As If We Needed Another Reason
Unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere, you know that red wine offers a multitude of health benefits. In moderation of course. If you pickle your liver through constantly marinating it in local merlot, the other health benefits won’t mean much.

But, assuming your wine drinking is moderate — a glass or two a day — the benefits are seemingly endless, with new proof of wine-as-health tonic uncorked every few months.

Red wine is heart friendly. An estrogen-like antioxidant called resveratrol supposedly blocks cholesterol oxidation, lowering your risk for heart disease.

Red wine consumption can help lower your cholesterol. Glucose-based plant compounds found in red wine — saponins — are believed to bind to cholesterol and prevent its absorption.

Red wine may help fight Parkinson’s Disease. Scientists in Milan say that a glass and a half of wine a day could help improve brain function and stop the progression of brain disorders. That wonder antioxidant, resveratrol apparently increases brain enzyme by up to seven fold.

Red wine fights cancer, too. Resveratrol also helps prevent cancer cells from reproducing according to Danish scientists. It can even protect your skin from bad sunburn and melanoma.

Red wine can even help fend off the common cold. Spanish scientists have found evidence that drinking a glass of wine every day can lead to 44% fewer colds.

Now, scientists at Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Aging have shown that an extract of resveratrol has a fountain-of-youth effect on mice. Tests on monkeys are next.

This much is clear — red wine is good for you. Drink it. Again, in moderation.

But, I’d never advocate drinking just any old red wine. You might as well drink something that tastes good while you’re at it. Don’t bother with mass-produced wines with little character.

So, while you’re helping your heart, head and nose, enjoy quality, hand-crafted wines from local wineries. You’ll be doing yourself — and the local industry — some good.

Wineries like Lenz Winery, Paumanok Vineyards, Bedell Cellars, Roanoke Vineyards and Raphael make some of the best. Taste through their merlots, cabernet sauvignons and cabernet francs, you’re bound to find at least one you like, and probably one that you’ll love. These are world-class wines that are just now garnering the respect they deserve.

So there you have it. Another reason to drink red wine. Me, I have more than enough reasons already.