial compounds in wine include
other polyphenols, antioxidants, and flavonoids.[58]
Red wines from the south of France and from Sardinia in Italy have been found to have the highest
levels of procyanidins, which are compounds in grape seeds suspected to be responsible for red
wine's heart benefits. Red wines from these areas have between two and four times as much
procyanidins as other red wines. Procyanidins suppress the synthesis of a peptide called endothelin
1 that constricts blood vessels.[59]
A 2007 study found that both red and white wines are effective antibacterial agents against strains
of Streptococcus.[60] Also, a report in the October 2008 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers
and Prevention, posits that moderate consumption of red wine may decrease the risk of lung
cancer in men.[61]
While evidence from laboratory and epidemiological (observational) studies suggest a
cardioprotective effect, no controlled studies have been completed on the effect of alcoholic drinks
on the risk of developing heart disease or stroke. Excessive consumption of alcohol can
cause cirrhosis of the liver and alcoholism;[62] the American Heart Association cautions people to
"consult your doctor on the benefits and risks of consuming alcohol in moderation."[63]
Wine's effect on the brain is also under study. One study concluded that wine made from
the Cabernet Sauvignon grape reduces the risk of Alzheimer's Disease.[64][65] Another study
concluded that among alcoholics, wine damages the hippocampus to a greater degree than other
alcoholic beverages.[66]
Sulphites are present in all wines and are formed as a natural product of the fermentation process,
and many wine producers add sulfur dioxide in order to help preserve wine. Sulfur dioxide is also
added to foods such as dried apricots and orange juice. The level of added sulfites varies, and some
wines have been marketed with low sulfite content.[67] Sulphites in wine can cause some people,
particularly those with asthma, to have adverse reactions.
Professor Valerie Beral from the University of Oxford and lead author of the The Million Women
Study asserts that the positive health effects of red wine are "an absolute myth." ProfessorRoger
Corder, author of The Red Wine Diet, counters that two small glasses of a very tannic, procyanadin
rich wine would confer a benefit, although "most supermarket wines are low procyanadin and high
alcohol."[68]
[edit]Packaging
Assorted wine corks
See also: Cork (material), Closure (bottle), Alternative wine closures, Wine bottle, Box
wine, and Screw cap (wine)
Most wines are sold in glass bottles and are sealed using corks (50% of production comes
from Portugal).[citation needed] An increasing number of wine producers have been using alternative
closures such as screwcaps, or synthetic plastic "corks". In addition to being less expensive,
alternative closures prevent cork taint, although they have been blamed for other problems such as
excessive reduction.[citation needed]
Some wines are packaged in heavy plastic bags within cardboard boxes, and are called box wines,
or cask wine. These wines are typically accessed via a tap on the side of the box. Box wine can
maintain an acceptable degree of freshness for up to a month after opening, while bottled wine will
more rapidly oxidize, and is considerably degraded within a few days.
Environmental considerations of wine packaging reveal benefits and drawbacks of both bottled and
box wines. Glass used to make bottles has a decent environmental reputation, as it is completely
recyclable, whereas plastics as used in box wines are typically considered to be much less
environmentally friendly. However, wine bottle manufacturers have been cited for Clean Air
Act violations. A New York Times editorial puported that box wine, being lighter in package weight,
has a reduced carbon footprint from its distribution. Boxed wine plastics, even though possibly
recyclable, can be more laborintensive (and therefore expensive) to process than glass bottles. And
while a wine box is recyclable, its plastic wine bladder most likely is not.[69]
[edit]Storage
Main article: Storage of wine
Wine cellars, or wine rooms if they are aboveground, are places designed specifically for the
storage and aging of wine. In an active wine cellar, temperature and humidity are maintained by a
climate control system. Passive wine cellars are not climatecontrolled, and so must be carefully
located. Wine is a natural, perishable food product; when exposed to heat, light, vibration or
fluctuations in temperature and humidity, all types of wine, including red, white, sparkling, and
fortified, can spoil. When properly stored, wines can maintain their quality and in some cases
improve in aroma, flavor, and complexity as they age. Some wine experts contend that the optimal
temperature for aging wine is 55 °F (13 °C).[70] Wine refrigerators offer an alternative to wine cellars.
They are available in capacities ranging from small 16bottle units to furniture pieces that can
contain 400 bottles.
Oak Wine Barrels
Related professions
Name Description
Craftsman of wooden barrels and casks. A cooperage is a company that produces such
Cooper
casks.
An amateur wine maker, or a derogatory term used for small scale operations of recent
Garagiste
inception, usually without pedigree and located in Bordeaux.
A wine merchant, most specifically those who assemble the produce of smaller growers
Négociant
and winemakers and sells them under their own name.
Oenologist Wine scientist or wine chemist; a student of oenology. A winemaker may be trained as
oenologist, but often hires a consultant instead.
A restaurant specialist in charge of assembling the wine list, educating the staff about
Sommelier
wine, and assisting customers with their wine selections.
Vintner,Winemaker A wine producer; a person who makes wine.
A person who specializes in the science of grapevines. Can also be someone who manages
Viticulturist
vineyard pruning, irrigation, and pest control.
[edit]Film and television
Falcon Crest , USA 1981–1990: A popular CBS primetime soap opera about the fictional
Falcon Crest winery and the family who owned it, set in a fictional "Tuscany Valley" in California.
A wine named "Falcon Crest" even went on the market.
A Walk in the Clouds 1995. A love story set in a MexicanAmerican family's traditional
vineyard showcasing different moments in the production of wine.
Mondovino , USA/France 2004. A documentary film directed by American film
maker Jonathan Nossiter, exploring the impact of globalization on various wineproducing
regions.
Sideways , 2004. A comedy/drama film, directed by Alexander Payne, with the tagline: "In
search of wine. In search of women. In search of themselves." Wine, particularly Pinot Noir,
plays a central role. The film caused the Pinot Noir sales to rise in the USA, known as 'the
Sideways Effect'.[71]
A Good Year , 2006. Ridley Scott directs Russell Crowe in an adaptation of Peter Mayle's
novel.
Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure , UK 2006–7. "Wine ponce" Oz Clarke tries to teach
motor head James May about wine. The first series saw them traveling through the wine regions
of France, and the second series saw them drive throughout California.
Crush, USA 2007. Produced and directed by Bret Lyman, this is a documentary short that
covers the 2006 grape harvest and crush in California's wine country. It also features winemaker
Richard Bruno.
Bottle Shock (USA 2008) tells a story centered around the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, in
addition to portraying the birth of the Napa wine industry.
The Judgment of Paris (in production, USA 2010) is to based on journalist George M.
Taber's account of the same Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 that was fictionalized in Bottle Shock
Sponsored Links
During the Colonial Era,
hard apple cider was by
far the most popular
alcoholic beverage in
America. There were
many reasons for the
immense popularity of
apple cider at that time.
