Alcoholic beverages are so named because they contain alcohol percentages, derived from the fermentatin of sugars in them. Wine is a fermented alcoholic beverage and is obtained from the fermentation of grapes (Vitis Vinifera) obtained from crushing grapes.

The wine has very ancient origins and the first civilization that it produced are Egypt, Greece and Rome, then from there it spread all over the world. In the Middle Ages the monasteries grew vines and the Church, came to be identified with wine - not only as the blood of Christ, but as the luxury and comfort in this world. The Church owned the best vineyards in Europe. Modern wines were born in the 17°century and the effect were: wine is lasted longer and the taste improved. Wine… and its origins !!

Each occasion requires a different wine. The quality of wine is influenced by the soil, grape variety, climate and man. There are wines for aperitif, wines for meals and wines for picnics. They should be drunk to appropriate glasses and with a certain atmosphere. Wines are classified into: VT table wines for which you can specify only the color (red, white and rosé), or an invented name; IGT typical geographical indications, for which you can use the geographical name and the name of the grape; DOC wines with denomination of origin; DOCG wines with denomination of origin and guaranteed; VQPRD quality wines produced in specified region. Choosing Wine…

Not all wines are kept for the same period of time, in fact there are: Short-ageing wines, such as white and rosé wines that have a duration of 18 months; middle aged wines, which are both white and red and have an ageing period ranging from 2 to 4 years; wines with long aging, in general are all red wines and lasts up to 4 years.

The cellar. The cellar is a local underground and for the preservation and ageing of wines. A good cellar must have: The temperature between 12 and 18°C and a humidity of 70%. The light should not be directed. Should be directed to the north. The flooring must be brick. The shelves should be wood.

The importance of the label.. The wine label provides information on the contents of a bottle of wine. Essential elements are: Vintage. Winery name. Area were the wine is produced. The grape name. Where the wine was bottled. Country (or state). Alcohol by volume.

French Wines.. France more than any other country in the world produces all tipes of wine. Famous areas are Bordeaux for Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnany, Santenay, Burgundy for Beaujolais, the Loire valley for Muscadet and Sauvignon Blanc. France has more than one million hectares of vineyards and the best known wine producing regions are undoubtedly Burgundy and Bordeaux. Burgundy is area where great red wine is produced while Bordeaux is area where wines are made from a mixture of 3 or 4 varieties and red wines are considered superlative, only a few of its white wines are considered very good.

Spanish wines.. Spain is situated in the third position after Italy and France. Spanish wines are red colour, full body and are used for blending rather than as a beverage. The world is beginning to appreciate Spanish wine not only for its low price but also for character. The town Valdepenas has given its name to a large part of this production. Finally the most important table wine is Sherry: it is very sweet to very dry heavy and brown in colour. It can be served has a classic aperitif or as dessert wine.

English wines.. T he romans brought vines to England in the Middle Ages, with the dissolution of the monasteries. The most important growing areas are Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Somerset, Norfolk and Suffolk. The most popular grapes are Muller Thurgau and Seyval Blanc and other German varieties. Finally the biggest vineyard is Derby’s in Surrey.

California.. California is divided in four regions: coastal mountainous ranges, the Sierra Nevada, the Central Valley and the south eastern deserts. along the coast climate is mild and uniform but in the southern desert the temperature is high. The Californian economy is rich and varied. the population is mix spanish speakers blacks and asian indians. California has got prestigious state university as Berkley.

The stages of Californian wines. In the end of the 18th century the Spanish missionaries brought grapes to California from Mexico. In the 1850 S there was the first production of wine. In the 1960 S after the prohibition period californian wine industry began to revive. In the 1966 S Robert Mondavi opened the first winery in the Napa Valley, after prohibition was repealed.

Napa Valley Napa Valley is situated in Northern California, its name mean "Valley of Planty". There are three climatic zones and consequently there is a great variety of grapes: Chardonnay and Sauvignon. Moet & Chandon in 1973 they started their own winery which was very successful.

The end… Rossella & Antonella