Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast consumes the sugars in the grapes and converts them into alcohol. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts produce different types of wine.

Wines made from other fruits, such as apples and berries, are normally named after the fruit from which they are produced (for example, apple wine or elderberry wine) and are generically called fruit wine or country wine (not to be confused with the French term vin de pays). Others, such as barley wine and rice wine (i.e., sake), are made from starch-based materials and resemble beer and spirit more than wine, while ginger wine is fortified with brandy. In these cases, the term "wine" refers to the higher alcohol content rather than the production process. The commercial use of the English word "wine" (and its equivalent in other languages) is protected by law in many jurisdictions.

Wine has a rich history dating back thousands of years, with the earliest known production occurring around 8,000 years ago on the territory of modern-day Georgia. It first appeared in the Balkans at about 4500 BC and was very common in ancient Greece, Thrace and Rome. Wine has also played an important role in religion throughout history. The Greek god Dionysus and the Roman equivalent Bacchus represented wine, and the drink is also used in Christian Eucharist ceremonies and the Jewish Kiddush.

Etymology

The English word "wine" comes from the Proto-Germanic "*winam," an early borrowing from the Latin ''vinum'', "wine" or "(grape) vine," itself derived from the Proto-Indo-European stem *win-o- (cf. Hittite: ''wiyana'', Lycian: ''Oino'', Ancient Greek '''' - ''oînos'', Aeolic Greek '''' - ''woinos'').

The earliest attested terms referring to wine are the Mycenaean Greek ''me-tu-wo ne-wo'' meaning "the month of new wine" or "festival of the new wine" and ''wo-no-wa-ti-si'' meaning "wine garden", written in Linear B inscriptions.

Although no clear evidence has been found of any linguistic connection, some scholars have noted the similarities between the words for wine in the Kartvelian (e.g. Georgian ღვინო ), Indo-European languages (e.g. Russian ''vino''), and Semitic (''*wayn''), hinting to the possibility that this word diffused into all these language families from a common origin. Some Georgian scholars have speculated that Georgian was the origin of this word and that it entered into the Indo-European languages via Semitic.

History

Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest known production of wine, made by fermenting grapes, took place as early as 8,000 years ago in Georgia and 6,100 years ago in Armenia. Other notable areas of wine production have been discovered in Greece and date back to 4500 BC. The same sites also contain the world's earliest evidence of crushed grapes. On January 11, 2011 in one of Armenia's Vayots Dzor province cave was found a wine making press dating to approximately 6,000 years ago. Literary references to wine are abundant in Homer (9th century BC, but possibly composed even earlier), Alkman (7th century BC), and others. In Ancient Egypt, six of 36 wine amphoras were found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun bearing the name "Kha'y", a royal chief vintner. Five of these amphoras were designated as from the King's personal estate with the sixth listed as from the estate of the royal house of Aten. Traces of wine have also been found in central Asian Xinjiang, dating from the second and first millennia BC.

The first known mentioning of grape-based wines in India was in the late 4th century BC writings of Chanakya who was the chief minister of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. In his writings, Chanakya condemns the use of alcohol while chronicling the emperor and his court's frequent indulgence of a style of grape wine known as ''Madhu''.

A 2003 report by archaeologists indicates a possibility that grapes were mixed with rice to produce mixed fermented beverages in China in the early years of the seventh millennium BC. Pottery jars from the Neolithic site of Jiahu, Henan contained traces of tartaric acid and other organic compounds commonly found in wine. However, other fruits indigenous to the region, such as hawthorn, cannot be ruled out. If these beverages, which seem to be the precursors of rice wine, included grapes rather than other fruits, these grapes were of any of the several dozen indigenous wild species of grape in China, rather than from ''Vitis vinifera'', which were introduced into China some 6000 years later.

One of the lasting legacies of the ancient Roman Empire was the viticulture foundation the Romans laid in the lands that today are world renowned wine regions. Areas with Roman garrison towns, like Bordeaux, Trier, and Colchester, the Romans planted vineyards to supply local needs and limit the cost of long distance trading. In medieval Europe, the Roman Catholic Church staunchly supported wine, since they required it for the Mass. Monks in France made wine for years, aging it in caves. An old English recipe that survived in various forms until the 19th century calls for refining white wine from bastard—bad or tainted ''bastardo'' wine.

Grape varieties

Wine is usually made from one or more varieties of the European species ''Vitis vinifera'', such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gamay and Merlot. When one of these varieties is used as the predominant grape (usually defined by law as a minimum of 75% or 85%), the result is a ''varietal'', as opposed to a ''blended'', wine. Blended wines are not necessarily considered inferior to varietal wines; some of the world's most expensive wines, from regions like Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley, are blended from different grape varieties of the same vintage.

Wine can also be made from other species of grape or from hybrids, created by the genetic crossing of two species. ''Vitis labrusca'' (of which the Concord grape is a cultivar), ''Vitis aestivalis'', ''Vitis rupestris'', ''Vitis rotundifolia'' and ''Vitis riparia'' are native North American grapes usually grown to eat fresh or for grape juice, jam, or jelly, but sometimes made into wine.

Hybridization is different from grafting. Most of the world's vineyards are planted with European ''V. vinifera'' vines that have been grafted onto North American species rootstock. This is common practice because North American grape species are resistant to phylloxera, a root louse that eventually kills the vine. In the late 19th century, most of Europe's vineyards (only excluding some of the driest vineyards in Southern Europe) were devastated by the bug, leading to massive vine deaths and eventual replanting. Grafting is done in every wine-producing country of the world except for Argentina, the Canary Islands and Chile—the only countries not yet exposed to the insect.

In the context of wine production, ''terroir'' is a concept that encompasses the varieties of grapes used, elevation and shape of the vineyard, type and chemistry of soil, climate and seasonal conditions, and the local yeast cultures. The range of possibilities here can result in great differences between wines, influencing the fermentation, finishing, and aging processes as well. Many wineries use growing and production methods that preserve or accentuate the aroma and taste influences of their unique ''terroir''. However, flavor differences are not desirable for producers of mass-market table wine or other cheaper wines, where consistency is more important. Such producers try to minimize differences in sources of grapes through production techniques such as micro-oxygenation, tannin filtration, cross-flow filtration, thin film evaporation, and spinning cones.

Classification

Regulations govern the classification and sale of wine in many regions of the world. European wines tend to be classified by region (e.g. Bordeaux, Rioja and Chianti), while non-European wines are most often classified by grape (e.g. Pinot Noir and Merlot). More and more, however, market recognition of particular regions is leading to their increased prominence on non-European wine labels. Examples of non-European recognized locales include Napa Valley in California, Willamette Valley in Oregon, Columbia Valley in Washington, Barossa Valley and Hunter Valley in Australia, Central Valley in Chile, Vale dos Vinhedos in Brazil, Hawke's Bay and Marlborough in New Zealand, Okanagan Valley and Niagara Peninsula in Canada.

Some blended wine names are marketing terms, and the use of these names is governed by trademark law rather than by specific wine laws. For example, Meritage (sounds like "heritage") is generally a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and may also include Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Commercial use of the term "Meritage" is allowed only via licensing agreements with an organization called the "Meritage Association".

