10 Fun Facts and History About Wine: Get Quenched

Wine is wine, right? Wrong! Wine has a rich history and culture that spans basically all of human history. It has been our friend for ever! But there’s more to wine than just knowing the different types and how it’s made. Wine actually is interesting because of all the fun facts and trivia around it! So, grab your favorite bottle of red, white, rose or sparkling wine because we’re going on a journey into the world of wine together!

Fun Facts About Wine

1) Centuries ago, people ONLY drank wine to quench their thirst. During that time, water wasn’t clean all the time, and natural fermentation, when the wine is made, could kill germs caused by typhi (salmonella) and cholera. And so, they dran wine instead of water!

2) During the early Roman times, it was forbidden for women to drink wine. Wives who were caught drinking wine by their husbands could get killed! How many wine loving ladies would die for their wine?

3) Women are more susceptible to the effects of wine than men. And this is due to our biology! Women have fewer enzymes in the stomach lining required to break down alcohol, than men.

4) Do you know the root of the phrase “drink to one’s health”? This was originated in ancient Greece, where the host of a dinner would be the first one to sip the wine in case it was poisoned! Thus, drinking to their guests’ health.

5) Wine tasters “swirl” the wine in their glass to release all its aromas. This is why we don’t fill our glass more than a third full, so that it can be swirled and leave space for the aromas to collect.

6) At a wine-tasting event, it is okay to spit the wine out! No, it’s not bad manners. When attending such events, it is acceptable to take a sip of wine and hold it in your mouth for a few seconds, and spit it out. This way you can taste a LOT of wine without getting drunk!

7) Wine used to be kept in goatskin bags. Sir Kenelm Digby (1603-1665) invented the dark green wine bottle we all know today!

8) There is a right and wrong way to hold a wine glass! The proper way is to hold by the stem so that the hand does not warm the glass and increase the temperature of the wine! Coo, huh?

9) The best way to store your corked wine? Lying down! Why? To keep the cork from dwindling and drying out and avoid it from possibly dropping in the wine. The liquid coming into contact with the cork also prevents air-leakage into the bottle!

10) And, the best one…You need to drink 7 glasses of orange juice or 20 glasses of apple juice in order to get the same amount of antioxidants in wine! Yes! WINE IS HEALTHY!

So, what did you think about these cool facts? Did they make you want to open a bottle of your favorite Schnebly Winery wine and relax? Wine has been with us for so long!

Now that you know, visit us at Schnebly Winery for a wine tasting and wow your friends with some trivia! Wine tastings are available every day, with 5 wines to try AND a souvenir glass!