Wine in Space
In 2019, 12 bottles of Bordeaux wine were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a study by Space Cargo Unlimited to explore how space conditions—such as microgravity and radiation—affect the aging process of wine. The bottles remained in space for over a year, returning to Earth in January 2021 for an out-of-this-world tasting.

So, what did they discover? The space-aged wine had transformed! It developed richer, more complex flavors, with softer tannins and even a different hue compared to its Earth-bound sibling. These changes were attributed to the lack of gravity, which may have affected the interaction between the wine's components. Some tasters said it had an unexpected smoothness, perhaps a result of floating among the stars.

This wasn’t just a quirky experiment, though. Scientists are looking at how plants and organic materials react to space conditions, helping us prepare for future space missions.

The Moon and Wine
In ancient Rome, winemakers would time their grape harvest according to the moon phases. They believed the gravitational pull of the moon affected the quality of the wine.

There’s remains a long-standing belief, especially in biodynamic winemaking circles, that the phases of the moon can indeed influence the taste of wine. This idea comes from biodynamic farming practices, which follow an agricultural calendar that aligns with lunar phases and planetary movements. According to this approach, the moon's gravitational pull and energy can impact how wine behaves—both in the vineyard and in the bottle.

For example, many biodynamic winemakers believe that wine tastes best on "fruit days" when the moon is in a fire sign like Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. Conversely, on "root days" or "leaf days" (when the moon is in Earth or Water signs), they claim wine can taste more muted or closed-off.

Some wine enthusiasts even use a lunar calendar to decide when to open a bottle for maximum enjoyment. While science hasn’t fully validated these claims, the connection between nature’s rhythms and winemaking has a deep history. Whether it’s the moon or the soil, , it adds a fun layer of mystery to enjoying a good glass of wine!

Toasting with Wine Has Ancient Origins
The tradition of toasting with wine has ancient roots, and like many things, it’s a mix of fun customs and quirky history. The practice of raising a glass and clinking it together dates back to ancient Greece and Rome, where toasting was a way to honor the gods and ensure good health. In fact, the word "toast" comes from the Roman custom of dropping a piece of charred bread into wine to improve its flavor.

Toasting also had a more practical—and slightly paranoid—origin. In medieval times, clinking glasses with a bit of force was said to be a way to splash your drinks into each other's cups. Why? To prove the wine wasn’t poisoned! After all, if your drink was safe, so was theirs.

But it wasn’t all about suspicion. Toasting became a way to show respect and offer good wishes to friends, loved ones, and honored guests. Over time, it evolved into the celebratory gesture we know today—whether it’s to honor a special occasion, a triumph, or simply to say, “Cheers!”

Wine Feet Power:
Despite all the modern machinery available for winemaking today, some winemakers still embrace the ancient art of stomping grapes with their feet—and yes, it’s just as fun as it sounds! This traditional method, known as "pigeage"(from the French word "piger," meaning to push down), is practiced in parts of the world to keep the craft alive, particularly at smaller vineyards and during special events.

Foot stomping is gentler on the grapes compared to mechanical pressing, ensuring the skins are broken without crushing the seeds, which can release bitter tannins. Winemakers who still use this method often say it adds an extra layer of care and connection to the winemaking process. Plus, there’s something undeniably primal and celebratory about squishing grapes with your feet, a tradition that goes back thousands of years to the ancient Greeks and Romans.

In some places like Portugal, where foot-stomping is part of the winemaking process for Port wine, entire festivals are held where people gather in large stone troughs called "lagares"to stomp grapes to the rhythm of music. The technique has survived not just for nostalgia’s sake but because it offers a balance between gentle extraction of juice and keeping the wine's delicate flavors intact.

So, while machines may have taken over most of the heavy lifting in vineyards, the art of grape stomping still lives on—and continues to offer winemakers and wine lovers a chance to get their feet (literally) into the winemaking action! And don’t worry, modern sanitation ensures you aren’t getting a foot-flavored vintage!

Wine and the Titanic
When the Titanic sank in 1912, it took with it a treasure trove of luxury items, including over 1,500 bottles of fine wines, whiskey, and champagne. Among the most notable was Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne, a brand popular with the ship's wealthy passengers.

As the Titanic sank to the ocean floor, these bottles were lost in the depths of the North Atlantic. However, some have since been recovered during expeditions, remarkably well-preserved in the cold, dark waters nearly 12,500 feet below. Thanks to these conditions, many of the bottles are believed to still be drinkable. In fact, one bottle of Titanic champagne sold at auction for $275,000!

These bottles offer a glimpse into the opulent world of the Titanic’s passengers and remain both historic artifacts and wine treasures. Whether anyone would dare drink them remains part of the intrigue!

The Champagne ‘Pop’ Sound
The satisfying ‘pop’ when opening a bottle of champagne travels at around 25 miles per hour. It  is one of the most recognizable sounds in celebrations worldwide and it’s all thanks to the unique pressure inside the bottle and the design of the cork. Here’s why it happens:

Pressure is key - Champagne is carbonated, containing dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2) that forms bubbles. Inside the bottle, the pressure can be up to 90 pounds per square inch - about three times the pressure in a car tire! This intense pressure is why champagne bottles are made thicker and more durable than regular wine bottles.

The cork itself is also different. Champagne corks are made of multiple layers of natural cork that are compressed into the neck of the bottle. When inserted, the cork is shaped like a cylinder, but over time, the pressure inside the bottle forces the cork to expand, creating the familiar mushroom shape. This expansion helps keep the cork tightly sealed to withstand the internal pressure.