European classifications

France has various appellation systems based on the concept of terroir, with classifications ranging from Vin de Table ("table wine") at the bottom, through Vin de Pays and Appellation d'Origine Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (AOVDQS) up to Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) or similar, depending on the region. Portugal has something similar and, in fact, pioneered this technique in 1756 with a royal charter that created the "Demarcated Douro Region" and regulated wine production and trade. Germany did likewise in 2002, although their system has not yet achieved the authority of those of the other countries'. Spain, Greece and Italy have classifications based on a dual system of region of origin and product quality.

Beyond Europe

New World wine—wines from outside of the traditional wine growing regions of Europe tend to be classified by grape rather than by ''terroir'' or region of origin, although there have been non-official attempts to classify them by quality.

Vintages

A "vintage wine" is one made from grapes that were all or mostly grown in a particular year, and labeled as such. Most countries allow a vintage wine to include a portion that is not from the labeled vintage. Variations in a wine's character from year to year can include subtle differences in color, palate, nose, body and development. High-quality wines can improve in flavor with age if properly stored. Consequently, it is not uncommon for wine enthusiasts and traders to save bottles of an especially good vintage wine for future consumption.

In the United States, for a wine to be vintage dated and labeled with a country of origin or American Viticultural Area (AVA) (such as "Sonoma Valley"), it must contain at least 95% of its volume from grapes harvested in that year. If a wine is not labeled with a country of origin or AVA the percentage requirement is lowered to 85%.

Vintage wines are generally bottled in a single batch so that each bottle will have a similar taste. Climate can have a big impact on the character of a wine to the extent that different vintages from the same vineyard can vary dramatically in flavor and quality. Thus, vintage wines are produced to be individually characteristic of the vintage and to serve as the flagship wines of the producer. Superior vintages, from reputable producers and regions, will often fetch much higher prices than their average vintages. Some vintage wines, like Brunellos, are only made in better-than-average years.

For consistency, non-vintage wines can be blended from more than one vintage, which helps wine makers sustain a reliable market image and maintain sales even in bad years. One recent study suggests that for normal drinkers, vintage year may not be as significant to perceived wine quality as currently thought, although wine connoisseurs continue to place great importance on it.

Tasting

Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. Wines are made up of chemical compounds similar or identical to those in fruits, vegetables, and spices. The sweetness of wine is determined by the amount of residual sugar in the wine after fermentation, relative to the acidity present in the wine. Dry wine, for example, has only a small amount of residual sugar.

Individual flavors may also be detected, due to the complex mix of organic molecules such as esters and terpenes that grape juice and wine can contain. Experienced tasters can distinguish between flavors characteristic of a specific grape and flavors that result from other factors in wine making. Typical intentional flavor elements in wine are those imparted by aging in oak casks; chocolate, vanilla, or coffee almost always come from the oak and not the grape itself.

Banana flavors (isoamyl acetate) are the product of yeast metabolism, as are spoilage aromas such as sweaty, barnyard, band-aid (4-ethylphenol and 4-ethylguaiacol), and rotten egg (hydrogen sulfide). Some varietals can also have a mineral flavor due to the presence of water-soluble salts (like limestone).

Wine aroma comes from volatile compounds in the wine that are released into the air. Vaporization of these compounds can be sped up by twirling the wine glass or serving the wine at room temperature. For red wines that are already highly aromatic, like Chinon and Beaujolais, many people prefer them chilled.

Collecting

Outstanding vintages from the best vineyards may sell for thousands of dollars per bottle, though the broader term fine wine covers bottles typically retailing at over about US$30–50. "Investment wines" are considered by some to be ''Veblen goods''—that is, goods for which demand increases instead of decreases as its price rises. The most common wines purchased for investment include those from Bordeaux, Burgundy, cult wines from Europe and elsewhere, and Vintage port. Characteristics of highly collectible wines include:

#A proven track record of holding well over time #A drinking window plateau (i.e., the period for maturity and approachability) that is many years long #A consensus amongst experts as to the quality of the wines #Rigorous production methods at every stage, including grape selection and appropriate barrel-aging

Investment in fine wine has attracted fraudsters who prey on their victims' ignorance of this sector of the wine market. Wine fraudsters often work by charging excessively high prices for off-vintage or lower-status wines from famous wine regions, while claiming that they are offering a sound investment unaffected by economic cycles. Like any investment, proper research is essential before investing.

Production

+Wine production by country 2006	Rank !! Country(with link to wine article) !! Production(tonnes)
!1		5,349,330
!2		4,963,300
!3	Spanish wine	Spain	3,520,870
!4	American wine	United States	2,232,000
!5	Argentine wine	Argentina	1,539,600
!6	Australian wine	Australia	1,410,483
!7	Chinese grape wine	China (People's Republic)	1,400,000
!8	South African wine	South Africa	1,012,980
!9	Chilean wine	Chile	977,087
!10	German wine	Germany	891,600

+Wine production by country 2007	Rank !! Country(with link to wine article) !! Production(tonnes)
!1		4,711,600
!2		4,251,380
!3	Spanish wine	Spain	3,645,000
!4	American wine	United States	2,300,000
!5	Argentine wine	Argentina	1,550,000
!6	Chinese grape wine	China (People's Republic)	1,450,000
!7	South African wine	South Africa	1,050,000
!8	Australian wine	Australia	961,972
!9	German wine	Germany	891,600
!10	Chilean wine	Chile	827,746

Wine grapes grow almost exclusively between thirty and fifty degrees north or south of the equator. The world's southernmost vineyards are in the Central Otago region of New Zealand's South Island near the 45th parallel south, and the northernmost are in Flen, Sweden, just north of the 59th parallel north.

Exporting countries

!colspan=2

+Top ten wine exporting countries in 2006	Rank	Country	1000 tonnes
!1		1,793
!2		1,462
!3	Spanish wine	Spain*	1,337
!4	Australian wine	Australia	762
!5	Chilean wine	Chile*	472
!6	American wine	United States	369
!7	German wine	Germany	316
!8	Argentine wine	Argentina	302
!9	Portuguese wine	Portugal	286
!10	South African wine	South Africa	272
World** || style="text-align:center;"|8,353

* Unofficial figure. ** May include official, semi-official or estimated data.

+ 2006 export market shares	Rank	Country	Market share(% of value in US$)
!1		34.9%
!2		18.0%
!3	Australian wine	Australia	9.3%
!4	Spanish wine	Spain	8.7%
!5	Chilean wine	Chile	4.3%
!6	American wine	United States	3.6%
!7	German wine	Germany	3.5%
!8	Portuguese wine	Portugal	3.0%
!9	South African wine	South Africa	2.4%
!10	New Zealand wine	New Zealand	1.8%

The UK was the world's biggest importer of wine in 2007.

Consumption

Wine consumption data from a list of countries by alcohol consumption measured in liters of pure ethyl alcohol consumed per capita in a given year, according to the most recent data from the World Health Organization. The methodology used by the WHO counted use by persons 15 years of age or older.