The average beer drinker probably learned all about beer by looking at the local pub menu. It boils down to just a few
decisions: domestic or imported, bottle or tap and popular brand name or microbrew. But beer is as old as
civilization itself. A search for knowledge about the origins of beer is a salute to one of the world's most common and
popular beverages. Beer has been a part of our history, from... Read more >
Apple Cider
In recent years, the popularity of cider has witnessed an international revival. Gone are the days when cider was
classed as a "curiosity" drink. Cider has quickly become a part of the mainstream beverage industry. Most cider is
made from fermented apple juice. Natural cider has nothing added and relies on the wild yeast present in the apples
for fermentation. For massproduced ciders, a yeast culture is... Read more >
Cocktails
"Shaken, not stirred," jokes the customer who just ordered a martini in an upscale hotel bar. "I'll let the bartender
know," answers the young waitress, oblivious to the reference to Bond. James Bond. Baby boomers and classical
movie buffs know Bond's reputation for wooing the ladies, martini glass in hand. In fact, modern martini bars borrow
some of their classiness from Ian Fleming's famous... Read more >
Whiskey
From its earliest days, whiskey has been known for its curative and creative properties. It evolved into a unique
cultural icon of the people who savored it. It has charmed saints and tormented sinners. Each country, distiller and
blender has made a distinct interpretation of this drink. Today, whiskey is enjoying yet another revival as a cultural
icon. While the exact origins are lost in the mists of... Read more >
Hangovers
The Hangover: "How's it Hanging?" "Terrible. My head is pounding and I have this constant urge to throw up.""What
happened?""I was at a party last night. Music, dancing, alcohol, everything you'd want. It was crazy! When I got there,
I found two shots of 151 in my hands.""Wow, what'd you do?""The only thing I could do: I drank them.""That must have
hit you hard.""Yeah, but then I got into a drinking contest.""With...Read more >
Vodkas
Vodka is a clear and (ideally) odorless, flavorless alcohol that is popularly consumed in the U.S. and across the world.
It lends itself well to mixing, making it a versatile spirit capable of carrying a variety of flavors or fortifying any number
of drinks. Vodka has a long history closely tied to the frigid region of its origin. Origins of Vodka The Slavic people of
Eastern Europe (as well as Scandinavians to... Read more >
Tequila
Tequila and mezcal are both liquors made from the fruit of the agave plant. Tequila, a particular type of mescal, is
made specifically from the blue agave and can only be distilled in certain geographic areas, particularly the Mexican
state of Jalisco. Alternately, mezcal is produced all over Mexico and is made from the fruit of other species of agave.
History of Tequila Tequila dates back about two... Read more >
Gin
Gin is a versatile spirit made from a grain mash of barley, corn or rye. Its unique flavor comes from a combination of
juniper berries, herbs and spices, coriander, angelica and a number of other ingredients. Gin serves as the main
ingredient in many classic cocktails, including the "gin and tonic" and the classic "dry martini." History of Gin While
the exact origins of gin are unknown, some have suggested... Read more >
Aquavit
When you’re looking for a celebratory drink, aquavit might not be the first alcoholic beverage that comes to mind.
However, aquavit liquor has a long and illustrious history as the first choice for many holidays and special occasions,
especially in Norway and other Scandinavian countries. What is Aquavit Aquavit is an alcoholic drink distilled either
from grain or, more commonly, potatoes. It normally is... Read more >
Vermouth
While you may only know vermouth through its association with the classic martini, this liquor has an interesting
history and far more versatility than its use within the martinimixing context. What is Vermouth Vermouth is an
aromatized wine, meaning that it has added sugar, roots, herbs, spices and flowers. These additives don’t boost the
alcohol content, but they do sculpt the flavor of the wine. Vermouth... Read more >
Rum
Rum was first produced in the Caribbean in the 17th century from the large amounts of sugarcane that easily grew
there. By way of naval exploration and trade, rum's popularity soon spread to Great Britain and North America,
making rum a prosperous export by the late 17th century. In fact, rum became so popular that, when the British Royal
Navy conquered Jamaica, they started giving sailors daily rations of rum...Read more >
Anise Liqueur
Liqueurs are frequently flavored because spices, herbs and/or fruits are infused into the alcohol. They can be traced
back to herbal medicines, and were popular in Italy as early as the 13th century. The majority of liqueurs have a lower
alcohol percentage (or "proof") than spirits, with most liqueurs having a proof between 15 and 30 percent alcohol by
volume. Anise is an herb made from a flowering... Read more >
Brandy
Brandy is a distilled wine that has been boiled or "burnt," as the Dutch would call it. In fact, the Dutch translation for
brandy, brandewijn, literally translates to "burnt wine." Brandy, an alcohol that wasn't always consumed for pleasure,
has a long, honored history. The medicinal use of brandy began with the Arabs sometime in the seventh or eighth
century. Brandy (in the form in which it is now... Read more >
Schnapps
Schnapps had a rather innocent and unassuming beginning when, around the 16th century, monks were studying its
medicinal uses. Nowadays, this potato or grainbased liquor is known around the world as a strong alcoholic
beverage. The original schnapps, translated from German to "a mouthful," was first made in Germany and is still
consumed there regularly, as well as in Austria, Denmark and Switzerland... Read more >
Pisco
As any bartender can tell you, pisco is one of the hottest spirits around these days. The grape brandy, once
considered only good enough for the Peruvian peasants who invented it, has now sparked such international interest
that Peru and Chile are in a bitter dispute about which nation can claim proprietorship. Pisco is a potent brew!
Containing about 45 percent alcohol, the drink still has a mild enough... Read more >
Fenny
Anyone who’s ever toured India’s Goa region typically comes home with a potent memory sipping fenny at a seaside
tavern. Whether it’s served neat, mixed with lemonlime soda or as part of a more elaborate cocktail, fenny is a
superb spirit that deserves more worldwide recognition. Goa: Home of the Famous Fenny Goa, formerly a Portugese
territory, is now mostly known for its beaches. Goa... Read more >
Moonshine
Grain alcohol, also known as moonshine, Everclear or poteen, is a fiery beverage that packs a punch. Unlike some
liquor, grain alcohol embraces its roughly edged flavors to provide its enthusiasts with one of the purest, strongest
forms of alcohol. What is Grain Alcohol? Natural grain alcohol is a form of pure alcohol produced by fermenting and
distilling grain. It's far stronger than other alcoholic beverages... Read more >
Liqueurs
While beer, whiskey and vodka may summon to mind crowded bars and rowdy crowds, liqueurs such as amaretto,
Kahlua and Bailey's conjure a more refined setting, such as a fancy restaurant or an elegant party. Liqueurs are
friendly drinks that go down smooth due to their higher sugar content. Unlike other types of alcohol, liqueurs will never
leave you gasping for air or wearing that bugeyed tequila face... Read more >
Asian Liquors
Just as Americans use the word "soda" to refer to carbonated beverages, the Japanese use the word "sake" to refer
to all alcoholic beverages. However, in some cases, "sake" also refers to a specific shortgrained rice wine. At over
2,000 years old, rice wine sake is one of the oldest Asian liquors. During its first years, sake was part of religious
ceremonies in which villagers chewed rice and nuts then... Read more >
Cachaca
Cachaca is a distilled liquor primarily made in Brazil. While cachaca, also referred to as "white rum," is often
compared to rum, it is actually made from pure sugarcane, rather than molasses, which is used to make rum. The
History of Brazilian Cachaca No one knows who developed cachaca or exactly where it comes from, but they do know
its beginnings reside in Brazil's colonial period (around 1530)... Read more >
Kefir
Kefir is a popular drink that is taking the world by storm. But what is kefir and what is it made of? Popular in northern
Europe, kefir is a fermented drink that is sometimes used in place of milk products in cereals, soups and other foods.
