Which wine is healthier for you—red or white?

WHAT IS WINE?

Wine is an alcoholic beverage that is typically made by fermenting grape juice.

Wine has been popular with many different civilizations for thousands of years and is still one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world today.

Wines come in different varieties but are generally classified as either red wine or white wine. Red wines are usually made from deep red or black grapes that give them their signature red color.

The grapes are picked from the vine when ripe and transferred into a machine that crushes them to release their juices. The crushed grapes are then transferred into a steel drum or oak barrels, where they are allowed to ferment for a few days.

Yeast and other microorganisms consume the natural sugars found in the grapes and release alcohol and other metabolites that give red wine its characteristic taste and mouth-feel.

Different varieties of red wine can be produced depending on the type of grapes used, the fermentation time, and the maturation or aging time.For example, Pinot Noir is made from the Pinot Noir variety of grapes and is usually fermented for around two weeks and aged for up to 5 years.

After aging, the wine has matured and become more complex. The wine is then pressed through a filter to remove any remnants of skin or seeds still present. The wine is then bottled up for retail.

On the other hand, white wine is made from white grapes. The grapes are crushed, and the juice is pressed through a filter before fermentation, meaning white wine, unlike red wine, does not ferment with the grape skins still present.

The juice produced has no pigment. It is then fermented and aged to make white wine, which has an alcohol content of between 10-15%.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF WINE

Numerous scientific studies have shown that wine does seem to offer up some health benefits, but only when consumed in moderation.

Red wine has been found to be healthier than white wine, simply as it contains more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that are extracted from the grape skin.

These health benefits include:

• Red wines are rich in antioxidants, which help reduce free radicals in the body that have been linked to accelerated aging and some cancers.
• Red wine may reduce the risk of heart disease. This is suspected to be because of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Red wines have also been found to increase the levels of "good cholesterol," also known as HDL cholesterol, in the body. This has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.
• Studies suggest that red wine can assist in slowing down age-related cognitive decline, as well as reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This has been attributed to the chemical Resveratrol, an antioxidant commonly found in red wine that appears to prevent beta-amyloid from forming. These protein particles are thought to play a pivotal role in the plaques found in the brain of Alzheimer's patients.

NUTRITIONAL CONTENT OF RED AND WHITE WINE

Red wine and white wine have very comparable nutritional contents.

A typical glass of red wine has about 120 calories, about 13% alcohol content, 1-4 grams of carbohydrates, vitamin B, phosphorous, iron, potassium, and plenty of other vitamins and minerals.

A typical glass of light, dry white wine with an alcohol content of about 10% has a caloric count of 100 calories, about 0-4 grams of carbohydrates, and slightly fewer vitamins and minerals than red wine.

WHICH WINE IS BETTER - RED OR WHITE WINE?

From the data, it is clear that red wine is significantly healthier for you than white wine, and this mostly comes down to how the wines are made. When making red wine, the grape skins are usually left on the grapes as they ferment.

This is important as the grape skin contains antioxidants and other healthy chemicals that are beneficial to the body and leach into the wine as the grapes ferment.

On the other hand, white wine is made from white grapes that are crushed and pressed through a filter before being fermented. Therefore, they do not ferment with the grape skins that contain a lot of antioxidants and other healthy nutrients present in red wine, making red wine the clear winner when it comes to health.

WHAT WINE SHOULD I DRINK?

Pinot Noir.

Originally from Burgundy in France, Pinot Noir is a wine made from the Pinot Noir subspecies of grapes. Currently, there are various regions around the world that grow Pinot Noir grapes for wine production. These regions include California, New York, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, and many others.

Pinot Noir has exploded in popularity recently as it is a wine well known around the world for being a romantic wine. It has a light to medium body wine and can be light and fruity or complex, depending on how it was aged.

Due to these properties, Pinot Noir can be paired with a wide variety of dishes, which has fueled its popularity.

As it is a red wine, it has plenty of antioxidants and nutrients that are beneficial to your health. For these reasons, we would recommend any Pinot Noir to any individuals who favor wine as it is a healthier choice that can be appreciated.

CAUTIONS

Wine, whether red or white, is still an alcoholic beverage. Alcohol consumption is linked to various adverse health conditions, such as cancers, liver failure, weakened immunity, and many other health effects. Alcohol consumption has also been linked to various social and mental disorders.

However, most of these effects are brought about by excessive consumption of alcohol. Thus, wine should only be consumed in moderation by individuals of legal drinking age.

The recommended limit for wine consumption is, at most, one to two glasses of wine a day for men. On the other hand, it is recommended that women have at most one glass of wine a day.