+Wine consumption
style="width:140px;"	Country	Liters per capita
	8.14
	6.65
	6.38
	5.80
	5.69
	5.10
	5.10
	4.94
	4.67
	4.62

6.38 8.14 3.92 3.40 3.95 2.29 4.51 4.62 6.65

+Wine vs. beer consumption
style="width:140px;"	Country	Wine (l)	Beer (l)	Wine/beer ratio
	4.18
	|	1.73	3.69
	|	2.31	3.52
	|	1.12	3.50
	|	1.12	3.04
	|	1.33	2.97
	|	0.89	2.57
	|	2.20	2.05
	|	2.49	1.86
	|	3.75	1.77

Uses

Wine is a popular and important beverage that accompanies and enhances a wide range of European and Mediterranean-style cuisines, from the simple and traditional to the most sophisticated and complex. Wine is important in cuisine not just for its value as a beverage, but as a flavor agent, primarily in stocks and braising, since its acidity lends balance to rich savory or sweet dishes. Red, white, and sparkling wines are the most popular, and are known as ''light wines'' because they are only 10–14% alcohol-content by volume. Apéritif and dessert wines contain 14–20% alcohol, and are sometimes fortified to make them richer and sweeter.

Some wine labels suggest opening the bottle and letting the wine "breathe" for a couple of hours before serving, while others recommend drinking it immediately. Decanting—the act of pouring a wine into a special container just for breathing—is a controversial subject in wine. In addition to aeration, decanting with a filter allows one to remove bitter sediments that may have formed in the wine. Sediment is more common in older bottles but younger wines usually benefit more from aeration.

During aeration, the exposure of younger wines to air often "relaxes" the flavors and makes them taste smoother and better integrated in aroma, texture, and flavor. Older wines generally ''fade'', or lose their character and flavor intensity, with extended aeration. Despite these general rules, breathing does not necessarily benefit all wines. Wine should be tasted as soon as it is opened to determine how long it should be aerated, if at all.

Religious uses

Ancient religions

The use of wine in religious ceremonies is common to many cultures and regions. Libations often included wine, and the religious mysteries of Dionysus used wine as a sacramental entheogen to induce a mind-altering state.

Judaism

Wine is an integral part of Jewish laws and traditions. The ''Kiddush'' is a blessing recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify the Shabbat or a Jewish holiday. On Pesach (Passover) during the Seder, it is a Rabbinic obligation of men and women to drink four cups of wine. In the Tabernacle and in the Temple in Jerusalem, the libation of wine was part of the sacrificial service. Note that this does not mean that wine is a symbol of blood, a common misconception that contributes to the myth of the blood libel. The blessing over wine said before consuming the drink is: ''"Baruch atah Hashem ''(Adonai)'' Eloheinu melech ha-olam, boray p’ree hagafen"''—"Praised be the Lord, our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of vine."

Christianity

:

In Christianity, wine is used in a sacred rite called the Eucharist, which originates in the Gospel account of the Last Supper (Gospel of Luke 22:19) that describe Jesus sharing bread and wine with his disciples and commanding them to, "do this in remembrance of me." Beliefs about the nature of the Eucharist vary among denominations (see Eucharistic theologies contrasted).

While some Christians consider the use of wine from the grape as essential for validity of the sacrament, many Protestants also allow (or require) unfermented, pasteurized grape juice as a substitute. Wine was used in Eucharistic rites by all Protestant groups until an alternative arose in the late 19th century. Methodist dentist and prohibitionist Thomas Bramwell Welch applied new pasteurization techniques to stop the natural fermentation process of grape juice. Some Christians who were part of the growing temperance movement pressed for a switch from wine to grape juice, and the substitution spread quickly over much of the United States and to other countries to a lesser degree. There remains an ongoing debate between some American Protestant denominations as to whether wine can and should be used for the Eucharist or allowed as an ordinary beverage.

Islam

Alcoholic beverages, including wine are forbidden under most interpretations of Islamic law. Iran and Afghanistan used to have a thriving wine industry that disappeared after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 and earlier in Afghanistan. However, people of Nuristan in Afghanistan have produced wine since ancient times and still do so. In Greater Persia, ''Mei'' (Persian wine) has been a central theme of poetry for more than a thousand years. Some Alevi sects use wine in their religious services.

Certain exceptions to this rule apply. Alcohol derived from a source other than grape (or its by-product) and date is allowed in ''very small quantities'' (loosely defined as a quantity which does not intoxicate a person) under the Sunni Hanafi madhab, for specific purposes (such as medicines), where the goal is not intoxication, with modern Hanafi scholars regarding alcohol consumption as totally forbidden..

Health effects

Although excessive alcohol consumption has adverse health effects, epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated that moderate consumption of alcohol and wine is statistically associated with a decrease in death due to cardiovascular events such as heart failure according to additional news reports on the ''French Paradox''. The French paradox refers to the comparatively lower incidence of coronary heart disease in France despite high levels of saturated fat in the traditional French diet. Some epidemiologists suspect that this difference is due to the higher consumption of wines by the French, but the scientific evidence for this theory is limited. The average moderate wine drinker is more likely to exercise more, to be more health conscious, and to be of a higher educational and socioeconomic class, evidence that the association between moderate wine drinking and health may be related to confounding factors.

Population studies have observed a J curve association between wine consumption and the risk of heart disease. This means that heavy drinkers have an elevated risk, while moderate drinkers (at most two five-ounce servings of wine per day) have a lower risk than non-drinkers. Studies have also found that moderate consumption of other alcoholic beverages may be cardioprotective, although the association is considerably stronger for wine. Also, some studies have found increased health benefits for red wine over white wine, though other studies have found no difference. Red wine contains more polyphenols than white wine, and these are thought to be particularly protective against cardiovascular disease.

A chemical in red wine called resveratrol has been shown to have both cardioprotective and chemoprotective effects in animal studies. Low doses of resveratrol in the diet of middle-aged mice has a widespread influence on the genetic levers of aging and may confer special protection on the heart. Specifically, low doses of resveratrol mimic the effects of what is known as caloric restriction - diets with 20–30 percent fewer calories than a typical diet. Resveratrol is produced naturally by grape skins in response to fungal infection, including exposure to yeast during fermentation. As white wine has minimal contact with grape skins during this process, it generally contains lower levels of the chemical. Other beneficial compounds in wine include other polyphenols, antioxidants, and flavonoids.

To fully get the benefits of resveratrol in wines, it is recommended to sip slowly when drinking wines. Due to inactivation in the gut and liver, most of the resveratrol in imbibed red wine does not reach the blood circulation. However, when sipping slowly, absorption via the mucous membranes in the mouth can result in up to around 100 times the blood levels of resveratrol.

Red wines from the south of France and from Sardinia in Italy have been found to have the highest levels of ''procyanidins'', which are compounds in grape seeds suspected to be responsible for red wine's heart benefits. Red wines from these areas have between two and four times as much procyanidins as other red wines. Procyanidins suppress the synthesis of a peptide called endothelin-1 that constricts blood vessels.

A 2007 study found that both red and white wines are effective anti-bacterial agents against strains of ''Streptococcus''. Also, a report in the October 2008 issue of ''Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention'', posits that moderate consumption of red wine may decrease the risk of lung cancer in men.

While evidence from laboratory and epidemiological (observational) studies suggest a cardioprotective effect, no controlled studies have been completed on the effect of alcoholic drinks on the risk of developing heart disease or stroke. Excessive consumption of alcohol can cause cirrhosis of the liver and alcoholism; the American Heart Association cautions people to "consult your doctor on the benefits and risks of consuming alcohol in moderation."

