Raise your hand if you've never poured wine down the drain because it turned to vinegar or simply got old, thinking there was nothing you could do with it just because it was undrinkable?
A real waste, right?
Well, perhaps many don't know that there are at least 18 ways to give a second life to the precious nectar:
1. Wine can be used as a natural disinfectant for fruit and vegetables. The alcohol in wine dissolves impurities on the surface and, according to a 2005 study conducted by Mark Daeschel of Oregon State University, the components in wine are capable of killing several types of pathogens such as salmonella and escherichia coli.
2. It has been shown that wine can also be used to remove stains and impurities from kitchen surfaces thanks to its degreasing properties. Daeschel (the scientist mentioned above), who is working on creating a white wine-based cleaner, recommends: "it is advisable to use dry white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, because it doesn't leave stain residue and isn't sticky.."
3. Did you spill red wine on your mother's/wife's precious carpet? Don't worry, you just need to have the courage, within a few seconds, to pour more on top! Are we crazy? Wrong! You need to pour white wine abundantly over the stain; immediately after, dry with a soft, dry cloth. The result is guaranteed!
4. Grease or fuel stains on the flooring of your garage? Degrease with white wine of course!
5. Want to impress a guest? A little red wine, some sugar and a packet of liquid pectin and here you have fantastic wine jellies: very chic!
6. Perhaps few will dare and even fewer will believe what I'm about to write but wine is an excellent fuel for cars like the Aston Martin. In England the experiment has already produced excellent results on Prince Charles's car, which runs thanks to a biofuel made from surplus wine, capable of significantly reducing carbon emissions.
7. Beyond all the antioxidant properties that make red wine a healthy drink (also read the article vino polifenoli), wine also has the ability to give luminosity to our skin, especially when applied to the face!
8. According to some ancient folk beliefs, drinking a glass of light white wine a day, with its low alcohol content, can prevent heartburn much like baking soda, as it is able to temper the acidity present in the stomach – though excessive consumption would produce the opposite effect!
9. Do you have leftover wine? A classic use is to use it as a condiment! Ideal for meats, mushrooms and other savory dishes!
10. Are you in space and gravity is bothering you? Your "dear friend" comes to the rescue there too: recent studies from the University of Strasbourg have shown that resveratrol (a polyphenolic compound present in grape berries) could help temper the negative health effects under "zero gravity" conditions. When they float for long periods during space missions, astronauts' bodies lose muscle tone and bone density: resveratrol can inhibit these effects induced by the absence of gravity. Drinking wine while enjoying the view from space would be something fantastic; too bad the lack of gravity makes it less "romantic"; I can already picture particles of wine floating everywhere!
11. Are you bothered by mosquitoes/gnats? How many times have you wondered what could be a useful remedy to get rid of them? Perhaps those who have participated in a harvest know! Fill half a glass with red wine, cover tightly with plastic wrap and make small holes with a toothpick: the perfect bait for those annoying pests!
12. Do you have space in the freezer? Make wine ice cubes to use as a condiment in sauces!
13. I confess, I too have often gotten annoyed by those bothersome accidental red wine stains! But why didn't I think of this before! Given its resistance to washing, we could use red wine as a dye for our garments or materials: the chromatic result could range from pale pink to deep purple or grey, depending on the preferred shade and the color intensity of our wine. It's worth a try – all you need to do is boil the red wine in a large pot, add the fabric, stir with a wooden spoon for 10 minutes and let it cool. Rinse the garment well and… admire the result!
14. Don't believe in the effectiveness of white wine as a cleaner? Try it on glass, perhaps diluted with a little water in a spray bottle. Spray on the windows of your home and dry with a sheet of newspaper.
15. Two new studies have shown that wine polyphenols increase blood flow and oxygenation to the brain, thus stimulating cognitive capacity. The effect becomes even more beneficial with advancing age, due to the natural reduction in blood flow to the brain. A glass of wine a day keeps the doctor away!
16. The most obvious one! Didn't we like that wine? It will become vinegar!
17. Wine reduces carcinogenic agents present in red meat. During cooking at high temperatures, the sugars and amino acids in muscle tissue transform into potentially carcinogenic compounds, but marinating the steak in red wine for at least 6 hours before cooking is capable of reducing these substances by up to 90%. Wine, olive oil, and spices and the flavor will be even better!
18. The antioxidants present in red wine make this alcoholic beverage a tonic for the heart. Consumed in moderate quantities, in fact, red wine can increase levels of "good" cholesterol, protect the arteries, and increase the efficiency of the cardiovascular system.
19. Do you have a bruise and don't know how to treat it? You just need to soak a piece of bread in wine! Wine is in fact rich in flavonoids, natural antioxidants that have numerous beneficial effects on the body, including a calming action on inflamed tissue.
20. Wine and health? Related topics! The ancients claimed that a cup of hot vin cotto cures any sore throat, cough, cold and tonsillitis! Just boil some red wine for a good while and voilà our syrup is ready! I've tried it! It's very sweet and it works!
Who would have thought that wine had so many practical yet creative applications. And you, do you know of any others?
What do you think?
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