Finally, the day we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. For National Drink Wine Day, we expect you to do just that—drink wine, and a lot of it. Whether you’re sipping on a lavish glass of California’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon or chugging a bottle of 50 Shades of Grey branded wine, you really can’t go wrong. Red, White, Rose—why discriminate? Grab ‘em all and get drinking; we’ve collected some wine “fun facts” to get your holiday going.
1. China is the largest red wine consumer in the world: Bypassing Italy and France, the Chinese drink a lot of red wine. This may be due to the fact that the color red is considered to be lucky in China. That, plus the health benefits of red wine, is probably what keeps them filling their glasses.
2. Thank a monk: Throughout the Middle Ages, monks improved and preserved the wine making process. Thanks to them, we’ve adopted the same wine making technology today. One of the world’s most notorious Champagnes Dom Pérignon was even named after a monk, Dom Pierre Pérignon.
3. Wine is relatively healthy: Because grape skin is used in the fermentation process, red wine is proven to contain many valuable antioxidants. While white wine doesn’t utilize the skin, it still has the ability to slightly decrease your risk of contracting certain diseases.
4. Grape variety and harvest location is usually on the label: Most wines made in Europe are named after their geographical foundation. The label will also specify the type of grape (or varietal) used. For instance, Bordeaux wine is manufactured in the Bordeaux region of France, and Bordeaux varietals contain Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet, and more.
5. A wine’s color indicates its geographical origin: While darker shades of red and yellow wine point to warmer climates, lighter colors originated in cooler locations and may also taste lighter and less rich.
6. Women get drunk off of wine faster than men: While this seems sort of obvious (due to women’s bodies being smaller than men’s to begin with), it’s all because women have a different fat to water ratio. Women have a higher fat content, and seeing as fat doesn’t absorb alcohol, the intoxicants spread and lead to a higher BAC.
7. Wine was discovered in the Middle East (over 6,000 years ago!): The earliest findings of wine were found in Iran and date back to the Neolithic period (8500-4000 B.C.). Apparently, it’s supposed that the alcohol was even created by accident. Native yeasts combined with grapes stored in containers, eventually turning the sugars in the grapes into alcohol.
8. People can be afraid of wine: It’s called oenophobia, and it’s a real thing. Whether the fear comes from the idea of being intoxicated or from having to choose a bottle for a dinner party, some people hate wine so much that they get to the point where the drink terrifies them. That’s when you say, “I’ll drink yours.”
9. Wine won’t make you gain weight: We all know the curse of the beer belly, but never fear, there’s no such thing as a “wine belly.” Actually, drinking wine will keep your waistline trim, especially if you choose a glass over a plate of dessert.
10. Wine can improve your sex life: According to a study conducted in Italy, women who drank 2 glasses of wine per day experienced more physical pleasure than those women who didn’t drink any wine. So drink up.
What else do you find fascinating about wine? Share your fun facts with us below!