Wine's effect on the brain is also under study. One study concluded that wine made from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape reduces the risk of Alzheimer's Disease. Another study concluded that among alcoholics, wine damages the hippocampus to a greater degree than other alcoholic beverages.

Sulfites are present in all wines and are formed as a natural product of the fermentation process, and many wine producers add sulfur dioxide in order to help preserve wine. Sulfur dioxide is also added to foods such as dried apricots and orange juice. The level of added sulphites varies, and some wines have been marketed with low sulphite content. Sulphites in wine can cause some people, particularly those with asthma, to have adverse reactions.

A study of women in the United Kingdom, called The Million Women Study, concluded that moderate alcohol consumption can increase the risk of certain cancers, including breast, pharynx and liver cancer. This has led the lead author of the study, Professor Valerie Beral, to assert that there is not enough evidence to conclude that any positive health effects of red wine outweigh the risk of cancer, and is quoted as saying, "It's an absolute myth that red wine is good for you." Professor Roger Corder, author of ''The Red Wine Diet'', counters that two small glasses of a very tannic, procyanadin rich wine would confer a benefit, although "most supermarket wines are low procyanadin and high alcohol."

Packaging

Most wines are sold in glass bottles and are sealed using corks (50% of which come from Portugal). An increasing number of wine producers have been using alternative closures such as screwcaps, or synthetic plastic "corks". In addition to being less expensive, alternative closures prevent cork taint, although they have been blamed for other problems such as excessive reduction.

Some wines are packaged in heavy plastic bags within cardboard boxes, and are called ''box wines'', or cask wine. These wines are typically accessed via a tap on the side of the box. Box wine can stay acceptably fresh for up to a month after opening, while bottled wine oxidizes more rapidly and can degrade considerably in a few days.

Environmental considerations of wine packaging reveal benefits and drawbacks of both bottled and box wines. The glass used to make bottles is a nontoxic naturally-occurring substance that is completely recyclable, whereas the plastics used for box wine containers are typically much less environmentally friendly. However, wine bottle manufacturers have been cited for Clean Air Act violations. A New York Times editorial suggested that box wine, being lighter in package weight, has a reduced carbon footprint from its distribution. Boxed wine plastics, even though possibly recyclable, can be more labor-intensive (and therefore expensive) to process than glass bottles. And, while a wine box is recyclable, its plastic wine bladder most likely is not.

Storage

''Wine cellars'', or ''wine rooms'' if they are above-ground, are places designed specifically for the storage and aging of wine. In an ''active'' wine cellar, temperature and humidity are maintained by a climate control system. ''Passive'' wine cellars are not climate-controlled, and so must be carefully located. Wine is a natural, perishable food product; when exposed to heat, light, vibration or fluctuations in temperature and humidity, all types of wine, including red, white, sparkling, and fortified, can spoil. When properly stored, wines can maintain their quality and in some cases improve in aroma, flavor, and complexity as they age. Some wine experts contend that the optimal temperature for aging wine is , others . Wine refrigerators offer an alternative to wine cellars. They are available in capacities ranging from small 16-bottle units to furniture pieces that can contain 400 bottles. Wine refrigerators are not ideal for aging, but rather serve to chill wine to the perfect temperature for drinking. These refrigerators keep the humidity low, usually under 50%, which is below the optimal humidity of 50% to 70%. Lower humidity levels can dry corks out over time, allowing oxygen to enter the bottle and reduce the wine's quality.

+Related professions	!Name	!Description
	Craftsman of wooden barrels and casks. A cooperage is a company that produces such casks.
	An amateur wine maker, or a derogatory term used for small scale operations of recent inception, usually without pedigree and located in Bordeaux
Négociant	A wine merchant, most specifically those who assemble the produce of smaller growers and winemakers and sells them under their own name
Oenologist	Wine scientist or wine chemist; a student of oenology. A winemaker may be trained as oenologist, but often hires a consultant instead
Sommelier	A restaurant specialist in charge of assembling the wine list, educating the staff about wine, and assisting customers with their wine selections
Terroir specialist	Someone (often a consultant or academic) with special knowledge of the interplay between the environmental factors such as soil, climate and topography—also known as terroir—and wine grape quality or wine character
Vintner, Winemaker	A wine producer; a person who makes wine
Viticulturist

See also

Acids in wine

Aging of wine

Beverage

Conditum Paradoxum, a spiced wine of Ancient Rome

Cork

Fruit wine

Glossary of wine terms

Non-grape based wine

Oak (wine)

Screw cap (wine)

Spritzer

Wine accessory

Wine clubs

Wine Country

Winemaking

References

;Notes

Further reading

External links

''The Guardian'' & ''Observer'' Guide to Wine

The wine anorak by wine writer Jamie Goode

Category:Symbols of Dionysus

af:Wyn als:Wein ang:Ƿīn (drinc) ar:نبيذ an:Vin arc:ܚܡܪܐ (ܫܬܝܐ) frp:Vin ast:Vinu az:Şərab bn:ওয়াইন zh-min-nan:Phô-tô-chiú be:Віно be-x-old:Віно bar:Wein bs:Vino br:Gwin bg:Вино ca:Vi cv:Эрех ceb:Alak cs:Víno tum:Vinyo cy:Gwin da:Vin de:Wein et:Vein el:Κρασί es:Vino eo:Vino ext:Vinu eu:Ardo fa:شراب hif:Wine fo:Vín fr:Vin fur:Vin ga:Fíon gd:Fìon gl:Viño gan:葡萄酒 ko:포도주 hi:शराब hsb:Wino hr:Vino io:Vino id:Anggur (minuman) ia:Vino is:Vín it:Vino he:יין jv:Anggur (ombèn-ombèn) krc:Чагъыр ka:ღვინო kk:Шарап sw:Divai ht:Diven ku:Şerab lad:Vino lbe:Чахир la:Vinum lv:Vīns lb:Wäin lt:Vynas lij:Vin li:Wien lmo:Vin hu:Bor (ital) mk:Вино ml:വീഞ്ഞ് mr:वाईन arz:نبيت ms:Wain mwl:Bino mn:Дарс my:ဝိုင် nah:Huino nl:Wijn nds-nl:Wien ne:वाइन ja:ワイン nap:Vino no:Vin nn:Vin nrm:Vîn oc:Vin pfl:Woi pnb:شراب pms:Vin nds:Wien (Drunk) pl:Wino pt:Vinho kbd:Санэ ro:Vin qu:Winu rue:Вино ru:Вино sah:Вино sc:Binu sco:Wine sq:Vera (pije alkoolike) scn:Vinu simple:Wine sk:Víno sl:Vino sr:Вино sh:Vino fi:Viini sv:Vin tl:Alak ta:வைன் th:ไวน์ tr:Şarap uk:Вино vec:Vin vi:Rượu vang fiu-vro:Vein wa:Vén vls:Wyn war:Bino yi:וויין zh-yue:葡萄酒 bat-smg:Vīns zh:葡萄酒

Coordinates	55°45′06″N37°37′04″N
birthname	Andrew Michael Milonakis
birth date	January 30, 1976
birth place	Katonah, New York, U.S.
occupation	Actor/Comedian/Rapper
yearsactive	2004–present }}

Andrew Michael "Andy" Milonakis (born January 30, 1976) is an American actor, writer, rapper, and comedian of Greek descent best known for creating and starring in ''The Andy Milonakis Show'' on MTV and MTV2.