In fact, kefir is the main ingredient in Lithuanian cold beet soup, or borscht, and the Russian summer soup known as
okroshka. It is also used to make kefir... Read more >
Search >
pple cider (sometimes soft cider) is the name used in the United States and parts of Canada for an
unfiltered, unsweetened, nonalcoholic drink made from apples. It is opalescent, or opaque, due to the
fine apple particles in suspension, and may be tangier than conventional filtered apple juice, depending
on the apples used.[1]
This untreated cider is a seasonally produced drink[2] of limited shelflife enjoyed in the autumn, although it
is sometimes frozen for use throughout the year. Traditionally served on
the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, it is sometimes heated and spiced, or mulled.
Contents
[hide]
• 1 Nomenclature
• 2 Unpasteurized cider
• 3 Commercial production
• 4 Pasteurization
• 5 Variations
• 6 References
• 7 External links
[edit]Nomenclature
Vintage farm yard manual apple press. The grinder fills one slatted basket, which is then alternated into position under the
pressing screw.
While the term cider is used for the fermented alcoholic drink in most of the world, in the United States
and much of Canada, the term hard cider is used. In the United States, the distinction between
plain apple juice and cider is not legally well established.[3] Generally those who produce soft
ciderconsider the raw juice of apples to be cider, and any preservation process (eg. pasteurizing) changes
the name to apple juice.
Some individual states do specify the difference. For example, according to the Massachusetts
Department of Agricultural Resources "Apple juice and apple cider are both fruit beverages made from
apples, but there is a difference between the two. Fresh cider is raw apple juice that has not undergone a
filtration process to remove coarse particles of pulp or sediment. Apple juice is juice that has been filtered
to remove solids and pasteurized so that it will stay fresh longer. Vacuum sealing and additional filtering
extend the shelf life of the juice."[4] In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency also regulates
"unpasteurized apple cider".[5]
[edit]Unpasteurized cider
Small scale hydraulic apple press ready to go. Each load produces 120140 liters (3035 US gallons)
Apple cider is typically made from blends of several different apples to give a balanced taste. There is
some competitiveness among local cider mills in apple country for the highest quality blends. Frequently
blends of heritage, or heirloom varieties are used.
Today, unpasteurized cider is generally sold only onsite at orchards or small rural mills in apple growing
areas. Cider aficionados seek it out for its authentic, unadulterated flavor, others for the purported health
benefits of the unprocessed quality. Since the naturally occurring yeasts that cause fermentation have not
been killed by pasteurization, it will ferment with time. Within a week or two refrigerated it will begin to
become slightly carbonated and eventually become socalled "hard cider" as the fermentation process
turns sugar into alcohol. Some producers "harness" this fermentation to produce "hard cider", and some
carry it to the further acetification process to produce apple cider vinegar.
[edit]Commercial production
Cidering in a contemporary rural area mill. Custom batches pressed directly to bulk containers on demand.
Modern methods allow a formerly handmade beverage to be commercially produced. According to the
state of Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources it takes "about one third of a bushel to
make a gallon of cider. To make cider, apples are washed, cut and ground into a mash that is the
consistency of applesauce. Layers of mash are wrapped in cloth, and put between wooden racks. A
hydraulic press squeezes the layers, and the juice flows into refrigerated tanks. This juice is bottled as
apple cider."
Early forms of production involved a man or horse powered crusher consisting of a stone or wood trough
with a heavy circulating wheel to crush the fruit, and a large manual screw press to generate the pressure
needed to express the juice from the pulp. Straw was commonly used to contain the pulp during pressing,
although later, coarse cloth came into use. As technology advanced, rotary drum "breakers" came into
use, and small scale manual basket style presses, such as the farm press pictured. Today nearly all small
pressing operations use electrichydraulic equipment with press cloths and racks both of polyproplyene in
what is commonly called a "rack and cloth press", and electric hammermill shredders. These modern
systems are capable of producing 1 US gallon (3.8 liters) of juice from as little as 1012 pounds (4.5
5.5 kg) of fresh apples.
[edit]Pasteurization
Due to E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks from unpasteurized apple cider and other outbreaks from contaminated
fruit juices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed new regulations in 1998,[6] and
Canada followed suit in 2000.[7]
The bulk of cider production and sale fell under the umbrella of proposed 1998 U.S. Food and Drug
Administration regulations applying to all fresh fruit and vegetable juices.[8]
In 2001 the regulations were finalized, the FDA issuing a rule requiring that virtually all juice producers
follow Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) controls, using either heat
pasteurization, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) or other proven methods.[9] As a result, all apple
cider sold in the United States, other than sales directly to consumers by producers (such as juice bars
and roadside farmstands), must be produced using HACCP principles to achieve a "5 log" reduction in
pathogens.[10] While the use of UVGI treatment and other technologies meet legal requirements, heat
pasteurization is the most commonly used method.[11] After pasteurizing, cider is normally hot packed in
glass (similar to home canning), and may be stored for extended periods without changing further in
character, the same as the pasteurized apple juices on the store shelf.
[edit]Variations
"Hot apple cider" or "mulled cider" (similar to "Wassail") is a popular fall (autumn) and winter beverage,
[12]
consisting of apple cider, heated to a temperature just below boiling, withcinnamon, orange
peel, nutmeg, cloves, or other spices added.
"Sparkling cider" is a carbonated nonalcoholic beverage made from unfiltered or filtered apple cider. It is
sometimes served at celebrations as a nonalcoholic alternative to champagne.
"Cider doughnuts" are sometimes sold at cider mills, containing cider in the batter. Visiting apple orchards
in the fall for cider, doughnuts, and youpick apples is a large segment inagritourism.[13][14][15]
Cider (pronounced /ˈsaɪdər/) is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples. Although
cider can be made from any variety of apple, certain cultivars are preferred in some regions, and these
may be known as cider apples.
Cider varies in alcohol content from less than 3% ABV in French cidre doux to 8.5% ABV or more in
traditional English ciders. In the United States and parts of Canada, where the term cider refers almost
exclusively to nonalcoholic apple cider, the term hard cider is used for alcoholic cider.
Cider is very popular in the United Kingdom, especially in South West England. The United Kingdom has
the highest per capita consumption of cider, as well as the largest ciderproducing companies in the world,
[1]
including H.P. Bulmer, the largest.[2] As of 2006, the UK produces 600 million litres of cider each year
(130 million imperial gallons).[3]
The beverage is also popular and traditional in Ireland; in Brittany (chistr) and Normandy (cidre) in France;
in Asturias (Spain) (sidra); in the RheinlandPfalz and other regions of Germany (Viez or Apfelwein); and
in the Basque country (sagardoa) of Spain and France.
