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THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF RED WINE

What is Oenotherapy?

Are you familiar with oenotherapy? This popular and ancient science involves using wine to prevent or cure various ailments and health issues. In other words, it’s about knowing how to consume the right wine in the right amount and at the right time to stay healthy!

This is particularly true for moderate consumption of red wine and its antioxidants.

The Origins of Oenotherapy

Although oenotherapy is popular and supported by many current studies, its roots trace back to the history of medicine itself. Hippocrates famously said, "Wine is a thing wonderfully appropriate for man if, in health as in sickness, it is administered with discretion and in proper measure, according to the individual constitution."

Hippocrates, regarded as the father of modern medicine, requires all doctors to take the Hippocratic Oath before practicing. He wasn't the only one to combine wine with medicine! Galen, Constantine the African, Arnaud de Villeneuve, and François Rabelais also explored using wine for health benefits.

More recently, Dr. Maury appeared on French television (and is now featured in INA archives) to recommend a specific wine for each ailment.

Is Red Wine Good for the Heart and Arteries?

This is the question posed by the "French Paradox." The French Paradox is a simple question: how can the French consume so much meat and animal fat while having lower rates of heart attacks and coronary diseases compared to other countries?

The initial answer was thought to lie in a glass of red wine. More specifically, in one of the wine’s polyphenols: resveratrol. Polyphenols are molecules found in grapes that seep into the wine, producing various effects. The most well-known is tannin, which provides texture to wine and adds flavor.

Resveratrol, found in concentrated form in grape skins, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and blood clot-limiting effects. These benefits have been highlighted by several studies, the most extensive being one by the World Health Organization, which studied over 15 million people in 25 countries. The study emphasized the preventive effects of moderate red wine consumption (1 to 3 glasses per day).

These studies are still insufficient to draw definitive conclusions. One might conclude that while the alcohol in wine is universally recognized as harmful to health (especially in large quantities), the plant compounds in wine have benefits. Hence, the potential benefits of moderate consumption!

What is the Best Red Wine for Health?

First, a small clarification. Since the beneficial molecules are found in the grape skins, only red wine is relevant. Why? Because only red wine undergoes the maceration stage. During this stage, the berries are left in contact with the juice for a period ranging from a few hours to a few days, allowing these polyphenols to infuse into the wine.

As explained earlier, the positive effects come from the presence of resveratrol in grape skins. The wines most concentrated in resveratrol are from the following varieties:

Malbec: Known for its concentration and the thickness of its grape skins. This is found in the appellation renowned for its Malbec wines: Cahors.
Petite Syrah and Saint-Laurent: Both varieties are rich in these polyphenols but are very rarely cultivated in France.
Pinot Noir: An iconic grape of Burgundy wines, also found in Alsace, Jura, and the Loire Valley.
Bordeaux Varieties: Primarily Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which collectively have an average concentration of resveratrol that qualifies them for this list.

Again, the positive effects of these plant-derived compounds need to be weighed against the harmful effects of alcohol. Consume in moderation!

How Much Red Wine Should One Drink for Good Health?

There is no specific amount of red wine that will make you healthy or improve your health. A maximum of 1 to 3 glasses per day allows you to benefit from the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-clotting effects of resveratrol present in red wine while limiting the negative impact of alcohol consumption.

However, beware of hasty conclusions and generalizations! Each immune system is different, each person is unique, and your body reacts differently at various stages of your life.

Caution: wine should not be considered a medicine! The results of these studies should be viewed with caution: it is well known that excessive wine consumption has harmful effects. Nevertheless, red wine could have real health benefits, although science continues to explore this. The key is to drink responsibly and continue to see wine as a festive product. And if you’re looking for the benefits without the risks, consuming fruits (grapes, blackberries, black currants, raspberries) will also provide a good amount of resveratrol !