Life and career

Milonakis was born with a congenital growth-hormone condition that gives him the outward appearance and voice of an adolescent even though he is a full grown adult. In his high school years at John Jay High School, in Cross River, New York, he would use comedy as a means to cope with incessant bullying. "Humor is a great defense mechanism," says Milonakis. "If you're a serious, fat, young-looking kid, you're not going to be the most popular guy in high school."

As a comedian, Milonakis and his cousin "Jacob Robinson" began dabbling in comedy while working at his tech support job at a Manhattan accounting firm in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In his free time he began taking comedy classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City and eventually started gaining attention on the internet for the homemade sketches he posted on his website angrynakedpat.com.

Milonakis' fame began as an Internet phenomenon after he released home webcam recordings of freestyle rhyming, humor videos, and short films. Some of these include "Crispy New Freestyle", "Cuppy", and "The Super Bowl Is Gay." Comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel later recruited him for regular appearances in comedy sketches on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' from 2003 to 2004.

Milonakis starred in his own ''MTV'' television series, ''The Andy Milonakis Show'', which lasted three seasons between 2005 and 2007. The show was executive produced by Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla.

Milonakis appeared in the movie ''Waiting...'' in 2005 and its sequel in 2009. He has also appeared in movies such as ''Who's Your Caddy?'' and ''Extreme Movie''.

Milonakis guest starred in Cartoon Network's ''Adventure Time'' as NEPTR, the Never Ending Pie Throwing Robot.

Discography

Mixtapes

2009: Hot Soup

EP

2010: Gazpacho EP

References

External links

Andy Milonakis' YouTube channel

Andy's Twitter

Andy Milonakis on Bandcamp

The Andy Milonakis Show at MTV.com

Unofficial Fan Page

Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from New York Category:American comedians Category:American comedy musicians Category:American film actors Category:American people of Greek descent Category:American television actors Category:American television personalities Category:American television writers Category:People from Westchester County, New York

de:Andy Milonakis es:Andy Milonakis it:Andy Milonakis lt:Andy Milonakis pt:Andy Milonakis sv:Andy Milonakis

Coordinates	55°45′06″N37°37′04″N
Name	Vybz Kartel
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Adidja Palmer
Alias	Addi Di Teacha, Gaza Emperor, World Boss
Born	January 07, 1976Kingston, Jamaica
Origin	Portmore, Jamaica
Genre	ReggaeDancehallReggae fusion
Occupation	Deejay, Songwriter, Entrepreneur, Lyricist, Producer
Years active	2000–present
Label	Adidjaheim Records, NotNice Production
Associated acts	Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Aidonia Elephant Man, Ninjaman, Alliance, Portmore Empire, Major Lazer & Popcaan, Kano, Vanessa Bling
Website	Vybz Kartel's MySpace

Adidja Palmer (born January 7, 1976), better known as Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall artist, songwriter and businessman. He has many nicknames, including Addi the Teacher and Gaza Emperor.

Biography

Adidja Palmer (Addi Teacha) began his career as a teenager in 1993, with his first recording "Love Fat Woman", his first single, released on Alvin Reid's label "One Heart", using the moniker "Adi Banton", a homage to Buju Banton. Palmer was later part of the three-member group "Vybez Cartel", keeping the slightly altered name after group split up, and became a protege of Bounty Killer, for whom he claims to have written nearly 30 songs, including "Gal Clown".

Vybz Kartel rose to prominence in 2003 after a string of hits in Jamaica. The year culminated in a pre-planned on-stage clash with Ninjaman at the annual dancehall festival Sting in Kartel's hometown of Portmore. The clash turned violent when Kartel's crewmembers, as well as Kartel himself, threw punches and assaulted Ninjaman onstage. While Kartel's manager initially blamed Ninjaman for the fracas, Kartel himself quickly apologised to Ninjaman and Sting organizers for the fracas. Four days after the incident, the two artists appeared before the press to announce a settlement of their differences and to end any animosity.

He established his own label Adidjahiem/Notnice Records with his business partner and producer Ainsley "Notnice" Morris. In 2010, he released his album ''Pon Di Gaza 2.0'' on Adidjahiem/Notnice Records in collaboration with Tads Record Inc. In Spring 2011, Kartel is scheduled to release a still-unnamed album with Brooklyn Hip Hop/Electro producer Dre Skull.

Kartel has worked on collaborations and remixes with Hip Hop and R&B; musicians Jay-Z, Rihanna, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, M.I.A, Pharrell, Kardinal Offishal, Akon, Jim Jones and Eminem.

In 2009 he had two international hits with “Ramping Shop” debuting on the Billboard Top 100 Singles charts, and “Dollar Sign” being in regular rotation on urban radio stations in the US. His 2010 single "Clarks" was one of his biggest international successes, remaining in the top 3 Reggae Singles gaining the most radio plays in North America for 40 weeks. "Clarks" was also featured on the TV series ''So You Think You Can Dance Canada'', and on a CNN segment on Dancehall dance. MTV's ''Vice Guide to Dancehall'' featured Kartel at his weekly dance party, Street Vybz Thursday.

After splitting with Bounty Killer-led Alliance in 2006, Kartel founded the Portmore Empire, a group of Dancehall deejays and singers from his Portmore neighborhood that he signed to his newly founded Adidjahiem/Notnice Records. Current members of the group are: Popcaan, Shawn Storm, Sheba, Indu, Tommy Lee, Singing Maxwell, Singa Blinga, Lenny Mattic. Former members include Lisa Hype, Gaza Kim, Black Ryno, Jah Vinci, Deejay Spice, Doza Medicine and Merital.

Feud with Mavado

Towards the end of 2006, Vybz Kartel left the Alliance. Tensions arose following Kartel's continued association with Bounty Killer's longtime enemy, Beenie Man, including Kartel attending Beenie Man's wedding to Bounty Killer's ex-girlfriend, D'Angel. Vybz Kartel cited his departure as being due to his desire to be a more independent artist. It was reported that Vybz and Bounty Killer performed together ahead of the annual Sting show. Due to Kartel's defection from the Alliance and his 'parring' (fraternising) with Beenie Man, a series of songs and counteraction songs ensued - the main proponents being Kartel and Mavado.

A very public feud between Vybz Kartel and former collaborator Mavado arose towards the end of 2006, stemming from Vybz' much publicized departure from the dancehall conglomerate group, The Alliance. The feud resulted in numerous diss-tracks released, in which each artist dissed the other and their associates over popular dancehall rhythms. In a police-overseen press conference in March 2007, both Mavado and Vybz Kartel publicly announced an end to hostilities and apologized to fans.

However, by the summer of 2008, tensions flared with a renewal of "diss tracks" from each artist, and a lyrical clash between the two at Sting 2008 left mixed views as to the "winner". Most of 2009 saw a continuation of the public feud, which dominated Jamaican media and, to a certain extent, Jamaican culture, with the two artists' factions, ''Gaza'' (Kartel) and ''Gully'' (Mavado), being adopted by Jamaican youth, in some cases leading to street violence.

