The one alcoholic drink that has respect among men and women is wine. Wine is considered to be a status symbol among the elites. The low percentage of alcohol in wine and other nutritional values give it a unique place among other strong alcoholic products. Wine is safe, while having a long chat, and the preferred choice for political discussions, since one hardly gets intoxicated. It is precisely the reason, why women love it. However, it could have made matters worse, if wine did have lots of alcohol content.
Drinking moderate amounts of wine as part of a healthy lifestyle has proved to be beneficial. From the ancient times, wine has been a staple drink in social gatherings, religious ceremonies, and private affairs. The natural processes and ingredients that automatically initiate fermentation within grapes make it a perfect source. Grapes grow abundantly in all the famous winemaking regions of the world. The best known wines are exclusively made from grapes. They contain the right proportion of sugars and fermenting agents that help in natural formation of wine.
Wine
Apart from making the heart "merry", wine is known to have other benefits. Research has shown that people ingesting high levels of cheese fats were insulated against heart attacks due to presence of bioflavonoid.In such cases, wine come to their rescue, as it contains anti-oxidants to reduce bioflavonoid. Wine contains anti-oxidants present in grapes that may also help to prevent ageing-effects on the skin. A significant quantity can be ingested without having to worry about hangovers. Red wine may prevent and even halt development of atherosclerosis
The polyphenols in red wine maintain blood vessels by catalzing nitric oxide formation, which controls vascular tone. There is an overall reduction of low-density lipoproteins, and fat deposition. In ancient times, wine was considered to revive exhausted people better than water. Wine swabs and bandages were used to cover wounds. The alcohol within the wine cleaned the injury, while other agents helped in clotting. Modern society has included wine, as one of the ingredients that make perfect combinations in culinary preparations.
Red wine is coloured due to the use of grape varieties ranging from reddish, deep purple, or blue. The resulting wine is color classified using terms, such as garnet, black, dark red, light red, ruby red, opaque purple, deep violet, and so on. A light-bodied wine like, the Beaujolais Nouveau has low tannin content and go well with a variety of foods. Medium-bodied red wines like, Merlot and Chianti contains a moderate amount of tannins but is milder than higher ranked wines. Full-bodied red wines like Super Tuscans contain the highest amount of tannin and alcohol. Best known red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Shiraz, Malbec, and Grenache.
White wines differ from red ones in color, composition and the taste. Under that skin, the pulpy part of a white grape is the same color as that of a red grape. White wine can be produced from red and white grapes. It has similar beneficial properties like red wine. Common grape varieties used to produce white wines are Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio, and so on.
The quality and consistency of wines produced at different wineries is assessed by wine tasters, who are employed by the retailers or by the winery itself. They describe their perception of appearance, flavors and aromas of the wine to categorize them on quality rankings. The proper analysis is done through impartial tasting procedures, such as blind-tasting, where the taster is unaware of the origin and colour of the wine. Wine tasters are key decision makers, who determine the price and status of a specific batch.
High levels of wine in the body can have adverse effects on the lifestyle. The level of triglycerides is greatly increased due to excess wine intake. This can exacerbate diabetes and heart complications. Alcohol increases estrogen level in the body and raises tumor growth rates, especially in case of breast cancer. The presence of sulfites, histamines, and tannins is a trigger for migraine attacks. Wine is also associated with weight gain, since the alcohol content carries a high calorific value compared to other constituents.
Wine - The Mild Alcohol
Ian Love is the owner of Online Wine Specialist, West Valley Wine and also runs a great Australian Wine Club.