Did you know wine is made from fermented grape juice? However, the grapes used are not the usual ones we serve and eat as a fruit – who knew!

There’s more where that came from. Here are 10 fun facts about wine you should know as a wine lover.

  1. The world oldest wine cellar was found in present-day Israel, Tel Kabri in 2013 when archaeologist uncovered jugs which had not been uncovered since they toppled around 1600B.C. Perhaps due to an earthquake in the past, the wine jars were left untouched for centuries.

 

  1. The corks on the wine bottles are primarily made from the bark of Cork Oak Tree. These trees reach maturity after around 25 years of growing. Upon maturity, the harvesters will strip the bark with an axe. After which, the tree will need a minimum of nine years to regrow its bark for the next harvest. This process does not harm the tree, and each tree can provide around 12 harvest worth of cork in its lifetime.

 

  1. Based on The Telegraph, the most expensive wine in the world was not made in Italy or France but in America-Oakville, California. Due to the rarity and small quantities of wine produced from there, the wine has achieved cult status. A bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 managed to fetch a whopping USD$500,000 for a charity auction in 2000.

 

  1. There are five types of wine, namely red wines, white wines, sparkling wines, dessert or sweet wines and Rosé. Different glasses should be used with different wines as they affect the overall aromas and taste. Click here on how to choose the right wine glasses.

 

  1. Ice wine is a type of dessert wine the can only be produced in cold climates. Canada and Germany are the world largest producers of ice wines. It is made with grapes that have been frozen while on the vine. The sugar in the fruit, unlike water, do not freeze, allowing a more concentrated grape juice to be formed. Ice wine production is risky as in some years, the frost may not come at all before the grape rot. Due to the rising annual temperature, the production is limited to only a handful of countries with freezing temperatures. Therefore, the cost of one ice wine is typically more expensive and only sold in a small 375ml bottle as compared to the usual 750ml wine bottle.

 

  1. According to Medical News Today, red wines are high in resveratrol and may offer many health benefits. Resveratrol is a compound that plants produce to fight bacteria and fungi and to protect against ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. It may boost our heart health, protect us against some forms of cancer and can even prevent vision loss. One study also shows that drinking a glass of red wine can decrease cardio-metabolic risk in people with type-2 diabetes. Therefore, red wine seems to be healthier than other alcoholic beverages in the market.

 

  1. Wine tasting is not wine drinking. During a professional wine tasting session, wines tend to be judged and evaluated. Most wine tasting session includes people sipping and spitting the wines they tasted. However, it can also be a session where you learn about what kinds of wines you prefer. As time goes by, you can also gain more experience and confidence in your assessment of the wines you taste.

 

  1. In reality, most wines are not designed to age. Contrary to most belief, most wines we buy in stores do not improve with age. Generally, everyday red wines have about a 5-year life span, and everyday white and rosé wines remain in their optimal state for only 2 to 3 years. So, remember to check with your seller for a wine’s ageing period before your purchase.

 

  1. In need of a faster way to chill your wines? Simply use an ice bucket, cold water, ice and salt and you will be able to chill your wine in 10 minutes. The addition of salt is to melt the ice and reduce the freezing point of water so that you can chill your wines faster.

 

  1. Accidentally spilled some wine on your brand-new white top? Don’t worry, all you need is some table salt to get rid of the wine stains. First, blot the wine stain with a dry paper towel. Cover the stain in salt and let it sit for at least an hour. Finally, dab the wine stain with hot water. And voilà, good as new. You’re welcome!

By: Michelle Lee

Love sipping on a glass of wine? Unlike drinking water and soft drinks which we can just pour into any cup available, we should use the right wine glass for the different type of wines we drink. The right glass can improve the taste of your wine, and believe it or not, there is actually a science behind choosing the correct wine glass.

If you are an avid wine collector, a wine merchant or a restaurateur, you might already have a collection of over ten different types of wine glasses to match your various wines available.

However, if you are someone who loves to drink wines with your friends and family only during special occasions, consider owning at least 3 glasses that can be used for red, white and sparkling wines accordingly. This will go a long way to elevate the flavours of the wine.