On December 8, 2009, Kartel and Mavado met with Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding in an attempt to end the feud, which had by that time fueled mob attacks in some of the inner-city neighborhoods of Kingston. The two had performed together on-stage the previous night in a sign of goodwill at the West Kingston Jamboree, a concert promoted by area leader Christopher "Dudus" Coke. After the truce in December 2009, the two artists were scheduled to perform a unity concert March 2010 in Barbados, which was later cancelled by the prime minister of that country.

Business

In 2008, Vybz Kartel launched his own liquor line Street Vybz Rum. He hosts a weekly dance party Street Vybz Thursday, at the Building, Kingston nightclub he manages with Street Vybz Rum business partner Corey Todd. The rum is officially distributed by Vybz Distillers Limited. The same year, he also released his own condom line, Daggering Condoms. Kartel's goal for 2011 is to release his own shoe line named Addi's, as well as his own line of "cake soap".

When his singles "Clarks", "Clarks 2 (Clarks Again)" and "Clarks 3 (Wear Weh Yuh Have)" featured the British shoe brand Clarks in 2010, its sales numbers and prices in Jamaica increased considerably.

Controversy

Kartel has come under controversy over perceived skin whitening, or "bleaching", leading him to claim to the use of "cake soap" to lighten his skin. The Blue Power Group, Jamaican manufacturer of the popular cake soap (or "blue soap") has refuted claims it changes skin colour. Kartel then stated the soap used to lighten his skin was his own brand, which he intends to release on the local market.

Awards

Kartel has had several collaborations with international hip hop and pop stars. He has released two albums for the UK/US based label Greensleeves Records. He was also nominated for the Source, VIBE and UK MOBO awards, although his 2004 UK MOBO award nomination was withdrawn amidst controversy over allegedly homophobic content of his lyrics.

2003

* Stone Love's 30th Anniversary

** DJ of the Year

2008

* CUMA (Caribbean Urban Music Awards)

2009

EME Awards

** Male DJ of the Year

** Lyricist/Songwriter of the Year

** Song of the Year (Romping Shop ft. Spice)

2010

EME Awards

** Male DJ of the Year

** Lyricist/Songwriter of the Year

** Recording Artist of the Year

WBLS Caribbean Artiste of the Year

Nominated by the MOBO Awards and Soul Train Awards for Reggae Artist of the Year.

References

External links

The Kartel Business - A look at Vybz Kartel as an Entrepreneur

Vybz Kartel, one of the baddest DJs

Vibes Kartel| Vybz Kartel| Fastest Growing Dancehall Artist in the Caribbean

Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica Category:Dancehall musicians Category:Reggae fusion artists Category:Jamaican reggae musicians

da:Vybz Kartel de:Vybz Kartel fr:Vybz Kartel it:Vybz Kartel ht:Vybz Kartel

Coordinates	55°45′06″N37°37′04″N
name	Tony Matterhorn
background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
birth name	Dufton Taylor
alias	'Mr. Fully Loaded'.
origin	Kingston, Jamaica
genre	dancehall
occupation	Musician, Songwriter, Deejay
years active	Early 1990s
website	http://twitter.com/tonymatterhorn }}

Tony Matterhorn Bio

Tony Matterhorn (birth name Dufton Taylor Jr.) joined King Addies in 1992 and left the sound to branch out on his own five years later.

His feisty attitude has kept him at or near the top of the sound system game for many years. Tony Matterhorn has now found new territory as a dancehall deejay with a handful of hits pounding the dancehall both locally and overseas. Matterhorn, whose real name is Dufton Taylor Jr. has now found himself much busier than in previous years. In a recent interview, Matterhorn pointed out that his career is enjoying an all- time high and he is capitalizing on every moment that presents itself. "Pretty much things have changed a lot now. I am in the studios more than before, doing dubs for other sounds but its all good," he explained.

Dubbed 'Mr. Fully Loaded' for his intense battles at the annual beach event, Matterhorn has captured a new fan base with the globe-trotting Dutty Wine single which spent 13 weeks at number one on the RETV Dancehall Chart, and eleven weeks at the top of the UK's BBC 1Xtra Dancehall chart. Dutty Wine's success hasn't been confined to the dancehall charts. The song last week peaked at number 35 on Billboard's R&B; Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart in the US. A follow-up single, Goodas Fi Dem from producer Mark Pinnock's Gully Slime rhythm on the Natural Bridge label, has taken over the number one spot on the charts.

Matterhorn got his initial start in the sound system arena in the early 1990s. "I was going to school when Wally from Inner City sound and Mark dem decide to teach mi one day about the sound thing. I was always listening to people like Professor Nuts and Stichie from back in the day. The deejay thing just evolved from being around artistes like Bounty Killer and Mad Cobra,"said Matterhorn. Asked whether he was surprised at the success of Dutty Wine, Matterhorn said "The song took about 15 minutes to do, right in my living room couch. Me and Ding Dong and some friends were running a boat. The song was created for the girls from Montego Bay who were doing the Dutty Wine dance. I did had the feeling that the song was going to be big, but not as big as it turned out to be."

With plans for an album of material almost completed, a touring schedule being finalisted and attention coming from major record labels including Atlantic and Universal Records, Matterhorn said that his selector persona will always be active, despite his new-found success as a vocalist. "The album is almost complete. I need about two more tracks for it, but the selector Tony Matterhorn isn't going anywhere," he said. Added Matterhorn, "I have about four or five new singles to drop on the road, but mi kinda hold them back still. There is a song called Man From Mars that's doing well in New York right now. Goodas Fi Dem is doing well. I just have to give thanks for all that's happening".

Matterhorn was most recently name dropped in the Kanye West song 'Monster,' with rapper Nicki Minaj rapping:

"Yeah my money's so tall that my barbie's gotta climb it/

Hotter than a middle eastern climate, Find it/

Tony Matterhorn, dutty whine it"

Tony Matterhorn nick names

''Man from Mars''

''Tony Mentally Ill Matterhorn''

''Dutty wine Man''

''Mr. Fully loaded''

Songs

''Dutty Wine'' (Smash riddim) (2006)

''Dance instruction'' (2006)

''Goodas Fi Dem'' (Gully Slime riddim) (2006)

''March Out'' (2006)

''On My Knees'' with Alaine (2007)

''Turn It Around'' (Raging Bull riddim) (2007)

''Man from Mars'' (2007)

''Running Cow'' (Chiney K riddim) (2008)

''Talk De Things''(Bee Hive Riddim) (2008)

''How We Grow'' (Drum Line riddim) (2008)

''Tour Guide'' (Go Go riddim) (2008)

''Gal Dem Wine'' (2008)

''Wine Up For Me'' (2008)

''Future Wine 2024'' (2008)

''Never stop'' (Day Rave riddim) (2008)

''When it rains'' (2009)

''Jump and wine'' (2009)

''Survivor'' (2009)

''Nobody's Goin Home'' (2009)

''Come Quick'' (2009)

''Twitter Me'' (2009)

''Gwan So'' (2009) (After Hours Riddim)

''So Beautiful'' (2010)

''Nah Tek Chat'' (2010)

''Run Out Ya'' (2010)

''Just Tell Dem'' (2010) (featuring gappy ranks)

