Which country spends more on wine than anyone else?

The Swiss spend just over $492 per person on wine every year, reports MoveHub. The main reason is the price of wine is a few dollars more than other European countries. As far as consumption is concerned the Swiss are the 6th biggest global consumers of wine per capita drinking the equivalent of 53 bottles per year. That’s behind the French in 4th place but well above Germany (16th) and Spain (30th). The U.S. is also far behind at just 10 1/4 bottles consumed per year per capita. The Vatican continues to top the list drinking just over 72 bottles of wine each year. Think of all the visiting dignitaries and sacramental wine consumed in an area less than a square mile.

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Does drinking wine add to your waistline?

We all know that beer can create a beer belly, but wine does not affect your waistline at all. In fact, recent studies showed that “women who routinely drank moderate amounts of alcohol, totaling about one drink per day, carried almost 10 pounds less body fat than women who did not drink at all.” Experts believe that the calories in alcohol are not metabolized in the same way as calories from carbohydrates, fats or protein. So if you are about to start a diet to lose weight, then you should consider having a glass of wine instead of chocolate pudding for dessert.

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Napa Valley’s First Female CEO

Not long after college, and with a degree in French Language, Michaela Rodeno talked her way into getting hired as the second employee at Moët & Chandon’s new American winery, Domaine Chandon. It was 1973 and the office was in a garage on Mt. Veeder. After 15 years of helping Chandon become a success, she left as a V.P. and became Napa Valley’s first female CEO at the newly established St. Supery Vineyards and Winery. While there she formed Women for WineSense with Frog’s Leap Winery’s Julie Johnson, to combat the rising anti-alchohol movement of the 1990s. Michaela is now retired from the industry and focuses on the family’s Villa Ragazzi Wines, while Women for WineSense has continued to grow across the country. When you hear this interview you’ll understand why she is a beloved member, if not an icon, of the Napa wine industry.

 

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California wine by the numbers. It’s quite staggering.

Did you know California produces about 85% of all U.S wine? That generates more than 300,000 jobs in the state, and nearly 800,000 nationwide. $35 billion dollars in wages are paid nationally.  Local and national governments receive $15.2 billion in taxes. California wine exports exceed one billion dollars annually, and more than 20 million tourists visit California wine regions each year. Think about the money that brings in. Fortunately, for those of us who live in this bountiful state and don’t have to travel far to enjoy our exceptional wine.

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The latest news concerning your health and wine

You’ve likely heard about the positive effects of wine consumption, now there’s more proof. The University of Cambridge has announced that 1 to 2 glasses of red wine per day is associated with a 9 percent reduced risk in suffering an ischemic stroke, while women who drink just one glass or less of wine per day were 12 percent less at risk. Ischemic stroke accounts for about 88 percent of all strokes. Also, compared with those who don’t drink at all, people who drink a moderate amount of wine every day are less likely to die of Alzheimer’s or heart disease. However, they are once again confirming that more than 2 glasses a day increases the risk of all types of strokes. It’s a fine line but one worth noting.

 

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Which grapes are the most planted in California?

Surprise! 53% of the grapes harvested are for table grapes and raisins. As far as wine goes Chardonnay is the most planted wine variety at 29%, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon at 22%, Pinot Noir comes in at 18%, Merlot is 14%, Zinfandel is about 9% and Sauvignon Blanc is a mere 4% but growing steadily. Of course, these numbers are constantly changing.

 

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Are Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc related?

About 16 years ago a DNA test showed that Cabernet Sauvignon is a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Vine breeding wasn’t well understood when Cabernet Sauvignon showed up in the 17 century so it’s likely it was unintentional. The result of cross breeding Cabernet Sauvignon has been linked to other varietals. A cross of Cab Sauvignon and Grenache produced a French wine grape called Marselan. With cross breeding it’s no surprise there are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes in the world.

 

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Why do wine bottles have different shapes?

It represents the region or varietal to some degree. A Bordeaux varietal, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, is narrow and has a defined shoulder where it quickly slopes out from the neck. The Burgundian varietal of Pinot Noir is fatter and gradually slopes from the neck to the body. There’s no definite spot where the neck begins and the body ends. These two bottle shapes evolved out of tradition from Europe. Most winemakers continue to honor their European ancestors.

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