Two glasses of white and red wine with food at sunset, toned

Here’s how we can choose the correct wine glass:

  • Red wine: Look for a wider bowl with a narrow rim. Glasses with wider bowls let you give your wine a generous swirl to allow some oxygen into the wine to open up its aromas. Red wines also tend to taste smoother from a wine glass with wider openings.
  • White wine: Find a wine glass that is more U-shaped with a smaller bowl compared to the red wine glasses – it should still have a narrow rim and stem. A smaller bowl allows the wines to maintain a cooler temperature.
  • Sparkling wine and dessert wine: Use an upright and narrow bowl flute wine glass with a stem. This will help preserve the wine’s flavour and carbonation.

There is also an option of purchasing an all-purpose wine glass for those who have a lack of space or a budget. With these all-purpose wine glasses, the experience of drinking the wine might not be as upscale, but they do serve a similar function at a lower cost.

White and red wine in modern stemless glasses, with slate and timber background with copy space.

Here’s what to take note when choosing an all-purpose wine glass:

  • With stem: Find a bowl size and shape that is in between the red and white wine glasses. In this case, you can use it for drinking both white and red wines.
  • Without stem: Find a bowl size and shape that is in between the red and white wine glasses. One thing to note is that glasses without stem tend to warm our wines much faster as our hands are in contact with the wine bowl all the time. Although these glasses look contemporary in design, they may affect the taste of the wine.

Choosing the ideal wine glass is one factor in ensuring your wine’s optimal taste. On top of choosing the correct wine glasses, you should take note of the following to ensure that your wines are in their best condition:

  • Art of holding your wine
  • Serving and pouring your wine
  • Proper storage of wines – Find out more

Cheers to finding that perfect wine glass for that perfect wine!

 


By: Michelle Lee

Due to our geographical location, Singapore’s temperature is usually in the range of 25°C to 31°C with high humidity and abundant rainfall. However, there are definitely months when it can get really hot and humid. Keeping this in mind, it is important for wine collectors and merchants to find the best way to store their wines in Singapore in order to keep their wine in good conditions.

Here are 3 smart ways to store your wine in Singapore optimally.

  1. Avoid direct sunlight

When storing wines, it is best to store them in a location where the temperature is constant at about 7 to 18°C. As for the precise temperature range, it would largely depend on the wine types.

Locations with extreme or fluctuating temperatures can either “cook” our wines and kill all the flavours if it’s too hot, or dry out the corks if it is too cold. Wines placed under the direct sunlight for a long period of time can also degrade and aged prematurely. That is why wines bottles are usually dark coloured as they help to block the harmful UV rays from affecting the wine quality.

  1. Store the wine bottles in a horizontal position

We understand that it can take up a lot of space if we place all of our wine bottles in a horizontal position instead of vertical position. However, did you know the wine bottle positioning can affect the wine quality?

Placing our wines in a horizontal position ensures that the wine cork stays moist. Placed upright overtime, the cork will dry out, leading to the upwards movement of the wine cork, allowing oxygen to enter the bottle. When this happens, the wines will be oxidised, killing all the flavour of the wine.

If you would like to maximise your home storage space, consider buying a wine rack that allows you to place multiple wines on it. Prices of such wine racks start from as low as SGD$15.  Some of these wine racks can also double up as a beautiful home décor piece too!

  1. Renting a professional wine storage unit

If you are a wine collector or a wine merchant, the best way to store your wines for a longer period of time would be to rent a professional wine storage unit in Singapore. Instead of purchasing multiple wine fridges, you can free up space in your home and grow your wine collection with a professional wine storage facility like Extra Space Asia Self-Storage instead.

At Extra Space Asia, customers can be assured that their wines are in safe hands. Each wine storage unit is kept at an optimal temperature between 12 °C and 14°C at 65% to 75% humidity. You can also choose to store in either a wine locker or a walk-in wine cellar that is fitted with industry-grade shelving. Here, you can choose to upsize your wine storage unit at any time. The wine storage facility at Extra Space Asia is also accessible 24//7, any time and any day.

Unlike other wine storages in Singapore, Extra Space Asia Self-Storage offers complimentary use of the wine tasting room, offering a private and cosy ambience for wine customers to enjoy a glass or two. To find out more about Extra Space Asia’s wine storages, feel free to call 6771 3100 or click here.

 
By: Michelle Lee