wein.plus
Attention
You are using an old browser that may not function as expected.
For a better, safer browsing experience, please upgrade your browser.
Chrome
Firefox
Microsoft Edge
Safari
Opera

    • Welcome back!

      New to wein.plus? Become a Member
  • Become a Member


You can also use our powerful search function with many flexible filters, such as:

Log in Become a Member

Lexicon

The largest wine encyclopedia in the world with 26,295 Terms.

0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Alcohol

Informations about "Alcohol" in news+stories

The name is derived from "guhlu" (powdered galena for colouring the eyelids and eyelashes). The Arabs called this "kuhul" and it meant "most beautiful and finest". The term was then also used for liquids that were regarded as the essence or "spirit" of a substance. From this, "Al-kuhul-vini" (Latin alcool vini) is derived, meaning "the finest of wine" and denoting the spirit obtained from wine by distillation.

Origin of the art of distillation

The art of producing alcohol by distillation was probably developed by Arab alchemists towards the end of the 1st millennium. Initially, plants, resins and aromatic substances such as rose petals, lavender or myrrh were used as raw materials from which essential oils, healing essences and cosmetic products were obtained. Later, fermented liquids such as wine, date and honey solutions were also distilled, producing potable alcohol for the first time. One of the first to describe the process was the Persian naturalist and physician Abū Bakr ar-Rāzī (Latin: Rhazes, around 865-925). The technique came to Europe via Arabic teachings.

To read the full text, you must be a Premium Member of wein.plus. You are currently not logged in to wein.plus. Become a Premium Member or log in with your credentials .

Become a Premium Member of wein.plus

Voices of our members

Markus J. Eser

Using the encyclopaedia is not only time-saving, but also extremely convenient. What's more, the information is always up to date.

Markus J. Eser
Weinakademiker und Herausgeber „Der Weinkalender“

The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

26,295 Keywords · 46,494 Synonyms · 259,217 Cross-references
made with ♥ by our author Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer. About the Lexicon

EVENTS NEAR YOU

To Online-Events
15.08.26 Löschenhofweg 70, 47829 Krefeld, Deutschland Wine tasting at the Beachclub Krefeld Open-air with up to 400 people in Krefeld's most beautiful beach club.
10.10.26 Fichtenstraße 45, 40233 Düsseldorf, Deutschland Saittavini In-House Exhibition 2026 A day of fine wines and good conversation
21.08.26 Große ledder 2, 42929 Wermelskirchen-Großeledder, Deutschland Winemaker’s Dinner // South Africa Summer delights on the terrace of the Große Ledder restaurant
15.08.26 Amtsweg, 49186 Bad Iburg, Deutschland Free vineyard tour at the Brinkmann winery Experience and taste Lower Saxony's first steep slope
02.09.26 Olpener Str. 152, 51103 Köln, Deutschland Work-wine balance A relaxed way to round off the working day
11.09.26 Olpener Str. 152, 51103 Köln, Deutschland Wild Winemakers 2.0 German wines paired with game dishes
21.09.26 nwo.studio, Luxemburger Str. 84, 50674 Köln wein.campus by ff.k Masterclasses and free tastings
12.09.26 54597 Wallersheim, Deutschland Eifelmarkt Villa Hundsberg Eifel market, wine lounge, cocktail bar, café, tarte flambée and snack bar
15.08.26 54439 Palzem, Deutschland SAUERWEIN's wine hike through the vineyards of the southern Moselle With the culture and wine ambassadors Alfred Strupp, Hellen Meijer and Thomas Fickert.
09.10.26 Kasino, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee 3, 51373 Leverkusen, Deutschland OPEN WINE TASTING // France Wines from France
PREMIUM PARTNERS

wein.plus

Your approval is required –
if you are not a Premium Member

Read with advertising

... or become a Premium Member

Enjoy wein.plus without advertising and tracking by third parties!

Already wein.plus–Premium Member?

Imprint Data protection Terms of use

Wein-Plus GmbH. All rights reserved.

Welcome back!