A longer lifespan, reduced risk of cancer and protection from obesity-related diseases are all lurking at the bottom of your favorite bottle of red wine, at least that's what researchers at the National Institute on Aging have indicated. You might be surprised to learn that the nutrition facts behind red wines such as Columbia Crest go beyond calories and alcohol content.
Nutrition Facts
The basic nutrition facts for red wine are quite simple. A 5 oz. glass of red wine, such as Columbia Crest Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, contains 106 calories, with 2.5 g of carbohydrates, no fat and no protein. Most restaurants serve a 5 oz. glass, and the average bottle contains 25 ounces. Although the fat content of red wine is seemingly nonexistent, it is important to note that alcohol is metabolized by the body as fat, so all 106 calories might go straight to your waistline, depending on your intake for that particular day.
Background
The Columbia Crest winery, located in Paterson, Washington, produces a large number of wines, ranging from the very expensive to the very inexpensive, and including a number of varietals. The Grand Estates collection is commonly found on grocery store shelves and includes popular varietals such as merlot and cabernet sauvignon.
Columbia Crest Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot is a classic merlot blend containing 85 percent merlot grapes, 7 percent syrah, 5 percent cabernet franc and 3 percent cabernet sauvignon. This combination of varietals wafts below the nose aromas of spice, blackberry and cocoa, while the palate enjoys a balanced finish of oak and black fruits. The Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Saugvinon is 90 percent cabernet sauvignon, 5 percent cabernet franc, 2.5 percent syrah and 2.5 percent merlot. This wine offers warm notes of vanilla bean, coffee and dark cherries, while pleasing the palate with hints of dark-chocolate-covered pomegranate and spice.
Other Benefits of Red Wine
Red wine is rich in a powerful antioxidant known as resveratrol. In 2008, "The New York Times" began covering stories about the ongoing research to discover how to harness the health benefits of red wine. Successful studies on animals for treating aging, cancer and disease were conducted at a cellular level, using very high doses of concentrated resveratrol. For humans, any hope of picking up these benefits would require drinking between 35 and 100 bottles of wine a day, which is not exactly feasible. However, an August 2011 article in the "New York Times" reported that the National Institute of Aging might have isolated the necessary components and has developed a drug, SRT-1720, which has successfully protected mice against obesity-related diseases. This provides new hope that resveratrol will eventually be available to treat or prevent certain cancers, extend lifespans and reduce the risk of diseases related to weight gain in humans.
References
- Columbia Crest Winery; "Grand Estates Cabernet Savignon"; 2008; 2011
- Columbia Crest Winery; "Grand Estates Merlot"; 2007; 2011
- LIVESTRONG.com: Red Wine
- "New York Times"; "Topics: Resveratrol"; 2008
- "New York Times"; "Longer Lives for Obese Mice, With Hope for Humans of All Sizes"; Nicholas Wade; August 2011
- National Institute on Aging; "Compound Improves Health, Increases Lifespan of Obese Mice"; R. de Cabo et al.; August 2011
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