The health benefits of red wine and white wine

Health benefits of red wine and white wine

Wine drinkers have their preferences of red and white wines, usually based upon the taste and reputation of a wine. Some people don’t put much consideration into their sulphite free wine choice and might just pick up a wine based upon the price alone. However, price does not always equal quality.

You should consider now, some further factors that influence your wine, learning what it is exactly that makes you like certain red and white wines.

The origin of wine

The word ‘wine’ comes from the Latin vinum, which stands for wine or grape. The earliest record of it being made dates back to 6000BC – a very, very long time ago! Wine is split into two main categories, red and white.

What is in red wine?

Red wines are made with dark red and black grapes. They are produced through usage of whole groups, including the skin. The skin actually adds colour and flavour, giving the red wines a richer flavour than white wine. Red wines are the preferred types of wine for wine making regions such as Italy and France, with the most popular being Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Malbec and Sangiovese.

What is in white wine?

The main ingredients in white wines are white grapes, used without skins or seeds. Most white wines have a light and fruity taste, but there are certain whites that carry a stronger, richer taste. Some of the most popular white wines you may have had include Champagne, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Viognier and Chenin Blanc.

Health Benefits of Red and White Wines

Both red and white wines can be good for your health; however it is worth noting that even though they are made from grapes, doesn’t carry the same health benefits since they’re fermented to go into wine. This means the grapes lose some of their nutrition. However, wines have other benefits.

White wines can improve heart health and help prevent disease, whilst they are also effective in promoting lung health. Red wine contains skins of grapes and as such, means that they have a powerful antioxidant called resveratrol. This can give excellent protection against blood clots, whilst they also effective at inhibiting the activites of enzymes that stimulate growth of cancer cells and slow down immune response. Red wines also contain polyphenols, which are antioxidants that can perform a wide range of useful tasks, from reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, to fighting against harmful bacteria and cancer prevention. Furthermore, there are a lot of flavonoids in red wines, of which these are known to be able to lower the risks of cancer.

A final thought

Generally red wines are considered as more beneficial to your health over white wines. However the high quality white wines available on the market from certain artisan and organic wineries across the world can actually offer greater benefits than red. Even though they are beneficial to your health in certain volumes, they are not to be consumed excessively.