Cellar Tastings

Wine abounds in variety and is drunk with great admiration and wonder for the producer. More so than any other “product” it truly is the essence of the land and the country where it was made. Wine represents romance, culture and good living. Wine has also been proven to have serious health effects, both in preventing diseases and soothing the body. As an alcoholic beverage, the overdrinking of wine can have harmful effects regarding alcoholism or the physical ailments of binge drinking. The key to the healthful benefits of wine is moderate consumption.

For centuries upon centuries, wine has been part of Mediterranean life. Frequently, it was safer to drink than water. In contrast, Anglo Saxon cultures have considered wine to be traditionally a drink of the elite. In comparison to other types of alcohol such as spirits and beer, wine has represented aristocracy and good breeding. This, however, has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. Young people from Australia to California to the UK, from all backgrounds, are enjoying wine tasting and wine education in increasing amounts. Doctors have confirmed in study upon study that wine has the most healthful and hygienic properties and these doctors have even shown that it leads to a lower mortality rate, than drinkers of other types of alcohol or those who do not consume any alcohol at all.

The French Paradox

The French paradox is the expression used to express the puzzling fact that despite high fat diets (foie gras and plenty of cheese) and enormous wine consumption, the French live the longest. Many studies have been done to locate the cause of this French health trend and the research mainly leads to the moderate consumption of wine. Red wine has been found to have the most significant effect, helping to reduce heart disease and many other serious ailments. Scientific research has posted the polyphenols in red wine as an inhibitor of peptides that block blood vessels. Previous research has also linked red wine to increased levels of HDL, the good cholesterol and an increased flexibility and diameter in the arteries. White wines have little to no effect on these peptides.

According to this research the active ingredients in red wine come from the skins or other components particular to the red-wine making process. The antioxidant properties of the red wine polyphenols have been found to also prevent the development of certain types of cancer. Adding to the research done on the French paradox, a recent Danish study has found strong positive correlations between moderate wine consumption and decreased mortality rates. The study included more than 13,000 men and women between 30 and 70 years of age. They were tracked for 11 years and found moderate wine drinkers to have half the risk of dying than those who never drink wine. This was attributed to the previous studies findings in reduction of heart disease and a alteration in the blood lipid levels, lowering total cholesterol, which raising HDL cholesterol levels, reaffirming the previous studies of the French paradox.

Health Benefits of Wine

The phenomenon of wine’s ability to lessen the chance of heart disease is not the only benefit in regards to medical ailments. Wine has been shown to reduce Ulcers. In an American study of 1800 people, the bacteria that causes ulcers was reduced in people who drink two glasses of wine a day. Wine has also been studied in regards to cancer. Wine has been proven to fight certain forms of cancer. This is believed to be due to resveratrol, which helps suppress the cancer cells. Red wines have bioflavonoids which are proven antioxidants. Interesting the relaxing properties of wine also help in the fight against cancer.

Wine also has also been studied in relation to stroke prevention. The alcohol in the wine breaks up the blood clots and increases he good HDL cholesterol levels in the blood. This effect keeps the arteries clean. The soothing effects of wine also help relieve tension. The calming effect can help peoples bodies concentrate better on rehabilitation. In general, about 1-3 glasses of wine a day have a proven correlation with healthier individuals over heavy drinkers or non-drinkers. Even hangovers have been shown to be the result of impurities in alcohol.

A small percentage of people may be sensitive to the natural sulfites found in wine, but these are higher in white wines than reds. Wines are being made without sulfites but these are harder to find. Migraine headaches can result from a wine with too much tannin, which are found in red wines. These effects of wine can be mostly avoided by practicing moderation. Fascinating studies have been done on wines effects on the immune system. The results came back showing that red wine drinkers had normal levels of immunity similar to those who did not drink alcohol at all. Those who drank other alcoholic substances such as spirits or been were found to have reduced immune systems.

Most negative pathogens are inhibited or killed by the acids or alcohols in wine. Due to these beneficial effects, wine was considered a safer drink than water up until the 18th century. Its natural calming tendencies also reduce anxiety and tension. As part of a normal diet, wine even provides a form of energy, aiding in digestion and retaining some minerals and vitamins for the body. Red wine is good for the stomach.

As wine is traditionally drunk with meals for its complementary flavors, it has also been proven to “open the appetite”, restore nutritional balance, and act as a mild euphoric agent. Nutritional contents of wine are minimal, providing no fat, cholesterol, or dietary fiber in any wine. In 1624 a London Physician, Peter Shaw was proving the healthful and hygienic values of wine. Today California’s king of Botox, Dr. Brandt uses grape seeds to decrease signs of aging as well as other treatments. Wine’s antioxidant properties can stop or prevent signs of aging.

Wine Spas

Peralada, located in Girona Spain, holds a unique experience for its visitors. Constructed from part of a castle, Peralada has a golf complex, casino, church, library, and winery. All of the rooms gives off the traditional Mediterranean air. Locally produced wines and cavas (Spain’s sparkling wine) becomes its treasure when its properties are used to detoxify and relax. Treatments made from baths and massages, counteract free radicals and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin fibers. It also helps prevent cardiovascular illnesses. The baths, saunas and pools are beautiful and relaxing and after a hard day of “roughing it” at the spa, the Peralada has an excellent restaurant with lovely views of the Catalan countryside.

French Wine Spa

Caudalie is a wine spa in Bordeaux that brings wine drinking together with ‘vinotherapy.’ The spa offers an unusual slimming and anti-aging vinotherapy which is heavenly and reassuring for many visitors. Playing on the French Paradox theory that has made this region famous, Caudelie provides information on studies that have been conducted showing the positive effect for outer body treatments found naturally in wine. Grape-seed extract contains polyphenols that are 10,000 times more effective then vitamin E to stop the free radicals that have been posted as responsible for 80% of premature wrinkles. Mathilde Cathiard and Bertrand Thomas launched a line of wine-based beauty products. When their products succeeded, they moved on to create Caudalie wine spa.

Built on a Bordeaux vineyard the beautiful scenery is only part of this incredible get-away. The underground water supply is full of iron, sulfur and fluoride complementing the rest of the spas natural wonders. These two enticing example of wine spas come out of a history of tradition and knowledge.

Other Wine Spas

Closer to home in the US, the Spa at Corde Valle in Central California has joined the grape-seed craze. They offer the ‘vineyard’ experience with a variety of body treatments promoting anti-aging and immune boosting effects from grape seed steams to grape seed exfoliation, masques, and grape seed oil massages. Napa, New York city, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and various locations in California offer varying treatment facilities using wine and grape based products. Caudalie, Dr. Brandt, Uvavita, and Viviscal are all commercially sold brands of wine/grape based beauty care products that can be bought in local stores like Sephora or online.