Pear cider is becoming an increasingly popular term and is seen as an alternative name for perry. Its
increased use is driven by drinks manufacturers, in order to make it more accessible and understandable
to the younger generation who have been attracted to the category in recent years.[4]
Contents
[hide]
• 1 Appearance and types of cider
• 2 Cider production
o 2.1 Scratting and pressing
o 2.2 Fermentation
o 2.3 Blending and bottling
• 3 Health
• 4 Cider festivals
• 5 Uses of cider
• 6 Related drinks
• 7 Cider by country
o 7.1 Argentina
o 7.2 Austria
o 7.3 Australia
o 7.4 Belgium
o 7.5 Canada
o 7.6 Channel Islands
o 7.7 Chile
o 7.8 Denmark
o 7.9 East Asia
o 7.10 Finland
o 7.11 France
o 7.12 Germany
o 7.13 Ireland
o 7.14 Italy
o 7.15 Mexico
o 7.16 Luxembourg
o 7.17 Norway
o 7.18 South Africa
o 7.19 Spain
o 7.20 Sweden
o 7.21 The Netherlands
o 7.22 The United Kingdom
7.22.1 Cheap strong ciders
7.22.2 The West of England
7.22.3 Wales
7.22.4 Definition of "real" cider
o 7.23 The United States
• 8 See also
• 9 References
• 10 External links
[edit]Appearance and types of cider
The flavour of different ciders differs enormously. They can be classified in the first instance from dry to
sweet. The appearance ranges from cloudy with sediment to completely clear. Colour ranges from light
yellow through orange to brown. The variations in clarity and colour are mostly due to filtering between
pressing and fermentation. Some apple varieties will produce a clear cider without any filtration. Sparkling
and still ciders are made; sparkling is more common.
Modern, massproduced ciders more closely resemble sparkling wine in appearance. More traditional
brands tend to be darker and cloudier. They are often stronger than processed varieties and taste more
strongly of apples. Almost colourless white cider is produced on a large scale. It is typically strong (7%
8% ABV) and available very cheaply. Some ciders produced in the UK are sold under the alternative
spelling "cyder".
[edit]Cider production
[edit]Scratting and pressing
Layers of pomace are wrapped in canvas
Apples grown for consumption are suitable for cider making, though some regional cidermakers prefer to
use a mix of eating and cider apples (as in Kent, England), or exclusively cider apples (as in the West
Country, England). There are many hundreds of varieties of cultivars developed specifically for cider
making.
Once the apples are gathered from trees in orchards they are scratted (ground down) into what is
called pomace or pommage. Historically this was done using pressing stones with circular troughs, or by a
cider mill. Cider mills were traditionally driven by the hand, watermill, or horsepower. In modern times
they are likely to be powered by electricity. The pulp is then transferred to the cider press and built up in
layers known as cheeses into a block.
Traditionally the method for squeezing the juice from the cheese involves placing sweet straw or hair
cloths between the layers of pomace. This will alternate with slatted ashwood racks, until there is a pile of
ten or twelve layers. It is important to minimise the time that the pomace is exposed to air in order to keep
oxidation to a minimum.
The set is then subjected to increasing degrees of pressure, until all the 'must' or juice is squeezed from
the pomace. This juice, after being strained in a coarse hairsieve, is then put into either open vats or
closed casks. The pressed pulp is given to farm animals as winter feed, composted or discarded, or used
to make liqueurs.[5]
[edit]Fermentation
Fermentation is carried out at a temperature of 4–16 °C (40–60 °F). This is low for most kinds of
fermentation, but is beneficial for cider as it leads to slower fermentation with less loss of delicate aromas.
Shortly before the fermentation consumes all the sugar, the liquor is racked (siphoned) into new vats. This
leaves dead yeast cells and other undesirable material at the bottom of the old vat. At this point it
becomes important to exclude airborne acetic bacteria, so vats are filled completely to exclude air. The
fermenting of the remaining available sugar generates a small amount of carbon dioxide that forms a
protective layer, reducing air contact. This final fermentation creates a small amount of carbonation. Extra
sugar may be added specifically for this purpose. Racking is sometimes repeated if the liquor remains too
cloudy.
Apple based juices with cranberry also make fine ciders; and many other fruit purées or flavourings can
be used, such as grape, cherry, and raspberry.
The cider is ready to drink after a three month fermentation period, though more often it is matured in the
vats for up to two or three years.[6]
[edit]Blending and bottling
For largerscale cider production, ciders from vats produced from different varieties of apple may be
blended to accord with market taste. If the cider is to be bottled, usually some extra sugar is added for
sparkle. Higher quality ciders can be made using the champagne method, but this is expensive in time
and money and requires special corks, bottles, and other equipment. Some home brewers use beer
bottles, which work perfectly well, and inexpensively. This allows the cider to become naturally
carbonated.
[edit]Health
Alcohol and Health
Shortterm effects of alcohol
Longterm effects of alcohol
Alcohol and cardiovascular disease
Alcoholic liver disease
Alcoholic hepatitis
Alcohol and cancer
Alcohol and weight
Fetal alcohol syndrome
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Alcoholism
Blackout (alcoholrelated amnesia)
WernickeKorsakoff syndrome
Recommended maximum intake
Wine and health
Conventional apple cider has a relatively high concentration of phenolics and antioxidants which may be
helpful for preventing heart disease, cancer and other ailments.[7] This is, in part, because apples
themselves have a fairly high concentration of phenolics.
[edit]Cider festivals
A cider festival is an organised event promoting cider and usually perry. A variety of ciders and perries will
be available for tasting and buying. Festivals may be organised by ciderpromoting private
organizations, pubs or cider producers.
[edit]Uses of cider
A distilled spirit, apple brandy, is made from cider. Its best known forms are calvados and applejack. In
Calvados, Normandy, France, calvados is made from cider by double distillation. In the first pass, the
result is a liquid containing 28%–30% alcohol. In a second pass, the amount of alcohol is augmented to
about 40%. Applejack is a strong alcoholic beverage made in North America by concentrating cider, either
by the traditional method offreeze distillation, or by true evaporative distillation. In traditional freeze
distillation, a barrel of cider is left outside during the winter. When the temperature is low enough, the
water in the cider starts to freeze. If the ice is removed, the (now more concentrated) alcoholic solution is
left behind in the barrel. If the process is repeated often enough, and the temperature is low enough, the
alcohol concentration is raised to 30%–40% alcohol by volume. In freeze distillation, methanol and fusel
oil, which are natural fermentation byproducts, may reach harmful concentrations. These toxins can be
separated when regular heat distillation is performed. Home production of applejack is illegal in most
countries.
A popular aperitif in Normandy is pommeau – a drink produced by blending unfermented apple juice and
apple brandy in the barrel (the high alcoholic content of the spirit stops the fermentation process of the
cider and the blend takes on the character of the aged barrel).
Cocktails may include cider. Besides kir and snakebite, an example is Black Velvet in a version of which
cider may replace champagne, usually referred to as a "Poor Man's Black Velvet".
A few producers in Quebec have developed ice cider (French: cidre de glace), sometimes called "apple
ice wine"), inspired from ice wines, where the apples are naturally frozen either before or after harvest.
The alcohol concentration of ice cider is 9–13%.
