5 Reasons Drinking Wine Is Great for Your Health

We’ve all seen the Facebook memes teasing that wellness will abound with a nightly glass of wine (or two!). And while that’s a bandwagon we can jump on, is there fact behind this fancy?

We’re happy to report that there are many and wondrous reasons to raise a toast to wine—in particular, red wine. Let us count the ways it’s raising eyebrows and glasses with the promise of better health. Then spy our selections and visit the Penns Woods Winery tasting room for your daily dose.

1. Scope Out Some Science
Let’s start with the textbook stuff, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic’s Heart Disease In-Depth. A handy polyphenol in red wine called resveratrol has some promise in the heart-healthy department. Resveratrol comes from grape skin, and since red wine sits on the skins longer than white, those varietals are the powerhouses. We have to say might a lot when reporting this find, but research does suggest resveratrol might prevent damage to blood vessels, reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL, the “bad” cholesterol), reduce inflammation and prevent blood clots. Naturally that’s wine in moderation, as too much alcohol of any type can increase a lot of health risk factors. This source considers moderation to be one drink a day for men older than 65 and women of all ages and two drinks a day for men under 65.

2. A+ for Antioxidants
We’re heading back to school with this one: University of California prof Andrew Waterhouse suggested to BBC Worldwide’s Good Food that all red wines are not created equal. The darker the wine, the higher the antioxidants; remember, the benefits come from fermenting longer on the skins. A round of applause for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, the winners in the darker-wine department. Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah and Petit Syrah also scored well, so you have choices when selecting what to sip.

3. The 31 Percenters
We were tickled to see Consumer Reports Product Review link one of our other favorite beverages to better health: coffee. While 61 percent of Americans get a coffee fix daily, it’s the 31 percent who tip back a daily glass of wine that we’re talking to. The article high-fives a daily dose of wine for possibly increasing life span, boosting blood flow and diminishing the risk of depression. Moderation is still the watchword, but it seems to us a ruby-red glass of vino is a great way to get your one-a-day.

4. Remember to Drink Your Wine
As if we’d forget to do that! Thanks to some fun facts from Everyday Health, remembering to have that glass of wine (or remembering most things) should come easier thanks to our friend resveratrol. Slowing memory loss is another “might” in the list of red wine’s benefits. It joins protecting against head, neck and colon cancer, fighting weight gain and protecting against dental disease. Make a note of it!

5. Hooray for Anti-Aging
Wait—don’t rub wine on your face. But according to WebMD Health and Beauty, you might outsmart aging with that daily goblet. Red wine once again gets high marks for antioxidants and polyphenols (hello, resveratrol!), but it also gets a big nod as part of the popular Mediterranean Diet, which is associated with longer, healthier lives. And all of the above appear to give a one-two punch to the visible signs of aging.

Take a peek at our good-for-you wines and then come for a visit. Prefer to shop online? Our wine club brings our very best from the vines to your glass by delivering right to your door. Peruse the perks—like discounts, free wine tastings, vineyard tours and more—and sign up today to make sure you get your (red wine) “medicine.”

Penns Woods Winery is a family-run Pennsylvania winery. With more than 40 years of experience in the wine business, winemaker Gino Razzi and his daughter, Carley Mack, produce award-winning wines from Pennsylvania-grown grapes. Penns Woods wines can be found in restaurants throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. Stop in to your local state store and pick from a limited selection of wines, or visit our tasting room for the full offering. The tasting room in Chadds Ford provides an all-around vineyard experience and hosts live music, food and wine pairings and other exciting events each weekend. Score Penns Woods Winery news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter today!

--Nina Malone

Top and bottom photos: Alexandra Whitney Photography.