Some people have the idea that wine is an unhealthy alcoholic drink that should be avoided. These people cleary haven’t tasted fine wine yet!
Granted, wine contains ethanol or alcohol, but at lower percentages compared to spirits, and there are actually lots of health benefits to drinking a glass of your favourite fine wine every now and again.
Everyone needs something to help them unwind at the end of the day and I think a glass of the finest wine is a great way to do so, as long as it’s enjoyed in moderation.
Wine is the healthiest and most hygienic of all beverages.
Louis Pasteur
If you are indeed drinking wine in moderation, then you can afford to upgrade your tipple, and start to discover wines that you can’t buy in your local Tesco Express.
Good Wine Is Good For The Soul
I used to work for a large wine merchant for a few years, so I have a keen interest in wine.
By no means am I a connoisseur, but I probably know more about wine than the average Joe.
I recently came across a wonderful online wine boutique called The Beauty & The Taste (https://www.thebeautyandthetaste.co.uk), which specialises in finer, higher quality wines.
There are a few bottles I have my beady eyes on, including:
2015 Seresin Marama New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
This wine is produced by an Ex-Hollywood Cameraman turned winemaker.
I bet he has some stories to tell!
NZSB is my favourite white wine, and I always splash out on it.
My brother always buys me a nice bottle for my birthday. I’ve sent him the link to this one 😉
2005 Clos de l’Oratoire, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
I have a sentimental attraction to wines produced in St Emilion, as I have visited a few times, and would consider it one of my favourite places on earth.
The beautifully rustic twisting vineyards and French chateaus evoke a real sense of romance, and the wine produced there is heavenly.
Visit this site for more beautiful Bordeaux wines.
Veuve Fourny & Fils Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut
Just reading the history of this winemaker makes me want to take a bath in these bubbles right away…
Henri Giraud Fut de Chene MV Ay Grand Cru Brut is a multi vintage champagne made in Ay by Henri Giraud, the oldest Champagne house in France that is still owned by the founding family. The Giraud-Hemart family has been farming grapes since 1625. The Hemart side of the family are descendants of Henri IV settling in Ay at the beginning of the 17th century.
That’s a story that would impress around a dinner table, and if it doesn’t, you might be keeping the wrong company.
And there are so many other beautiful sounding stories to read.
It’s easy to fill a case or seven, enjoying your journey around the wine world picking up knowledge, and tasting some amazing quality wines.
Another wine on my list is an Aussie Pinot Noir called Farrside, and this is what has been said about it:
Farrside by Nick & Gary Farr delivers a lesson on what good pinot noir should be. From anywhere in the world. It has a ripe, deep perfume that unfurls over time intriguing the senses. However, it is the vibrancy on the palate that sets it aside. Here the cherry and dark fruit meld with earthy lush forest floor and nutmeg in a symphony that leaves a lasting impression.
Lisa Johnston, Winemusing.com
If there was ever a testimonial that said “buy me”, that is it.
A massive benefit; next day delivery is included in the price of the wine, so you can be sampling your wine sooner than you can say Chateauneuf De Pape.
You can even buy just one bottle to sample, and then stock up if it’s a hit.
But, What Is The Difference Between Wine And Fine Wine?
It’s not just the price that determines the fine wine status – there are lots of other interesting factors.
Fine Wine Is Made From Higher Quality Grapes
The flavour of mass-produced wines can sometimes be enhanced by the addition of sugar, which helps makes the lower-quality grapes taste better.
Grapes for higher-quality wine will be handpicked whole, at the optimal time, producing flavours that need no additives.
Fine Wine Typically Contains Less Chemicals
With mass-produced wine, grapes are likely to be sprayed with chemicals to reduce spoiling, whereas only the best grapes are chosen for finer wines, lessening the need for chemicals.
Chemicals can distort the flavour of the wine.
The Use Of Barrels Takes Time
Mass-produced wines are fermented in huge steel tanks, where under-developed grapes are given a little boost with additives, sugar and tartaric acid.
Oak chips or oak essence is often added to lower-quality wine to simulate the taste of oak.
Maturing wine in oak barrels takes time and investment, hence why fine wine commands the higher price tag.
Fine Wines Contain Less Sulphites
To prevent oxidisation, mass-produced wine is filtered and sulphites are added at various stages of the bottling process.
In general, there is greater care and attention going into producing fine wine, from nurturing the vines in the truest way possible, all the way to bottling, which is usually done on the premises, with a vastly lowered amount of chemicals.
There Are Even Some Health Benefits To Drinking Wine
There are a few surprising health benefits to drinking a glass of wine.
They include:
Immune System Boosts
Moderate wine consumption helps fight the infections that attack the immune system.
Heart Benefits
White wine can help to prevent heart failure, and it can also regulate blood pressure.
This is because it contains antioxidants.
Wine can also reduce the risk of heart disease.
Red wine improves the flow of blood in the heart, which lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Reduced Cancer Risks
Red wine contains resveratrol that can help fight cancerous cells in our bodies.
Furthermore, Cabernet sauvignon is an example of red wine rich in resveratrol.
Brain Sharpening
Wine improves blood flow to the brain, and in this way, it improves brain function.
Red wine contains a chemical known as flavonol that prevents brain cells from dying at an early age.
If you a regular wine drinker, you are at a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Bone Strengthening
Wine contains high amounts of calcium.
This mineral is primarily responsible for the strengthening of bones in the body.
Silicon is also present in red wine, and it increases your bone density and lowers the risks of ailments such as backaches.
Reduced Stroke Risk
Strokes are caused by blood clotting, and red wine contains an organic compound called phenol that acts as a blood thinner.
Resravetol found in the skin of red grapes also plays part in lowering the risk of stroke.
Cholesterol-Busting
Bad cholesterol is not good for the body.
The resveratrol and procyanidins in red wine decrease bad cholesterol levels and increase the levels of good cholesterol.
Resveratrol has also been proven by scientists to improve sensitivity to insulin, thus lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Andre Simon once said that wine makes every meal an occasion, and every day more civilised.
He’s right!
And I can’t wait to sample the wines on my lust list and build up a lovely collection of fine wines to share with my favourite people.
Me.