Cider may also be used to make vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is noted for its high acidity and its flavour.
[edit]Related drinks
Other fruits can be used to make ciderlike drinks. The most popular is perry, known in France as poiré,
produced mostly in Normandy, and is made from fermented pear juice. A branded sweet perry known
as Babycham, marketed principally as a women's drink and sold in miniature Champagnestyle bottles,
was once popular but has become unfashionable. Another related drink is cyser – cider fermented with
honey.
Although not widely made in modern times, various other pome fruits can produce palatable
drinks. Apicius, in Book II of De re coquinaria, includes a recipe calling for quince cider.
Another similar drink is plum jerkum, made from fermented plums, traditional of Warwickshire in the
English Midlands. It is said that it "left the head clear while paralysing the legs". TheWarwickshire
Drooper plum from which it is traditionally brewed is now uncommon, which explains the rarity of the
drink.[8]
[edit]Cider by country
This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may
be challenged and removed. (September 2007)
Before the development of rapid long distance transportation, regions of cider consumption generally
coincided with regions of cider production: that is, areas with apple orchards. For example, R. A. Fletcher
notes that in the Liber Sancti Jacobi, cider was said to be more common than wine in 12th
century Galicia.
[edit]Argentina
In Argentina, cider, or sidra is by far the most popular alcoholic carbonated drink during the Christmas and
New Year holidays. It has traditionally been considered the choice of the middle and lower classes (along
with ananá fizz, cider and pineapple juice), whereas the higher classes would rather go for champagne for
their Christmas or New Year toast. Popular commercial brands of cider are Real, La Victoria, Del Valle, La
Farruca and Rama Caída. It is usually marketed in 0.72 litre glass or plastic bottles.
[edit]Austria
In Austria cider is made in the south west of Lower Austria, the so called "Mostviertel" and in Upper
Austria. Almost every farmer there has some apple or pear trees. Many of the farmers also have a kind of
inn called "Mostheuriger". There they serve cider and also something to eat. Cider is typically called
"Most".
[edit]Australia
In Australia, 'cider' is considered an alcoholic beverage made from apples. The most popular brands of
alcoholic cider in Australia are Strongbow, and Mercury Cider made at the Cascade Brewery in Hobart,
Tasmania. Cascade's 'Apple Isle' Sparkling Apple Juice is the most popular selling brand of nonalcoholic
cider in Australia. Alcoholic cider is sold in bottleshops, while the nonalcoholic version is stocked in
the softdrink aisles of supermarkets. Three Oaks Cider made in South Australia by Vok Beverages has
recently entered the market and is the only Australian Cider sold in 375ml cans. Pipsqueak brewed
by Little Creatures (brewery) in Fremantle, Western Australia is a new player in the Cider market.
Recently, Tooheys released Tooheys Extra Dry 5 Seeds Cider, which is Tooheys first foray into the cider
market and unlike most other brands it only offers an 'extra dry' blend. Most brands offer a Sweet, Original
or Draft and Dry blend.
[edit]Belgium
Scottish & Newcastle own Belgium cider maker Stassen SA, who in addition to their own local brands
such as Strassen X Cider also produce Strongbow Jacques, a 5.5% ABV cider with cherry, raspberry and
blackcurrant flavours. Zonhoven based Konings NV specialises in private label ciders for European
retailers and offers a wide variety of flavours and packaging options to the beverage industry.
[edit]Canada
In Quebec, cider is considered a traditional alcoholic beverage. Cider making was, however, forbidden
from the early years of the British rule as it was in direct conflict with established British brewers' interests
(most notably John Molson). In recent years, a unique variety has emerged on the market: ice cider. This
type of cider is made from apples with a particularly high level of sugar caused by natural frost.
In Ontario, apple cider or apple hooch is often homemade. Cider is commercially produced in British
Columbia (large and small producers), New Brunswick and Ontario, usually with a 7% alcohol content. It
is sold in 341 ml glass bottles and 2 litre plastic bottles, and does not usually have added sugar.
[edit]Channel Islands
Few traditional horsedrawn circular apple crushers are still in use, but many may still be seen used as garden ornaments,
flower planters or architectural features
Along with Normandy, the Channel Islands had a strong cidermaking tradition. Cider had been the
ordinary drink of people of Jersey from the 16th century, when the commercial opportunities offered by
cider exports spurred the transformation of feudal openfield agriculture to enclosure. Until the 19th
century, it was the largest agricultural export with up to a quarter of the agricultural land given over to
orchards. In 1839, for example, 268,199 gallons (1,219,257 litres) of cider were exported from Jersey to
England alone,[9] and almost half a million gallons were exported from Guernsey18341843,[10] but by 1870
exports from Jersey had slumped to 4,632 gallons.[11]
Beer had replaced cider as a fashionable drink in the main export markets, and even the home markets
had switched to beer as the population became more urban. Potatoes overtook cider as the most
important crop in Jersey in the 1840s, and in Guernsey glasshouse tomato production grew in
importance. Smallscale cider production on farms for domestic consumption, particularly by seasonal
workers from Brittany and mainland Normandy, was maintained, but by the mid20th century production
dwindled until only 8 farms were producing cider for their own consumption in 1983.[12]
The number of orchards had been reduced to such a level that the destruction of trees in the Storm of
1987 demonstrated how close the Islands had come to losing many of its traditional cider apple varieties.
A concerted effort was made to identify and preserve surviving varieties and new orchards were planted.
As part of diversification, farmers have moved into commercial cider production, and the cider tradition is
celebrated and marketed as a heritage experience. In Jersey, a strong (above 7%) variety is currently sold
in shops and a bouché style is also marketed.[13]
In Jersey, cider is used in the preparation of black butter (Jèrriais: nièr beurre), a traditional preserve.
[edit]Chile
Cider has been made in Chile since colonial times. Southern Chile accounts for nearly all Cider
production in the country. Cider is also often linked to the production of Chicha, a traditional alcoholic
drink.
[edit]Denmark
Despite a strong apple tradition, Denmark has little cider production. Six places that produce cider in
Denmark are Pomona (since 2003), Fejø Cider (since 2003), Dancider (since 2004), Ørbæk Bryggeri
(since 2006), Ciderprojektet (since 2008) and Svaneke Bryghus (since 2009). All are inspired mainly by
English and French cider styles. The assortment of imported ciders has grown significantly since 2000,
prior to that only ciders from Sweden, primarily nonalcoholic, were generally available. On March 31
2008 Carlsberg launched an alcoholic cider in Denmark called Somersby Cider.[14]
[edit]East Asia
Cider in Japan and South Korea refers to a soft drink similar to Sprite or the UK definition of lemonade.
The Chilsung Cider brand dominates the Korean market.
[edit]Finland
In Finland cider holds the position as one of the most common drinks after beer. The bestknown brands
are Golden Cap, Fizz and Upcider. They typically contain 4,54,7%vol of alcohol. Virtually all Finnish cider
is produced from fermented apple (or pear) juice concentrate and comes in a variety of flavours ranging
from forest berries to rhubarb and vanilla.
[edit]France
Cidre bouché from Normandy.
