National Drink Wine Day

It's no secret that I'm more of a beer gal but I do enjoy a good glass of wine from time to time. National Drink Wine Day is a great day to highlight the benefits of wine and how it has contributed to human history.

A wine glass painted by ME with a new red blend for me to try!

From religious ceremonies to festive celebrations, wine is tied to human life. It can reduce the risk of heart disease (in moderation) and enhance the flavors of food when you find that perfect pairing. Wine is a social drink that brings friends together and has become a staple for girls' nights.

Some fun facts about wine courtesy of Fact Retriever.

• Cork-tease: somebody who constantly talks about a wine he or she will open but never does.
• The only book in the Old Testament that doesn't reference wine is the Book of Jonah.
• Romans mixed lead with wine to help preserve it and improve both taste and texture. However, lead poisoning has since been cited as a cause of the decline of the Roman empire.
• Serving temperatures for white wine should be 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit and red wine should be served at 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In 1922 when King Tut's tomb was opened, excavators found wine jars labeled with year, name of the winemaker, and comments on quality. Apparently, some jars were so specifically labeled that they could pass modern label laws in several countries.

Today I'm putting aside my craft brews for a nice red wine. I wish I had more time to swing by my favorite local winery - Plum Run Winery - to pick up a bottle, but sadly, time is short this week.