10 +1 little-known wine facts.

Celebrate January 4th: National Trivia Day

India is the most populated country globally. Manila is the capitol city of the Philippines. The Vatican City is the worlds smallest country. Indonesia has the biggest number of active volcanoes. The highest temperature ever documented on Earth was 134°F (56.7°C) in July 1913 at Furnace Creek in California…

… this is only a small glance into some trivia which is enriching our common knowledge.

You got this wine trivia (Photo: sydney Rae, unsplash.com)

Since we are celebrating National Trivia Day today we want to take you on a little journey of trivia in the world of wine. Enjoy trivia games today with a glass of wine! Don't forget to check out your local winery or brewery for special trivia nights!

So here we have put together some of the absolute wine “must-knows”. As a VinoVosser you might be familiar with them anyway! 😉 Whether you're looking for wine fun facts or wine-related trivia questions, we've got you covered!

1. Georgia is also referred to as the "cradle of wine". It is recognized as the first wine-producing country.

2. The practice of "toasting" originated in ancient Rome, where the Romans adopted the Greek tradition. However, they introduced a unique element by placing a piece of toasted bread into each wine glass, aiming to reduce undesirable tastes or excessive acidity.

3. Centuries ago, people opted for wine or beer over water to satisfy their thirst. This was because water was not consistently clean and healthy during that period. The natural fermentation process in wine production had the potential to eliminate microorganisms which are responsible for diseases like cholera.

4. More than 10,000 distinct grape varieties are known globally. However, one-third of the world's vineyards consist of only 13 varieties.

One of the most popular wines from the most popular variety

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5. The grape species Vitis vinifera is accountable for the majority of wine production worldwide. The Mediterranean-native grapevine genus dominates wine with famous varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon. European settlers spread it globally, leveraging centuries of experience.

There are exceptions to this rule, especially in the Americas. In the US you can find wines from Vitis lambrusca (Concord) or Vitis aestivalis (Norton). These often produce amazing wines, worth seeking out.

Bonus fact: The "grape" flavor used in drinks and snacks, comes from Vitis Lambrusca. It is called "foxy" because foxes like the taste!

6. Grapes hold the distinction of being the most crucial commercially cultivated fruit globally.

7. A standard bottle of wine contains an average of 600 berries, equivalent to 1.27 kg.

8. Australia and New Zealand popularized the use of screw caps on wine bottles. And it actually has nothing to say about wine quality as some people favoring cork might believe.

Also premium wines are bottles with screw caps!

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9. Madeira was drunk during both the signing of the Declaration of Independence and George Washington's inauguration. The wines of Madeira were so popular because they were made in an oxidative way and fortified with alcohol to survive sea travel.

10. Apparently, some people have a "fear of wine," and it's called oenophobia.

Luckily we at VinoVoss do not have such a concern. We enjoy exploring the huge range and beauty of the diversity wine offers.

Check it out here. 

Cheers, 

Lotte Gabrovits