French cidre is an alcoholic drink produced predominantly in Normandy and Brittany. It varies in strength
from below 4% alcohol to considerably more. Cidre Doux is a sweet cider, usually up to 3% in strength.
'DemiSec' is 3–5% and Cidre Brut is a strong dry cider of 5% alcohol and above. Most French ciders are
sparkling. Higher quality cider is sold in champagnestyle bottles (cidre bouché). Many ciders are sold in
corked bottles, but some screwtop bottles exist. Until the mid20th century, cider was the second most
consumed drink in France (after wine) but an increase in the popularity of beer displaced cider's market
share outside traditional ciderproducing regions. In crêperies (pancakes restaurants) in Brittany, cider is
generally served in traditional ceramic bowls (or wide cups) rather than glasses. A kir breton (or kir
normand) is a cocktail apéritif made with cider and cassis, rather than white wine and cassis for the
traditionalkir. The Domfrontais, in the Orne (BasseNormandie), is famous for its pear cider (poiré).
The calvados du Domfrontais is made of cider and poiré.
Some cider is also made in south western France, in the French part of the Basque Country. It is a
traditional drink there and is making a recovery. Ciders produced here are generally of the style seen in
the Spanish part of the Basque Country.
Calvados, from Normandy, is a spirit is made of cider through a process called double distillation. In the
first pass, the result is a liquid containing 28%–30% alcohol. In a second pass, the amount of alcohol is
augmented to about 40%.
Keeving Breton cider making employs the technique of keeving (from the French cuvée). In
keeving, calcium chloride and a special enzyme are added to the pressed apple juice, causing protein in
the juice to precipitate to the top for removal. This reduces the amount of protein available to the yeast,
starving it and therefore causing the cider to finish fermenting while sugar is still available. The result is a
sweeter drink at a lower alcohol level but still retaining the full flavour of the apples, without dilution.
[edit]Germany
Main article: Apfelwein
German cider, usually called Apfelwein (apple wine), and regionally known as Apfelmost (apple
must), Viez (from Latin vice, the second or substitute wine), or Saurer Most (sour must), has an alcohol
content of 5.5%–7% and a tart, sour taste.
German cider is mainly produced and consumed in Hesse, particularly in
the Frankfurt, Wetterau and Odenwald areas, in Moselfranken, Merzig (Saarland) and the Trier area, as
well as the lower Saar area and the region bordering on Luxembourg and in the area along
the Neckar river in Swabia. In these regions, there are several large producers, as well as numerous
small, private producers often using traditional recipes. An official Viez route or cider route
connects Saarburg with the border to Luxembourg.
[edit]Ireland
Magners Cider
Cider is a popular drink in Ireland; for a long time cider production was officially encouraged and
supported by a preferential tax treatment. A single cider,Bulmers, dominates sales in Ireland: Owned
by C&C and produced in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, this Bulmers is unrelated to the British Bulmers cider.
Outside the Republic of Ireland, C&C brand their cider as Magners. It is very popular in Ireland to drink
cider over ice and encouraged in their advertising.
[edit]Italy
Cider was once widely produced in Northern Italy's apple growing regions, with a marked decline
during fascist rule, due to the introduction of a law banning the industrial production of alcoholic
beverages derived from fruits of less than 7% ABV, which was aimed at protecting wine producers.
[15]
Present laws and regulations are favourable to cider makers, but production has only survived in a
few alpine locations, mostly in the regions of Trentino, and in Piedmont, where it is known as vin ëd
pom (apple wine) or pomada, because it traditionally was left to ferment in a vat along with
grape pomace, giving it a distinctive reddish colour.[16] Taxation is equal to comparable drinks and most
Italians are not aware of the existence of cider, making cider an unusual and difficult to find drink in most
of Italy.
[edit]Mexico
There are two types of cider (sidra) sold in Mexico. One type is a popular apple flavoured carbonated soft
drink, sold under a number of soft drink brands, such as Sidral Mundet and Manzana Lift (both Coca
Cola FEMSA brands). The alcoholic sidra is a sparkling cider typically sold in champagnestyle
bottles. Sidrais, due to the expense of imported champagne, sometimes used as a substitute for New
Year's Eve toasts in Mexico.
[edit]Luxembourg
In Luxembourg, viez (pronounced feetz) is rather like English scrumpy. It is cloudy and varies from non
alcoholic to very alcoholic. It is made only in autumn.
[edit]Norway
In Norway, cider (sider) is a naturally fermented apple juice. Pear juice is sometimes mixed with the apple
to get a better fermenting process started. The main area for cider production is in the proclaimed "fruit
garden" or "apple orchard" of Norway, the Hardanger region.
Following lengthy navigation through the directives of Norway's complex alcohol laws, three brands of
sparkling cider with an abv of approximately 10% are available to the Norwegian public through
distribution by the monopoly outlet Vinmonopolet, Hardanger Sider Sprudlande from Hardanger, Krune
Sider from Bergen sourcing apples from Hardanger, and Liersider fromLier.[17][18] In line with the law of
1975 prohibiting all advertising of alcoholic beverages of abv greater than 2.5%,[19] the products receive
little exposure despite some favourable press reaction.[18][20]
Ciders of low alcohol levels are widely available, mostly brands imported from Sweden, although
carbonated soft drinks with no alcoholic content may also be marketed as "cider".[20]
[edit]South Africa
There are two main types of cider produced in South Africa, Hunters Gold and Savanna Dry. They are
produced and distributed through Distell Group Limited. Hunters Gold was first introduced in South Africa
in 1988 as an alternative to beer. The range includes Hunters Dry and Hunters Export. Savanna Dry was
introduced in 1996 and also comes in a Light Premium variety.
[edit]Spain
Asturian cider being poured in the traditional manner
Cider has been popular in the Basque Country for centuries.[21] Known as sagardoa (IPA: /sa'ga
̺ ɾdoa/),
and drunk either bottled or in a cider house calledsagardotegi, in which it is directly poured from a barrel.
Cider tasting events are popular in the Basque region of Gipuzkoa, where stalls are set up on the street
selling the drink from several producers at cheap prices and served until stock runs out.
The Spanish region of Asturias is known for traditional sidra, an alcoholic cider of 4–8% strength. In
Asturias cider is traditionally served in sidreríes where it is poured in very small quantities from a height
into a wide glass, with the arm holding the bottle extended upwards and the one holding the glass
extended downwards. This technique is called to escanciar un culín (also echar un culín) and is done to
get air bubbles into the drink, thus giving it a sparkling taste like Champagne that lasts a very short time.
[edit]Sweden
A glass of Rekorderligwild berries cider
Due to Swedish law, stores in Sweden can not sell cider with less than 15 percentage juice by volume
under the name Cider[22]. "Cider" with none or less than 15% juice is instead usualy sold as "Apple/Pear
beverage with cider character" (Swedish)"Äpple/Pärondryck med Ciderkaraktär. There is a number of
different ciderbrands in Sweden. Some are Rekordelig, Xide®, Kiwik Ciderand Kopparberg cider.
