History and Types of Wine

History
Many historians believe wine got its start accidentally between 4000 and 3000 B.C. in the Fertile Crescent region, which is the area between the Nile and Persian Gulf. Historians say the history of wine is believed to have roots in the world’s first civilizations. It is believed grapes first fermented accidentally due to wild yeasts, which would have been present when grape skins were held in storage. As small civilizations grew into larger city-states and began to trade, wine and winemaking practices began to spread across the Mediterranean region and Europe. By the 1800s, France became known as the world’s greatest wine producer. Read more at: http://www.lifeinitaly.com/wines/history.asp

Types
Wine can be classified into many different types, based off the type of grape used to produce the wine. Grape type is also known as varietal. The following are different categories of wine by grape type:

• White Wine

• Red Wine

• Rose Wine

• Sparkling Wine

Wine can be characterized by grape type, but also by their production style. Examples of wine by production style include:

• Dessert Wine

• Fortified Wine

• Ice Wine

In the United States, wines are typically classified by grape type or variety on the label. “Pinot Noir” and “Chardonnay” are common grape types used to categorize wine on a label. Read more about wine types and grape varietals at http://www.basic-wine-knowledge.com/different-types-of-wines.html