Wine,
an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grape juice is believed to have
originated 8,000 years ago in
Iran
or present-day Georgia.
Today, wine is perceived as a sophisticated drink - a way of life.
Wine was made popular in India by British rulers and Portuguese
settlers. Wine contains about 11% alcohol and has nowadays come to replace beer
and other hard liquor. This is primarily because of studies that confirm the
benevolent nature of wine. However, many people also believe that serving or
drinking wine is an indicator of social status and class. Wine makes an ideal
gift when invited to a house-warming party or a sit-down dinner, provided hosts
are wine appreciators.
There are basically four kinds of
wine. Sparkling wines, the most popularly used are table wines that contain
less than 4% sugar; fruit wines are composed from fruits besides grapes; flavoured
wines have additions in the form of herbs or spices like cinnamon and nutmeg
and lastly, fortified wines are called desert wines and they contain more than
14% alcohol. In terms of colour; red and white wines are the most popular.
As per the French culture, certain wines go well with a
particular type of food and cheese. A simplified way of following this practice
is to serve appetizers with dry white wine and desserts with sweet white wine.
In the main course, red meat is teamed with red wine, while seafood and white
meat is taken with white wine. Also, another rule that is generally followed is
to start off with a light wine and progress towards the
heavier ones. Red wines
are known to be heavier than white wines.
It is claimed that wine when accompanied with dinner helps the
body and mind to unwind. Research has also shows that red wine has anti-oxidant
properties that help fight heart disease and cancer. Moderate intake of wine is
useful in keeping blood vessels clean, lowering glucose levels and reducing
blood pressure.
Gone are the days when drinking wine was associated with the
French or the British. Today, wines are steadily becoming a must in dinners in
many Indian
households as well!
It’s time we welcomed wine in our households!