An
alcoholic drink, wine is a derivative of the fermentation of grapes or
grape juice.
The word wine comes from the Latin vinium (related to
Greek οἶνος) referring to both "wine" and "vine". Any beverage called
wine is always created using grapes. A wine like drink can also be
created from many other types of fruit, flowers, grains and even honey.
When the drink is created using these items the word wine is used as a
qualifier, such as "blackberry wine". This terminology is often times
defined by law.
Wine has become a popular and important part of dining and entertainment
culture. Often served with European and Mediterranean cuisine it can
enhance the taste and enjoyment of the food it is consumed with. As a
product, wine often reflects more than any other agricultural product
the local land and yeast cultures and the climate and conditions that
the grapes were grown in. Fermentation and aging also play a big part in
the variation and quality of the wine produced. For most avid consumers
of wine, variety is sought after, but for other larger producers of
commercial table wines or more affordable wines a consistent tasting
product is required. To achieve a more consistent tasting product during
mass production, modern factories will try to remove any variance in the
taste of the wine by pasteurizing the grape juice in order to kill
indigenous yeasts, using flavor additives and so on.
An
alcoholic drink, wine is a derivative of the fermentation of grapes or
grape juice.