I wonder if we fully realize the importance of numbers in our lives.

When were you born? How old are you? How much money do you have in your bank account? How far is it to wherever? What time is it? I think you get the idea that numbers surround and guide us.

A few days ago, I was asked to review some bottles of wine for a friend. Now please know that person doesn’t have beaucoup bottles of wine, but, rather it was an opportunity to talk about a number of Italian wines and one from France. The viewing included a number of varieties, and there was one variety I had never tasted. That wine was a French wine named Pomerol under the name of Le Fleur DeGay, which is produced in the Bordeaux region of the country.

After the visit, I contemplated the number of wines that are made in the world. Following a bit of research, I was informed there are over 6 billion gallons of wine made throughout the world. There are about 100,000 wineries world wide, and about 10,000 different grape varieties grown throughout the world. Those are amazing numbers!

If you are a skeptic, you might ask: “So what? Who cares about those numbers?” It’s OK to ask those questions, but let’s get our heads around those numbers. Or maybe put it this way — when you have a glass of wine, you are part of a long tradition of human history. That is worth acknowledging.

Here’s a small number bit of interesting knowledge. Do you know what the 4 v’s of wine are? They are: variety of grapes; vineyard — where the grape is grown; vintage — the date the grapes are harvested, and vintner — the person who makes the wine. Those 4 v’s are very minimal when compared to the 6 billion gallons of wine produced around the world. However, without the 4 v’s, there wouldn’t be the 6 billion number.

A bit ago I was gifted a very nice wine journal, and I record every wine that passes into my mouth. In the past year, I have tasted more than 150 different wines. A decent number — I’m trying to do my part to reduce that 6 billion gallon number.

Then I researched a bit more to determine the most consumed wine in the world. The answer is Barolo — an Italian wine made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes. It is known as the king of wines because of its complexity and heavy flavors of rose, raspberry and licorice. It is known as a great blending wine with many positive elements. From one, many!

The most popular wine in the United States is cabernet sauvignon, and California produces 80% of the nation’s wine. Americans consume over 9 million gallons of wine annually with a per capita consumption of about a half of a gallon. I think I surpass that number!

Well, what do all these numbers tell us? That we are part of the mathematical equation of life in whatever we do.

May your numbers always be positive.

As always, eat and drink in moderation, but laugh with reckless abandon.

Cheers!