When you pop a bottle of champagne, the pressure rapidly escapes, causing the cork to fly off with that signature "pop" sound as the CO2 rushes out. In contrast, still wine bottles don’t have carbonation, so their corks don’t need to withstand the same pressure and don’t make the same dramatic noise when opened.

Wine Glass Shape Science
The shape of a wine glass isn’t just for looks - it's designed to enhance the overall wine-drinking experience, from the way it smells to how it tastes. Each part of the glass has a specific function that can influence how the wine is perceived. Here’s how the different shapes of wine glasses work their magic:

The Bowl

The size and shape of the bowl are key. A larger, rounder bowl (as seen in red wine glasses) allows more air to interact with the wine, which helps to release its aromas and soften tannins. This is why red wine glasses tend to be big and wide. In contrast, white wine glasses have a smaller bowl to preserve the wine's cooler temperature and focus its more delicate aromas. Sparkling wine glasses, like flutes, have narrow bowls to keep the bubbles lively by limiting exposure to air.

The Rim

The rim of the glass also affects how you experience the wine. A glass with a slight outward curve at the rim helps direct the wine to the right parts of your palate. Red wine glasses often have a wide rim to let you experience more of the wine’s aromas before sipping, while white wine glasses tend to have a more tapered rim to focus the delicate scents of the wine.

The Stem

The stem isn’t just there to make the glass look elegant—it serves a practical purpose. Holding the glass by the stem prevents your hand from warming the wine, which is especially important for white and sparkling wines that are best served chilled. Plus, it keeps fingerprints off the bowl, so you can admire the wine’s color and clarity.

The Foot:

The foot, or base, provides stability. While it’s the least talked-about part of the glass, it’s crucial for keeping everything balanced—especially during those lively toasts!

Different types of wine glasses are designed with specific wine styles in mind. For instance, Bordeaux glasses are tall with a broad bowl to help big reds like Cabernet Sauvignon develop their aromas, while Burgundy glasses have a wider bowl to enhance the delicate notes of Pinot Noir. Champagne flutes help maintain bubbles, and dessert wine glasses are often smaller to concentrate the sweet flavors.

Ultimately, while you can drink wine from any glass, the right glass shape can elevate the experience by showcasing the wine's best qualities, from aroma to taste!

The World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Wine
The most expensive bottle of wine ever sold was a 1945 Romanée-Conti Burgundy, which went for a jaw-dropping $558,000 at auction. That’s a bottle you’d want to savor… very slowly!

The sale of the 1945 Romanée-Conti Burgundy made headlines around the world in October 2018 when it shattered auction records at Sotheby’s in New York. A single bottle of this rare wine sold for an astonishing $558,000, making it the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction.

What makes this wine so valuable? The Romanée-Conti vineyard, located in the Burgundy region of France, is legendary for producing some of the world’s finest Pinot Noir. The vineyard is small, spanning just over 4 acres, and produces extremely limited quantities of wine each year. Romanée-Conti wines are renowned for their complexity, elegance, and aging potential, making them highly sought after by collectors.

The 1945 vintage is especially rare. Only 600 bottles were produced that year, which was the final harvest before the vineyard’s old vines were ripped up and replanted due to a phylloxera infestation, a pest that devastated vineyards across Europe. As a result, the 1945 Romanée-Conti represents the last of its kind, a once-in-a-lifetime vintage from pre-phylloxera vines. This rarity, combined with the exceptional quality of the wine itself, has made it a prized item for collectors.

At the 2018 auction, the 1945 Romanée-Conti bottle had a presale estimate of $32,000 to $42,000, but intense bidding quickly pushed the price to an eye-popping $558,000, smashing the previous record for the most expensive bottle of wine. A second bottle from the same vintage sold at the same auction for $496,000.

The buyer of the $558,000 bottle has remained anonymous, but the sale cemented Romanée-Conti’s place in the pantheon of luxury wines and set a new benchmark for wine auctions.

The World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Champagne

The world’s most expensive bottle of champagne is like the crown jewel of bubbly, and it comes with a price tag as jaw-dropping as its sparkle! The record-breaking bottle is a 2013 Armand de Brignac Midas, also known as the Ace of Spades, which sold for a staggering $2.07 million! This 30-liter mega-bottle is the size of a small child and contains enough champagne to fill nearly 40 regular bottles—so it’s not something you’re casually popping at a weekend picnic!

What makes it so special, besides its sheer size? Armand de Brignac is already a prestigious champagne brand, beloved for its rich, complex flavor and flashy, metallic bottle designs. The Midas bottle in particular is made of gold-plated metal, making it not just a drink but a serious luxury statement. The champagne itself is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, crafted with meticulous care. It’s no wonder this limited-edition giant became a collector’s item.

As for who purchased it? This legendary bottle was reportedly bought by Stanley Kroenke, the billionaire sports mogul and owner of multiple sports teams, including the Los Angeles Rams and Arsenal FC. It was popped in a Las Vegas nightclub—because where else would you celebrate in such grand style?

The Mystery of "Legs":
Those elegant droplets that trickle down the inside of your wine glass after a good swirl—often called “legs” or “tears”—are more than just a fancy visual. They’re actually the result of a cool scientific phenomenon called the Marangoni effect, and they offer some hints about your wine!

Here’s the fun part: when you swirl the glass, the alcohol in the wine evaporates faster than the water, leaving behind the heavier components like sugars and glycerol. As gravity pulls the liquid down, you get those signature legs forming on the glass. The slower and thicker the legs, the higher the wine’s alcohol content or sweetness—think rich reds or dessert wines.

While some people think wine legs are a sign of quality, they’re more about physics than flavor! They simply hint at how full-bodied or boozy the wine might be. So next time you spot those legs, know that they’re just your wine showing off its alcohol and sugar content—not necessarily its taste.