Personally there is no doubt that enjoying wine is one of life’s essential pleasures.
Ernest Hemingway said as a young man in Europe while writing The Movable Feast, “We thought of wine as something as healthy and normal as food and also a great giver of happiness and well being and delight… It was as natural as eating and to me as necessary.”
But what would health guru Dr. Andrew Weil have to say?
There are numerous studies from the "French Paradox" to the Copenhagen City Heart Study that posit a direct correlation between wine consumption and good health.
Hey, I love having another reason to enjoy wine.
Improved health in many forms is attributed to estrogen, phenolics and fiber from wine.
Others suggest, however, that the correlation is coincidental because wine drinkers as a group have better life styles. Could be true!
On the other hand, Hippocrates is said to have recommended wine to purge fevers. So can throw away my NyQuil?
Nevertheless, it all gets a little gross after a while, thinking about all these diseases I may not get.
Another down side of wine is the use of additives and preservatives. Fortunately there is growing production of organic wines. See the Organic Wine Guide.
Whole Foods in Madison, NJ has a section just for organically grown wine. Valley Wines in Wayne offers organic wines and on-line Coturri Natural Wines or Organic Wine Company have much to offer.
Then there is the question of how much wine is good.
Acker Merrall of Acker Wines writes in an article, How Much Wine Is Healthy, that the authorities disagree and reports that from 1 to 4 glasses a day can be good.
Lettie Teague, writing for Food and Wine, says Everything in Moderation and also finds inconclusive guidance among the experts. Her article seems to settle between 2 and 3 glasses a day, perhaps a little less for those wearing petite sizes.
I'll go with what Lettie writes about Richard Betts. "Wine director of the Little Nell in Aspen, Colorado (a town where the residents are as physically fit as they are financially solvent), told me (Lettie) he averages "a bottle a day," between lunch and dinner, and considers it moderate, while in New York, Le Bernardin's top sommelier, Michel Couvreux, reported he often drinks two bottles of wine in a day (did I mention he's French?), though always with food"
So wine is good, and yes Dr. Andy Weil agrees, with qualifications and conditions, some red wine can be good for you.
For me it's all good. Cheers.
Please Post Your Comments Below. Thanks.
Things to do, places to see, with food and booze
peter - a great site. i love the design, info and style. simple, laid back and informative.
ive been busy but always think about getting together. maybe we can carve out some time in april - i hope !!
btw - i liked the article about climate change and its affect on wine.
Posted by: ray graj | 04/03/2006 at 05:59
Your weblog has a good feel
Very informative
The Undurraga vinyards in Maipo valley Chile produce some fine
low priced wines would like to hear your readers comments
Posted by: Rudy Polack | 04/01/2006 at 20:03