Alcohol has been present in our culture for thousands of years. It is an important element in many cultural texts, such as films and books. Depending on the context, it is portrayed in different ways, but alcohol is most often associated with carelessness and having fun. It is important to bear in mind that alcohol is a stimulant and therefore it is important to exercise moderation when consuming it.
Wine - the alcohol that gives flavour to food
There are very many types of alcohol that can be consumed depending on the situation. The most popular is vodka, which has been present in our culture since the dawn of time. This type of alcohol works best for special events such as weddings. It is hard to imagine a dance party without this drink. However, it is worth bearing in mind that it is a strong alcohol and should therefore be consumed in a conscious manner.
Another very popular type of alcohol is beer, which is most popular especially in summer. It is very often an integral part of gatherings with friends. Beer is most often consumed during occasions such as barbecues with friends or trips to the water.
The last, equally popular type of alcohol is wine. It is the most versatile alcohol as it suits most occasions. The wine may be consumed both at special events and evenings spent with friends or your other half. This type of alcohol is held in high esteem because of one particular characteristic, namely. wine enhances the flavour of the food consumed. Each species wines is different, so it is worth being aware, which type of wine goes with which meals. Most often, red wine is consumed as an accompaniment to various meats. It enhances the flavour of red meat, such as beef or pork. For white meat, such as poultry, veal or fish, white wine is used.
How is wine made and how much alcohol does it contain?
Each type of wine arises in a different way, however wine making in all cases is based on fermentation of the fruit. In the case of red wine, the grapes are crushed when delivered to the winery. The grape juice together with the skins then goes into tanks where the fermentation process is combined with maceration. The maceration process takes about three weeks and involves the grape skins giving up their colour to the juice. Red wine owes its colour to this process. Dark grapes, despite their colour, actually have light juice and it is the colour pigment that is extracted during the maceration process that is responsible for the colour of the wine. After a certain period of time, malolactic fermentation is carried out to reduce the acidity of the red wine. This process changes the malic acid into the milder lactic acid. Wine subjected to such processes is ready to be bottled. The alcoholic volume of the wine should usually not be lower than 8.5% and higher than 15%. It can therefore be considered a very approachable alcohol, but it should not be forgotten to consume it in moderation.
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