Wine is an alcoholic beverage, typically made of fermented (fermentation (wine)) grape juice. The natural chemical balance of grapes is such that they can ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes or other nutrients. Wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast consumes the sugars found in the grapes and converts them into alcohol (Ethanol). Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are used depending on the type of wine being produced.

Although other fruits such as apples and berries can also be fermented, the resultant wines are normally named after the fruit from which they are produced (for example, apple wine (Apfelwein) or elderberry wine) and are generically known as fruit wine or country wine (not to be confused with the French (French language) 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 (Distilled beverage) more than wine, while ginger wine is fortified (Fortified wine) with brandy. In these cases, the use of the term "wine" is a reference to the higher alcohol content, rather than production process. The commercial use of the English (England) word "wine" (and its equivalent in other languages) is protected by law in many jurisdictions.

Wine has a rich history dating back to around 6000 BC and is thought to have originated in areas now within the borders of Georgia (Georgia (country)) and Iran. Wine first appeared in Europe at about 4500 BC in the Balkans, and was very common in ancient Greece, Thrace and Rome (Ancient Rome and wine). Wine has also played an important role in religion throughout history. The Greek (Ancient Greek Religion) god Dionysus and the Roman (Roman Religion) equivalent Bacchus (Dionysus) represented wine, and the drink is also used in Catholic (Catholic Church) Eucharist ceremonies and the Jewish Kiddush.

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