Wine – not only a modern day affair

These days wine is one of the most renowned drinks in the world and looking further back, people have been enjoying their affair with this delicious beverage from as early as 6000 BC.

Considered a perfect drink for every occasion, the number of people enjoying its taste increases by the day. Figures show that the consumption of wine has increased from 240 million hectolitres (2014) to 242 million hectolitres (2016). The availability of wine grapes from the Asian market also shows steady growth.

Here are some interesting facts about one of the world’s favourite tipples:

• In ancient Greece, a dinner host would take the first sip of wine to assure guests the wine was not poisoned. Moreover, the people involved would slam their goblets together so wine would spill over the edges into everyone’s cup, hence the phrase “drinking to one’s health” came into existence.
• Some other interesting traditions behind making a toast: It is often believed that Germanic tribes thought the sound of banging their cups together or on the table would scare away ghosts. But mugs from this era would have been made from clay or wood, neither of which would create much sound, which puts somewhat of a damper on this theory. The tradition more likely originated from ancient communal rituals, back when people drank from the same vessel, raised it and called it a “loving cup”.
• Raising one’s glass to make a toast became a fancy fashion in the 19th century when people celebrated or gave respect to a special person.

Why not take a look at the infographic depicting some interesting facts on wine consumption in recent years.

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