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Wine Production
By Peace | April 23, 2006
The 13 largest export nations (2005 dates) – Italy, France, Spain, Australia, Chile, the United States of America, Germany, South Africa, Portugal, Moldova, Hungary, Croatia and Argentina. California produces about 90% of the the wine in the United States. In 2000, Great Britain imported more wine from Australia than from France for the first time in history.
The leaders in export volume by market share in 2003 were:
France, 22%
Italy, 20%
Spain, 16%
Australia, 8%
Chile, 6%
United States, 5%
Portugal, 4%
Germany, 4%
Slovenia
Wine grapes grow almost exclusively between thirty and fifty degrees north or south of the equator. The world’s most southerly vineyards are in the South Island of New Zealand near the 45th parallel. Grapevines prefer a relatively long growing season of 100 days or more with warm daytime temperatures (no greater than 95°F/35°C) and cool nights (a difference of 40°F/23°C or more).
Some Facts about Wine
- The auger or curly metal part of a corkscrew is sometimes called a worm.
- Graves is thought to be the oldest wine region in Bordeaux.
- The Puritans loaded more beer than water onto the Mayflower.
- In terms of acreage, wine grapes rank #1 among all crops planted worldwide.
- Although “château” means castle, it may also be a mansion or a little house next to a vineyard that meets the requirements for winemaking with storage facilities on its property.
- Château Petrus is the most expensive of the Bordeaux wines. Its price is as much due to its tiny production as to its quality. Petrus is made from at least 95% Merlot grapes.
- The Egyptians were the first to make glass containers around 1500 B.C.E.
- The 1855 Classification of Médoc châteaux listed only the best properties. “Best” was defined as those properties whose wines were the most expensive. The top estates were then divided into five categories (the “growths”) based on price.
- Margaux is the largest of the Médoc appellations.
- Pomerol is the smallest Bordeaux appellation.
- “Grand Cru” is French for “great growth” and designates the best. In Burgundy it refers to the best vineyards which usually have multiple owners. In Bordeaux its meaning varies by the specific region, but it always refers to properties under a single ownership.
- Rose bushes are often planted at the end of a row of grape vines to act as an early warning signal for infestation by diseases and insects like aphids. A vineyard manager who notices black spots or root rot on the roses will spray the grape vines before they are damaged.
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