A glass of wine in moderation is part of The Mediterranean Diet but is red wine healthy? Breaking down the benefits and risks of drinking a daily glass.
The Mediterranean Diet
Moderate intake of red wine is part of The Mediterranean Diet. During my travels to places like Greece, Italy and France, drinking red wine with lunch and dinner was as common as having water on the table.
Read more about the Mediterranean Diet Principles here.
Red wine has been associated with numerous health benefits, but do the benefits outweigh the risks?
Red Wine and Cardiovascular Risk
Cardiovascular disease, CVD for short, broadly refers to conditions that involve narrow/blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack or stroke. According to the Center for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US.
Studies have shown that consumption of red wine is associated with a lower incidence of CVD, due to a naturally occurring component in red wine called polyphenol.
Polyphenols act as antioxidants by protecting cells from harmful free radicals that can increase your risk for cancer and heart disease.
Research also indicates that polyphenols can reduce chronic inflammation, which is a risk factor for heart disease.
Not All Wines are Created Equal
There are so many different types of wine and every wine maker has a slightly different wine making process. This makes it hard to make comparisons across the board when it comes to wine. But there are certain things to consider…
Red vs. White
Red wine tends to have less sugar than white wine. In general, the sweeter the wine the more residual sugars it has after fermentation.
Red wine also has more resveratrol, a compound from grape skins that may improve heart health by decreasing cholesterol accumulation. Red wine contains more since it’s fermented with the grape skin on longer than white wine.
White wine contains less polyphenols than red wine, which means it has less antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
According to The Daily Meal, Pinot Noir has the highest concentration of antioxidants compared to other red varieties.
Price
For a company holiday dinner one year, we went to a very nice restaurant at a local winery. I told my co-worker that I didn’t really like wine (how times have changed) and she ordered me a glass of “I would love”. She was right…I loved it! Come to find out after 2 glasses that is was $25 a glass! No wonder I liked it. From then on I joked that I only liked really expensive wine.
I’ve definitely grown to love wine of all types but there is a big difference in flavor between more “budget friendly” wines and more pricier bottles. Price of wine can also mean a slight difference on residual sugars.
For example, Robert Mondavi is a well known winery in Napa Valley, CA. They also sell their wines in many grocery and liquor stores. Within the “Mondavi” label there are also different tiers of wine.
| Wine | Price | % Alcohol | Residual Sugars |
| 2016 Cab. Sauvignon | $34 | 14.5% | 0.29g/L |
| 2016 Cab. Sauvignon Oakville Napa | $65 | 14.5% | 0.12g/L |
| 2016 Cab. Sauvignon Reserve | $175 | 14.5% | 0.05g/L |
As you can see, the reserve tier of the same year cabernet sauvignon is the most expensive and also has far less residual sugars than their lowest price option.
Type of Wine
The type of wine can also effect not only residual sugars, but the percentage of alcohol as well.
The Wine Folly does a great job of classifying the different regions/types of wine by alcohol percentage. German Riesling being lowest at 8% and Port being one of the highest at 20% alcohol per volume!
Check out their list of Wines by Alcohol Percentage here.
Risks Associated with Red Wine
As with all forms of alcohol, there are risks associated with drinking red wine, especially when done in excess.
Determining if the benefits of drinking red wine outweigh the risks associated with drinking alcohol is an individualized choice. No two people are the same and everyone’s risk factors are different.
However, if you don’t drink alcohol, have a history of alcohol abuse or certain medical conditions, it is NOT recommended that you begin drinking.
Also, if you are currently taking any medications, be sure to speak with your doctor to ensure red wine doesn’t interfere with their desired function.
What is considered moderation?
“Moderation” is considered –
- 1 drink for women
- 1 drink for men over 65
- 2 drinks for men under 65
And a “serving” of wine is considered 5oz.
So, Is Red Wine Healthy?
It appears that moderately drinking red wine, as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle, may provide some health benefits.
However, risk factors need to be weighed and evaluated and no one should start drinking red wine just for the health benefits if they don’t currently drink alcohol.