''Wine Dutty Dem'' (2010) (Supa Jigga TC- Girls) (Stush Riddim)

''Party People'' (2010) (FIRST BORN RIDDIM) (RAZZ & BIGGY PROD)

''DEM NUH BAD'' (2010) (Featuring Stein) (SOPRANO RIDDIM) UPT-007 PROD

''Wine up yuh body '' (2010) (hold yuh riddim)

''ROLL OUT'' (2010)

''MAKE IT RAIN'' (2010) (JAFRICAN RIDDIM)RAW COPPERSHOT PROD

''First Born'' (2010) (Riddim Mix) (featuring Serani)

''FUCK MI SAY'' (2010) (SOPRANO RIDDIM)

''Got Me Felling'' (2010) (featuring Landen) (MULTI SYMTOM RIDDIM)

''Dem Alone'' (2010) (Featuring Fire links, Razz, Biggy,& Richie Feelings)

''Don't Run'' (2010)

''Cut Dem Off'' (2010) (Featuring Elephant Man)

''Lock Down Di Endz'' (2010) (Money tree riddim)

''Twenty Ten'' (2010) (CATALOG RIDDIM) (DI GENIUS RECORDS)

''Ride It'' (2010) (THE RISE UP RIDDIM)

''Gal wine'' (2010) (Tun up riddim)

''Dutty Browning'' (2010)

''DEM JUS CANT TOUCH ME'' (2010) (SUMMER TIME RIDDIM) (SUPAHYPE PROD)

''Save U Soul'' (2010) (Generation Edge Riddim)

''MADD MATTERHORN'' (2010) (SPRITE RIDDIM)

''Move YOUR BODY'' (2010) (CARIBBEAN GIRL RIDDIM) (JUSBUSS PROD

''PRESSURE GYAL PHONE'' (2010) (STREET SWAG RIDDIM)

''World Fuck'' (2010) (Waving Flag Remix)

''Blackberry Pin '' (2010) (Smokin Riddim)

''Walk and wine'' (2010)

''Ready Fi Fuck'' (2010)

''Wah Come Fuck'' (2010) (Tsunami Riddim)

''Again and Again'' (2010) (featuring Serina)

''BARROW U NUH BEG'' (2010) (SPLIT PERSONALITY RIDDIM (SEANIZZLE/21ST)

''Nah Let Mi Out'' (2010) (Championship Riddim)

''Streets a talk'' (2010) (Winnings Riddim) (Di Genius)

''Everything wrong'' (2010) (Star Bwoy Riddim) (Chimney Records)

''Greatest of all time'' (2010)

''Dutty Wine It'' (2011) (Dutty wine part 2) (Black Spyda Records)

''Jesus Slippers'' (2011) (Bus Stop Riddim) (Cashflow Records)

''Come chuck tru mi'' (2011)

''Bugatti Body '' (2011) (CashFlow Riddim)

''Wine Pon Mi Cocky'' (2011)

'' Bad Bad'' (2011) with Zigtop

'' Nobody Knows'' (2011)

''Fluffy Summer'' (2011) (E5 Records/Mini Prod)

''Ugly'' (2011) (Contra Riddim) (Cr203 Production)

''Beach Party '' (2011) (Starkutt Prod) (Featuring Onton)

''Dancehall Duppy'' (2011)

''Love Max Out'' (2011) (Mix Up Riddim) (BlackSpyda Records)

''Rolling Solo'' (2011) (Nuvo)

''Dancehall Duppy part 2'' (2011) (HOG PEN) (NOTNICE RECORDS)

''THE SINS OF TWINS DISS'' (2011)

References

tag; http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=3298

External links

Category:Living people Category:Dancehall musicians Category:Jamaican sound systems Category:Jamaican reggae musicians Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica Category:1972 births

fr:Tony Matterhorn sv:Tony Matterhorn

Coordinates	55°45′06″N37°37′04″N
Name	Iron & Wine
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Samuel Beam
Born	July 26, 1974South Carolina, U.S.
Instrument	Vocals, Guitar, Banjo
Genre	FolkFolk rock
Label	Sub PopWarner Bros./4AD
Associated acts	Calexico, Rosie Thomas
Website	www.ironandwine.com }}

Samuel Beam (born July 26, 1974), better known by his stage and recording name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter. He has released four studio albums, several EPs and singles, as well as a few download-only releases, which include a live album (a recording of his 2005 Bonnaroo performance). He occasionally tours with a full band.

Beam was raised in South Carolina before moving to Virginia and then Florida to attend school. He now resides in Dripping Springs, near Austin, Texas. The name ''Iron & Wine'' is taken from a dietary supplement named "Beef Iron & Wine" that he found in a general store while shooting a film.

Early life

Beam was raised in Chapin, South Carolina, where his father worked in land management and his mother was a schoolteacher. When he was a child, his family took regular trips to the country, where his grandfather ran a farm. He attended Seven Oaks Elementary School, Irmo Middle School, and Chapin High School. While home from college, he was a waiter at California Dreaming restaurant in Columbia. Beam earned a bachelor's degree in art from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. He specialized in painting. He graduated from the Florida State University Film School with an MFA degree. Before the release of the first Iron & Wine album, Beam's main source of income was as a professor of film and cinematography at the University of Miami and Miami International University of Art & Design. He had been writing songs for over seven years before a friend lent him a four-track recorder. He began making demos and gave one to his friend Michael Bridwell, brother of Band of Horses lead singer, Ben Bridwell. Michael handed it to Mike McGonigal, editor of Yeti magazine, who chose "Dead Man's Will," later released on ''In the Reins'', for inclusion on one of his magazine's compilation CDs. Beam later came to the attention of Sub Pop Records co-owner, Jonathan Poneman, who contacted Beam to propose a deal.

Musical career

Beam released his first Iron & Wine album, ''The Creek Drank the Cradle'', on the Sub Pop label in 2002. Beam wrote, performed, recorded and produced the album in his home studio. Featuring acoustic guitars, banjo, and slide guitar, the album's music has been compared to that of Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, Elliott Smith, Neil Young and John Fahey.

Also in 2002, Beam recorded a cover of The Postal Service's then-unreleased song "Such Great Heights". Rather than being included on an Iron & Wine release, the track was initially included as a b-side of the original version by The Postal Service. It was later included on the B-sides and rarities album, ''Around the Well''. He then followed up on his debut album in 2003 with ''The Sea & The Rhythm'', an EP containing other home-recorded tracks with a similar style to the songs on the debut.

Beam's second full-length album, ''Our Endless Numbered Days'' (2004), was recorded in a professional studio with a significant increase in fidelity. Produced in Chicago by Brian Deck, the focus was still on acoustic material, but the inclusion of other band members gave rise to a slightly different sound. That same year, he recorded the song "The Trapeze Swinger" for the film ''In Good Company'', and had his version of "Such Great Heights" featured in an advertisement for M&M;'s and in the film and soundtrack for ''Garden State''. This version was later used in a 2006 Ask.com advertisement, and eventually released as a single in 2006 backed with recordings of "The Trapeze Swinger" and "Naked as We Came" made for Radio Vienna.

In February 2005, he released an EP entitled ''Woman King'', which expanded on the sounds of his previous LP, and added electric guitars. Each track featured a spiritual female figure, and had subtle Biblical undertones.