[edit]The Netherlands
In The Netherlands cider is not as commonly available as in its surrounding countries. In
2007 Heineken started testing a cider brand named Jillz in a number of bars throughout the country. The
beverage is promoted mainly towards female drinkers as an alternative to beer[23] . It contains 5% alcohol
by volume which is similar to a typical draught beer in the Netherlands. Jillz is available on draught in
bars, pubs and restaurants and is also available in most supermarkets and liquor stores.
[edit]The United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, cider is mostly associated with the West Country and Herefordshire, but is also
produced in Wales and across England, particularlyKent, Suffolk and Norfolk. Cider is available in sweet,
medium and dry varieties. Recent years have seen a significant increase in cider sales in the UK.[24]
There are two broad main traditions in cider production in the UK the West tradition and the Kent and
East Anglia tradition. The former are made using a much higher percentage of true ciderapples and so
are richer in tannins and sharper in flavour. Kent and East Anglia ciders tend to use a higher percentage
of, or are exclusively made from, culinary and dessert fruit; Kentish ciders such as Biddenden's, Rough
Old Wife and Theobolds are typical of this style. They tend to be clearer, more vinous and lighter in body
and flavour.
At one end of the scale are the traditional, small farmproduced varieties. These are noncarbonated and
usually cloudy orange in appearance. England's West Country contains many of these farms. Production
is often on such a small scale the product is only sold at the point of manufacture or in local pubs and
shops[25] At the other end of the scale are the mass production factories for products such
as Strongbow and Blackthorn.
Mass produced commercial cider such as that produced by Bulmers is likely to be pasteurised and force
carbonated. The colour is likely to be golden yellow with a clear appearance from the filtration. White
ciders are almost colourless in appearance.
[edit]Cheap strong ciders
A key market segment exists in the UK for strong white massproduced cider at 7.5% alcohol by volume.
Cider with higher than 7.5% alcohol has a higher rate of excise duty. Typical brands include White
Lightning, Diamond White, Frosty Jack, and White Strike.
By volume of alcohol, the excise duty on cider is lower than any other drink. The duty, as of 2007, was
£26.48 per 100 litres of cider of up to 7.5% alcohol. 100 litres of table wine oralcopops would attract
£177.99 of duty, wine under 5.5% was charged £75.42, £102.83 for beer under 7.5%, and £146.70 for the
equivalent alcohol volume of spirits.[26]
Before 1996 brands could be labelled at up to 8.4% alcohol when they actually contained 7.4%. This
happened because the duty was levied on the actual strength of the alcohol, but Trade Descriptions
legislation allowed the label to overstate the alcohol content by up to 1%.[27] White Lightning was then sold
in both 7.4% and 8.4% strengths, due to uncertainty about whether consumers would prefer the pricier,
stronger drink, or the slightly weaker, cheap one.[28]
Until 2005, the market leading White Lightning brand was being sold on an almost continual 50% extra
free promotion, giving 3 litres of 7.5% cider for a typical selling price of £2.99.Scottish Courage, which
owned the brand, decided that year to restrict bottle size to 2 litres as part of its responsible drinking
strategy. A spokesman for the company spoke of white cider in general, "It is the cheapest way to buy
alcohol in the UK. This is pocket money these days. There is no other alcohol category that has the same
challenge as white cider. One three litre plastic bottle of white cider contains almost the full recommended
weekly alcohol intake for a male drinker" (225 ml, 22.5 units, of pure alcohol content compared with the
recommended maximum of 28 units).[29][30] This led to a 70% drop in sales of White Lightning,[31] but
increased sales of the brand owner's weaker, more profitable brands. Other manufacturers followed by
increasing prices and scrapping their 3 litre bottles.
The price increases on 7.5% cider has increased sales of 5% massmarket cider, which is still widely
available in 3 litre bottles in supermarkets.[31]
In 2009, health campaigners called for a legal minimum price on alcoholic drink of 50 pence per unit,
which would result in a 400% increase in the price of some cheap strong ciders.[citation needed]
[edit]The West of England
Ciders made in the West Country are often called "scrumpy", from "scrump",[32] a local dialect term for a
small or withered apple. The archaic spelling cyder is sometimes used, but as a marketing ploy rather
than authentic usage. Ciders from Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire made from
traditional recipes forms a European Union Protected Geographical Indication. Examples of a
working cider house still existed there in recent times, though many have now gone. There are over 25
cider producers in Somerset alone, many of them small family businesses.[5]
During the 17th and 18th centuries, a condition known as Devon colic, a form of lead poisoning, was
associated with the consumption of cider, vanishing after a campaign to remove lead components from
cider presses in the early 19th century.
Shepton Mallet, Somerset, is home to the largest cider plant in Europe. This plant
produces Blackthorn and Olde English as well as light perry Babycham.
[edit]Wales
Smallhold production of cider, made on farms as a beverage for labourers, died out in Wales during the
20th century. Cider and perry production in Wales began a dramatic revival in the early 2000s, with many
small firms entering production throughout the country. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has actively
encouraged this trend, and Welsh ciders and perries have won many awards at CAMRA festivals;
meanwhile, the establishment of groups such as UKCider and the Welsh Perry & Cider Society have
spurred communication among producers.
Welsh varieties of apples and pears are often distinct from those grown in England, giving cider from
Wales a flavour noticeably different to ciders from nearby regions.
[edit]Definition of "real" cider
CAMRA defines "real" cider as a product containing at least 90% fresh apple juice, with
no added flavourings or colourings. CAMRA appears to endorse chaptalisation of the juice (added sugar
prior to fermentation) plus dilution with water afterwards.[33]
UKCider defines "real" cider as a product containing at least 85% fresh apple juice, with
no artificial flavourings or colourings. UKCider campaigns for the percentage juice content to be listed as
part of a full ingredients labelling.[34]
[edit]The United States
During colonial times apple cider was consumed as the main beverage with meals because water was
often unsafe for drinking. Ciderkin, a slightly alcoholic beverage made from ciderpomace, could also be
found on colonial tables.
Sometime after Prohibition the word cider came to mean unfiltered, unfermented apple juice. For
instance, in Pennsylvania, apple cider is legally defined as an "amber golden, opaque, unfermented,
entirely nonalcoholic juice squeezed from apples".[citation needed] Imitation "cider" products may contain
natural or artificial flavours or colours generally recognized as safe, provided their presence is declared on
the label by the use of the word "imitation" in type at least onehalf the size of the type used to declare the
flavour. Cider containing more than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume is classified as hard cider.
Cider may also refer to sparkling apple juice, which is often filtered, such as Martinelli's sparkling apple
cider, once touted specifically as "nonalcoholic cider". Martinelli's is sold as "cider" or "juice" depending
on regional usage.
Alcoholic cider is produced in the United States, especially in New England and upstate New
York. Woodchuck cider, from Vermont, is one of the most common brands in the northeastern US and is
made in the traditional way. Some U.S. products which describe themselves as Hard Cider are made by
adding flavourless spirit alcohol to apple juice pressed from apples which are juice apples not cider
apples. The difference in quality is readily apparent.
Smaller cider breweries are becoming more common as well, some producing varieties of hard cider
reminiscent of English ciders.
Once the weather cools, there's nothing quite like apple cider. Whether it's hot mulled apple cider or a cool, orchard
fresh glass, the taste is perfect for autumn.
