The FSW Blog Network

I have been reading a lot lately about the health benefits of drinking wine on a regular basis. New findings are showing that Moderate drinkers have lower rates of heart disease, obesity and depression than people who abstain from alcohol entirely, the report indicates. (Source: Telegraph.co.uk)

Should wine drinkers start to rejoice? Well, there is a little more to this study then meets the eye. Turns out that a the French study found that wine drinking is a very strong indicator of social standing which can translate into being the key reason for improved health, more wealth, and overall less stress. Generally speaking, people who are in a higher social standing tend to have more wealth thus more stability and less stress plus they are more likely to be physically active which will contribute to better heart health. So does drinking wine actually help your heart or is it simply an indicator that you are in a higher social class? One would wonder…

Turns out that drinking one or two glasses of wine per night IS good for you and not just an indicator of a higher social standing or healthier lifestyle. Thanks to its alcohol content and non-alcoholic phytochemicals (natural occurring plant compounds), wine has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers and slow the progression of neurological degenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease. (Source: msnbc.com) Wine thins the blood helping the heart and reducing chances for blood clots, it is also considered to have antioxidants that help fight off free radicals in the body.

Do not over do it as the health benefits will diminish if you drink too many glasses. The suggested amount is no more then two 5 oz glasses of wine for men and no more then one 5 oz glass of wine per day for woman.

Here are my suggestions for great wine to get you started enjoying the benefits of drinking wine:

Micheal-David Vineyards Petite Petit: 15% Petit Verdot, 85% Petite Sirah and 100% delicious! This wine is a crowed pleaser. Very fruity with berry flavors and a wonderful dark crimson color. This Petite Petit is less in your face than a regular Petite so people who do not care for the strength and dryness of a regular Petite may still enjoy this wine.This is a great wine both with meat and vinegar based foods like salads and marinades that are a little tart as well as alone as a sipping wine. You can find this wine under $20. I usually buy it at the Costo liquor store for about $16.

EOS State Winery – Lost Angel Mischief: EOS is probably my all time favorite Central Valley vineyard. Not only do they produce affordable outstanding wines but the property is gorgeous. This particular wine is from the Lost Angel line and it is probably my favorite. 45% Cabernet, 37% Petite Sirah, 18% Sangiovese (think chianti) makes this wine a fantastic compromise for red wine lovers. The flavors are those of fruits like cherry and raspberries while the finish is earthy and smooth with flavors of spice. You can pick this wine up off the EOS website for $14, an excellent buy for the price! I am also a fan of their Petite Sirah and their Cab.

La Crema Chardonnay: I generally only drink white wines in the warmer months of the year, and La Crema is my go to choice for chardonnay. This wine goes very well with white cream sauces, fish, chicken and light summer dishes. “Green apple, pear, and citrus aromas dominate the nose, with subtle butterscotch notes.The flavors follow suit with bright citrus, spiced apple, and white peach that remain on the palate. Sweet vanilla is balanced by good acidity that carries all the fruit and complexity into a lingering finish.” -Winery Pick La Crema up at just about any liquor store for about $20, although I have seen it as low as $16. This is a fantastic white wine for cooking as well.

Since we are on the topic of wine I simply cannot write a blog like this and not mention my all time favorite type of adult grape juice! Champagne! If you are like me and like to keep the price down but still love to indulge in a little Champagne (or sparkling wine for the non French versions) then here are a few suggestions:

Barefoot Moscato Spuante: Bravo to Barefoot for putting out this delightful sparkling wine. It is not only very affordable (a bottle will cost you around $10) but it is also well balanced with peach and tangerine notes and is just slightly sweet to not overwhelm the pallet.

Bianchi Sparkling Wine: This is a beautiful sparkler that I came across while exploring tasting rooms in the California Central Valley. Bianchi is a very small winery that creates some of the best wine from grapes all over the central coast. As soon as I sampled the sparkling wine I became hooked! This wine is a little dryer as it is a brut but it is still a bit fruity and very smooth. Perfect for any occasion. This would also be a fantastic wine to make mimosa from as the sweetness is not over powering. You can order bottles off of their website for around $14 per bottle.

There is a wine for everyone, its just a matter of getting out there and giving some a try. Let us know in the comments section below what your favorite wine is and why.

5 Responses to “The Wonderful World of Wine”