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Writer's picturenilanjana chakraborty

Wine: The Royal Alcohol


Consumption of alcohol has been in our civilizations for many years. In historical times, the better ranges of alcohol were meant for only the aristocrats and were treated as the main source of luxury and entertainment.

At those times also this mode of luxury was not consumed by men only, women also used to enjoy the high of alcohol quite frequently. Among these many alcoholic beverages dated thousands and thousands of year back wine is considered as the royal one.

The wine history-

Wine has traveled a long pathway from modern-day Georgia to the new world when Spanish traders introduced trading.

Wine has been used in many religions and cults in ancient Egypt and Rome. It was also a ritual by the Jews during the biblical times. Islam though forbids the consumption and manufacturing of wine, historical alchemists like Geber, used wine for medical practices and also for industrial purposes such as making perfumes.

The consumption and production of wine increased in the late 15th century during the European expansion.

Red wine-

This is one of the most frequently consumed and preferred variation of wine. The characteristics of red wine are-

  • Dark-colored grapes are used

  • The younger wines have a purple color while the older wines have a brownish tinge

  • The red color comes from anthocyanin, which is a pigment present in the grape skin

Types of red wine based on grapes-

  • Syrah

  • Merlot

  • Cabernet sauvignon

  • Pinot noir

White wine-

White wine is another variety of wine which is consumed by a lot of individuals globally and is a favorite of many. The characteristics of white wine are as follows-

  • Non-colored grape is used for fermentation

  • The grapes are mostly white or yellow

  • Derived from wort fermentation

  • It’s dry and not so sweet

  • Grape sugar converted to alcohol

  • Carbon dioxide is not allowed to escape during fermentation.

Types of White wine-

  • Riesling-

  • Gewürztraminer

  • Chardonnay

  • Sauvignon blanc

Rosé wine

Rosé wine takes the color from grape skin but is not as vibrant as the red wine. It is the oldest variety of wine. It is made with the help of skin contact method. The color can be pink to orange. Rosé wine be sparkling or semi-sparkling. The sweetness levels vary a lot.

Fruit wines-

As the name suggests this wine is made from fruits and is also called the country wine. The absence of fermented sugar gives this wine a less sugary note.

Mead or honey wine-

This wine is made from honey fermented with fruits, spices, grains, or hops. The primary substance is honey. Produced throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. In Europe, it came before grape wine.

Health benefits of wine-

  • Red and white wine has many medical advantages which are listed below-

  • It helps in protecting the intestinal microbiome and reduces the chance of heart diseases

  • It increases the level of omega 3 fatty acid

  • It helps in curing type 2 diabetes

  • Consuming red wine makes your blood vessels healthier hence improves your blood pressure

  • It sometimes protects the brain from damages or stroke

  • Red wine can also prevent vision loss

  • It helps in diagnosing colon cancer

  • Breast cancer can be prevented if red wine is consumed in less amount

  • Red wine also helps in improving lung functions

  • It can also prevent dementia

  • It can reduce depression and anxiety levels

  • It can protect from sunburn

  • Can treat acne and dental cavities

  • It can be used to treat acne

But all these benefits don’t mean that if you don’t drink you have to become a heavy boozer. Everything is good when consumed in a controlled way.

Though wine has a lot of benefits from its end, it is still an alcoholic beverage and shouldn’t be consumed uncontrollably. For women, one glass of wine is enough, and for men, it’s two. Minors shouldn’t be consuming this beverage. The wine industry is responsible for the addition of economic revenues, and since history, it has always been a major part in export and import. But still now noble wines are very heavy on the pocket for a middle-class person, but alternatives such as local wines can also be consumed only when you are fully convinced by its production and ingredients.

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