A Bit of Apple Cider Background
Apple cider is an extremely popular beverage worldwide. It is easy to make and relatively cheap to produce, and has
had an important historic and cultural impact.
Well before Roman times, a ciderlike beverage was consumed in what we today call Europe and Asia. Later, the
Romans loved an alcoholic version of cider, too, however, and over time it only grew in popularity throughout many
European countries and, eventually, early America.
With the introduction of apple crops in North America and with a little help from Johnny Appleseed, this easy to make
drink became more and more popular until prohibition limited the production of alcoholic beverages.
Today, apple cider, alcoholic or not, has regained its popularity and is loved across the country as a tasty treat and a
symbol of the changing of seasons and the approaching holidays.
The Process of Making Apple Cider
Cider is generally made with a mix of different types of apples for a balanced mix of flavor and acidity. There are
several hundred varieties of cider apples, so it is up to the cider maker which variety he will combine.
Apples are harvested in the fall, then stored for about a week to allow the sugars to increase. Later, they are washed
and pulverized. The pulp is then pressed and the resulting juice is lightly filtered. These days, wholesale distributors
must pasteurize their apple cider before packaging.
Some of the Many Different Apple Cider Beverages
Particularly in the fall, many different terms may be heard: apple cider, hard cider, mulled cider, and sparkling cider
are a few examples.
Apple Cider: Simple and Tasty
Apple cider, or soft cider, is the juice of pressed apples. The fundamental difference between apple cider and apple
juice is the amount of filtration and distillation they receive; cider contains small bits of pulp and is generally cloudy,
while apple juice is further filtered until mostly clear.
Hard Cider: A Popular Alcoholic Beverage
In Europe, the name cider generally refers to the alcoholic version that North Americans would call hard cider. For
hard cider, the basic apple cider is allowed to ferment, a process that allows the natural sugars of the apples to
convert to ethyl alcohol.
There are several different specifications for hard cider. It can be sparkling or still (carbonated for not), Farmhouse
Style (which has an alcohol content of 512%), French Style (which is lower in alcohol, normally about 3%), Mead
(which has honey added), or Perry (which boasts an addition of pear juice). Additionally, one may find apple wine,
which is any apple cider with an alcohol level over 12%.
Mulled Apple Cider: A Spiced and Hot Holiday Beverage
To mull something generally means to spice and heat it. This popular cold weather drink combines apple cider with a
variety of spices (such as cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg), and occasionally orange zest. It is heated to allow
the flavors to mingle, then served hot.
Sparkling Cider: The Bubbly Alternative to Champagne
This lightly carbonated juice is commonly given to children or nondrinkers as an alcoholfree (yet bubbly) celebratory
drink. The cider is filtered until clear and light, resembling champagne
Read more: http://beverages.suite101.com/article.cfm/apple_cider_falls_favorite_drink#ixzz0V49L0PQ6
The different climatic and soil-conditions in France is a valuable advantage in the production of wine. France
is divided into 96 regions and nearly 2/3 rd of them cultivate wine commercially. Each wine is the result of a
particular type of climate and soil, the grape variety from which it is made, the men who make it and their
professional traditions.
France is one of the first three wine producing countries. It produces, an approximate of 59 650 000
hectolitres a year.
THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF WINE Wine can be broadly classified into three principal categories according to
their nature:
Table wines that accompany a meal. They are further sub-divided into red, white and rosé wine, and again
CLASSIFICATION AND THE LAWS OF WINE Because of the abondance of wine, a heirarchy of quality is
elaborated. The most famous of classifications is that of the wines of Bordeaux created in 1855. This system
presents 5 classes of vineyard according to the price that has been practised for years together. This
classification combines together wines totally different but of the same quality. Simultaneously, the INAO
( National Insitute for the Label of Quality), whose objective is to maintain and improve the quality of wine,
supervises and controls the production at all stages. It established the following labels for the brand wines:
-AOC (Label of Quality Control) which indicates the origin of wine and the quality. Practically, all the vintage
wines of France are classified in this category that is the most envied. -VDQS(Wine of Superior Quality)
which are excellent regional wines. There is also a designation of"local wines" whose quality is just below
the VDQS, which carries the name of the "country" or the region where it is produced. Then comes
the "table wine" which is an ordinary wine that is consumed commonly during meals.
one offers a large and varied choice of wines. The most important ones are: Alsace It mainly produces
original, aromatic, dry white wine, which gets the name of its the vine plant, example, Riesling, Muscat,
White or Grey Pinot… and not the name of the vineyard like other French wines. Bordeaux Bordelais is the
most imporant wine-growing region of France. More than half of the best wines of the world come from
France, and Bordeaux produces, approximately, one fourth of them. The Bordelais label is applied to all red,
white and rosé wines produced in Gironde. We can find the most famous of red wines like, Saint-Emilion, the
Médoc, the Pomerol, the Bordeaux for red, white and even rosé wine and the Sauternes for white wine.
BourgogneIt is not the most important wine-growing region financially speaking, but by far, it is one of the
best when it comes to quality. The vineyard is level as well as varied; the vine plants are almost only the
black pinot for the red wine and the chardonnay for white wine, but their soil is diverse. It is from this region
that we get the Beaujolais red, white and rosé wine, or the Chablis and the Côte de Beaune white wine.
ChampagneOnly those wines, which are produced within the region of Champagne and from the grapes
cultivated in this region, have the right to this label. The uniqueness of the Champagne is to combine the
vine plants, the terrain and even the harvest of different years. The Champagne, a delicious sparkling wine,
is the most famous of the world.
Valley of LoireThe expression "Vins du Val de Loire" is globally used for all that is produed along the banks
of the river Loire, hence, applicable to many wines: Anjou, Chinon, Sancerre, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil ...
There is no coherence among the different vineyards, the climates and the terrains. The plants are entirely
different, the river being the only link to these wines.
Valley of Rhône The vineyards planted on either sides of the Rhône, between Vienne and Avignon, make
this valley the second largest wine growing region in France. No other wine-growing region offers so much
variety to its taster. More than 100 districts produce wine with the general label "Côtes du Rhône": Condrieu,
Crozes-Hermitage, Beaume-de-Venise… The red wine takes its diversity from the collection of vine plants,
going upto 13 different varieties for the famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape. THE CONSUMPTION The general
tendency is to consume better in quality and less in quantity. The largest producing countries of the world, of
which France is one, conserve the most important consumption. In 1996, France held the first position with
60 liters of wine per person per year. WHAT IS A VINTAGE WIN? All the wine-cultivators agree with the fact
that a vintage wine comes from a combination of the best vine plant, soil, climate, the care taken during the
cultivation and of course the barrels in which they are stored. But the most difficult part is to find the right
terrain! If Europe is ahead of the rest of the wine-growing countries, it is because it has searched for
centuries the vine-plants that expressed best the characters of a good site. It is also important to note that
vintage wine cannot be produced from any vine-plant. The cabernet-sauvignon, the chardonnay, the merlot
or the black pinot are part of those, which offer a promising quality of complexity and a capacity to age.
Another precept is that there is nearly no vintage wine without oak casks. What more is left, than to taste
and to appreciate!