SPORTS DRINKS
So-called sports drinks offer another beverage alternative, albeit one marketed mainly at athletes. The
drinks contain mostly sugar, water, sodium, potassium, and flavorings. Whether they provide any additional benefit to athletes is debatable. For high-performance athletes, there may be some benefit from using these drinks because they replace sugar and sodium lost during extended periods of exercise. Water is still the preferred beverage for the average person and athlete. Plus, it has no calories or sugar, which most sports drinks do.
WINE STORAGE
It is not necessary to have a specially built wine cellar to store wine. Anywhere with a temperature from 45° to 65° Fahrenheit is acceptable, as long as the temperature does not fluctuate. The warmer the temperature, the faster the wine will age.
Cork-sealed wines should be stored on their sides to prevent the cork from drying.
The flavor of sparkling wines ranges from slightly sweet to dry. They usually have a lighter flavor than traditional wines. Fortified wines—Brandy or other liquors may be added to sherry, port, or other dessert wines to increase alcohol in
them.
Aromatic wines—So-named because they are flavored with herbs or spices. Vermouth is an example of a flavored wine. Rice wine—Rice wine is a sweet, golden wine and usually has a low alcohol content. It is produced by fermenting steamed rice. Sake and mirin are two well-known rice wines. Rice wine is a frequent part of Asian cuisine.
Access to and varieties of wine have increased as vineyards and the art of winemaking have spread throughout the world. Whereas only a few regions of the world were thought to produce excellent wine decades ago, consumers now have an array of wines—not to mention prices—from which to choose. Wines from the traditional winemaking areas of France remain excellent, of course, but they now have competition from wines produced in Germany, Italy, Spain, the United States, and Australia. Less traditional winemaking
areas such as South America and South Africa also offer enjoyable wines.
From the encyclopedia of food
