Wine

Wine is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting grapes or other fruit.

Traditionally grapes were trampled by barefooted vineyard workers to produce a pulp, which was fermented with tannins and sulfides to produce a rich, fruity drink. Today this process in most commercial vineyards is mechanized.

Wine is produced throughout the world. The top twenty leading wine-producing countries in order of total production are: France, Italy, Spain, USA, Argentina, China, Australia, Germany, Portugal, South Africa, Chile, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Russia, Brazil, Austria, Bulgaria, and Croatia.

Many of the best-known vineyards are in France but recent competitions place California wine above French wine in quality. Great Californian terroirs include Grgich Hills, Alexander Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and San Jaoquin Valley. Most winemaking in Europe is centred in the Languedoc region of Southern France, La Mancha in Spain, and the hills of the Rhone and Rhine.

Wine is served in Churches as a representation or transubstantiation of The Body of Christ during the Holy Communion and many of the wineries in the Americas were founded by Christian Religious Orders.

Champagne

Sparkling Wine, generally known as Champagne is produced not only in the Champagne region of North Eastern France but also in California, England, Australia, New Zealand and Inda. The French have attempted to retain the right to the term Champagne for wines from the Champagne region only but The US authorities have rightly resisted.