Brix

A measure of the sugar content of grapes before they are harvested. Used to estimate the ALCOHOL content of the resulting wine.

“Old vines”—a common description on some wine labels—is an ambiguous term, sometimes applied to vines no more than 10 years old. However, there is an old vine that is certified by Guinness World Records. In which of the following countries can the oldest living grapevine be found?

A. Mexico

B. Slovenia

C. Israel

D. Greece

The wine region of Maribor, Slovenia, is home to the world’s oldest living grapevine. The vine was certified by Guinness World Records in 2004 and is the native red variety žametovka. At over 400 years old, the vine currently produces less than a gallon of wine per year. This small yield of wine is put into tiny bottles and given each year to presidents and other important world figures.

Screwing Around

Originally called bottle-screws, corkscrews were invented in England between 1630 and 1675, where they were used not for wine, but for beer and cider. Both sparklers required tight-fitting corks (often tied on) capable of holding… Continue reading

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