Wine is the sublime product of fermentation, the process of breaking down fruit—typically grapes. As the grapes ferment, yeast consumes the natural sugars and converts them to alcohol (how it works).
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Alcohol doesn’t just make you tipsy — it rewires your brain chemistry in real time. It slows your brain with GABA, spikes dopamine to make you feel unstoppable, and blocks glutamate so you can’t form memories. That mix explains everything from slurred speech to blackouts… and brutal hangovers.
Tannins are compounds found in many different types of food, including grape skins. When consumed, they produce a noticeable drying effect in the mouth. Because of the difference in production methods, red wines typically have tannins while white wines do not.
Scientific explorations of terroir — the soil, climate and orientation in which crops grow — hint at influences on flavors and aromas.
Some regulations, such as geographical area and grape varieties, are fairly well known. But to be true Champagne, winemakers must follow guidelines for all sorts of finicky things, including: pruning, press yield (how much juice is extracted from the grapes), alcohol content, vineyard management, and aging, among others.
Alcoholic fermentation is the process where yeast transforms grape sugars into ethanol, creating wine. Microscopic fungi (commonly known as yeast) metabolize sugars, producing alcohol and carbon dioxide. Fermentation's speed and temperature impact wine's flavor and style: cooler temps suit fruity whites, while warmer ones enhance red's tannins. Fermentation stops when sugars are depleted or by temperature extremes, and sometimes yeast removal yields sweeter wines. Get a quick breakdown of the process with this easy explainer.
Want to see how different Napa vintages stack up against one another? This Wine Spectator chart covers every Napa vintage since 1991. It gives each year an overall score, has notes about the conditions that affected the harvest and production, and gives suggestions for some of their top-scoring bottles. If you’re interested in building a long-term wine collection, it also notes which vintages might be best to age.
Prussian migrant Charles Krug established a winery in Napa Valley in 1861, pioneering the growth of European rootstocks and helping legitimize the region's wine-making ambitions. Today, the estate is owned and operated by the Mondavi family, who purchased it in 1943 and helped elevate it to international renown. A dramatic, brief look at the winery illuminates its legendary past and larger-than-life present.
Despite its reputation, the Napa Valley has a modest share of its state's annual wine production. The valley's over 400 wineries produce only 4% of the state’s wine.
Ever wonder how much wine the average American drank in 1949? Wonder no more! The answer is 0.89 gallons. That’s way less than 2022, where the number has quadrupled to 2.86 gallons. Check out this simple table that tracks average United States wine consumption from 1934 through 2022, by individuals and as a whole. American wine consumption peaked during the early pandemic but has lessened since then.
When the weather grew too hot in Rome, the city’s elite traveled to coastal spots like the Gulf of Naples, where they’d eat oysters, drink wine, and bathe in thermal pools.
Art, music, sports, entertainment, movies, and many other subjects—these elements define who we are as a society and how we express ourselves as a culture. Take a deep dive into the topics shaping our shared norms, values, institutions, and more.