The EP ''In the Reins'', a collaboration with the Arizona-based rock band Calexico, was released in September 2005. Beam wrote all of the EP's songs years earlier, but Calexico added their trademark fusion of southwestern rock, traditional Mexican music and jazz to the songs' arrangements. Several tracks feature brass instruments, a first for Beam's music.

The third full-length Iron & Wine album, entitled ''The Shepherd's Dog'', was released September 25, 2007. This album was voted one of the ten best of 2007 by ''Paste'' magazine. Contributors included Joey Burns and Paul Niehaus of Calexico, as well as jazz musicians Matt Lux and Rob Burger. When asked to describe the album to ''The Independent'', Beam remarked that "it's not a political propaganda record, but it's definitely inspired by political confusion, because I was really taken aback when Bush got reelected."

Beam has released most of his music on iTunes, including several exclusive EPs. The ''Iron & Wine iTunes Exclusive EP'' features unreleased studio recordings, including a Stereolab cover and two tracks which had previously only appeared on vinyl. The ''Live Session (iTunes Exclusive)'' features Beam and his sister, Sarah Beam, performing a number of tracks from his albums, as well as a cover of New Order's "Love Vigilantes". Sarah Beam has contributed backing vocals on many of Beam's studio recordings.

Beam's music has appeared in television series such as ''Grey's Anatomy'', ''The L Word'' and ''House, M.D.''. "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" was used in the film ''Twilight''. The song was specifically chosen for the film's prom scene by Kristen Stewart, the female lead, and appears on the film's soundtrack.

The B-sides and rarities album ''Around the Well'' was released in 2009. Iron & Wine also contributed the song "Stolen Houses (Die)" to the AIDS benefit album ''Dark Was the Night'' produced by the Red Hot Organization.

On November 26, 2010 Iron & Wine released a special edition ''Record Store Day Black Friday'' 12" vinyl and CD single called, ''Walking Far From Home'' for independent record stores.

''Kiss Each Other Clean'', Iron & Wine's fourth full-length album, was released on January 25, 2011 on Warner Bros. Records in North America and 4AD for the rest of the world.

Personal life

Beam, his wife Kim and their five daughters live in Dripping Springs near Austin, Texas.

Discography

Studio, Compilations, Live Albums & EPs

– ''Our Endless Numbered Days'' ''The Shepherd's Dog'' ''Kiss Each Other Clean'' 25 – ''Norfolk 6/20/05 (album) – ''The Sea & The Rhythm'' ''Iron & Wine iTunes Exclusive EP'' ''Woman King'' ''In the Reins'' ''Live Session (iTunes Exclusive) (Iron & Wine EP) ''Live at Lollapalooza 2006: Iron & Wine - EP

Year !! Studio Albums !! Billboard 200	US !! UK !! Notes
2002	''The Creek Drank the Cradle''	|	–	–
2004	|	158	–	–
2007	|	24	74	–
2011	|	2	32	Released January 25, 2011.
Year !! Compilations !! Billboard 200	US !! UK !! Notes
2009	''Around the Well''	|	–	B-sides and rarities compilation
Year !! Live Albums !! Billboard 200	US !! UK !! Notes
2005	''Iron & Wine Live Bonnaroo''	|	–	–
2009	Norfolk'' ||	–	–	Live Album
		Year !! EPs !! Billboard 200	US !! UK !! Notes
2002	Tour EP (Iron & Wine)>Iron & Wine Tour EP''	|	–	–
2003	|	–	–	–
2004	|	–	–	iTunes only
2005	|	128	–	–
2005	|	135	–	Calexico (band)>Calexico
2006	Live Session (iTunes Exclusive)'' ||	–	–	iTunes only
2006	Live at Lollapalooza 2006'' ||	–	–	iTunes only

Singles

"Call Your Boys" b/w "Dearest Forsaken" via Sub Pop Singles Club (CD + Clear 7" Vinyl) (2002)

"No Moon" b/w "Sinning Hands" (Limited 7" Vinyl Bonus with first Pressing of ''Our Endless Numbered Days'') (2004)

"Passing Afternoon" (CD only) (2004)

"The Trapeze Swinger" (iTunes only) (2005)

"Such Great Heights" (UK only CD) (2006)

"Boy with a Coin" (CD + UK only 10" Vinyl) (2007)

"Dark Eyes" (Bob Dylan cover w/ Calexico) (2007)

"Lovesong of the Buzzard" (CD + UK only 10" Vinyl) (2008)

"Flightless Bird, American Mouth" (iTunes only) (2008)

"Walking Far from Home" (2010)

Other contributions

''The O.C. Soundtrack'' (2004) – "The Sea & the Rhythm"

''Garden State Soundtrack'' (2004) – "Such Great Heights"

''Sweetheart: Love Songs'' (2004) – "Ab's Song" (The Marshall Tucker Band cover)

''L Word: Season Two'' soundtrack (2004) – "Naked as We Came"

''Grey's Anatomy: Season Two'' soundtrack (2004) – "Naked as We Came"

''In Good Company'' (2004) – "Naked as We Came," "Sunset Soon Forgotten," "The Trapeze Swinger"

''Fighting in a Sack'' (2004) – "New Slang (Featuring Iron & Wine)[Live]"

''KCRW Sounds Eclectic Volume 3'' (2005) – "Waitin' for a Superman" (Flaming Lips cover)

''I Am a Cold Rock. I Am Dull Grass.'' (2006) – "We All, Us Three, Will Ride"

''I'm Not There'' soundtrack (2007) – "Dark Eyes" (with Calexico)

''The Road Mix'' Volume 3, music from ''One Tree Hill'' (2007) – "He Lays in the Reins" (with Calexico)

''Acoustic 07'' (2007) – "Naked as We Came"

''Numb3rs'' Season 3, Episode 19, "Pandora's Box" (2007) – "Naked as We Came"

''Friday Night Lights'' Season 1, Episode 12 (2007) – "Upward Over the Mountain"

''Friday Night Lights: Original Television Soundtrack'' (2007) – "Dead Man's Will" (with Calexico)

''Twilight'' soundtrack (2008) – "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"

''90210'' Season 1, Episode 18, "Off the Rails" (2008) – "Cinder & Smoke"

''House, M.D.''

* Season 4, Episode 16 (Season Finale, Part 2) Wilson's Heart (2008) – "Passing Afternoon"

* Season 6, Episode 1 (Season Premiere, Part 1) Broken (2009) – "Love Vigilantes" (New Order cover)

''Dark Was the Night'' (2009) – "Stolen Houses (Die)"

''Ugly Betty'' Season 3, Episode 16 (2009) – "Naked as We Came"

''The Mysteries of Pittsburgh'' (2009) – "Naked as We Came"

''Misfits'' Season 1, Episode 6 (2009) – "Such Great Heights"

''The Last Song'' soundtrack (2010) – "Each Coming Night"

References

External links

Official site

Category:American folk guitarists Category:American folk singers Category:American rock guitarists Category:American rock singer-songwriters Category:American male singers Category:Florida State University alumni Category:Musicians from South Carolina Category:Sub Pop artists Category:Living people Category:1974 births Category:People from Lexington County, South Carolina

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