In the world of wine, red wines have been labelled the healthier alternatives when compared with white or rosé wine. Does that mean that other wines are not healthy? Are there some wines that are healthier than others? What relationship is there in wine and your health?I delve deeper to demystify this.

So many people are turning to healthy dietary alternatives and this adjustment has even trickled down to what they drink. People are replacing processed, calorie and sugar-laden soft drinks with homemade fruit juice. Additionally, more people are looking for a way to enjoy their wine while still being healthy. When making the decision of what wine to buy, it is important to look at the label for clues about different things like the ABV (Alcohol By Volume), producers, area, grape type and whether the wine is organic, among other factors that may influence a purchasing decision. There is also a need to stress that people need to enjoy their wine responsibly. Here are a few wines that you can pick out on your next wine shopping trip.

Red Wines

Red wines are labeled healthy because they are made in a slightly different way than the other wines. While making red wine, the grape skins, which contain most of the grape colour, have to remain in contact with the juice during fermentation. Red wines have more antioxidants than other alcoholic beverages but are best when drank in moderation. An example of healthy red wine is a Pinot Noir because it has chemical compounds called resveratrol which helps in the health of the heart. Red wine blends are also a great alternative because they combine different grape varieties.

Tannic Wines

Kenyans are growing to appreciate the whole wine spectrum and they are spreading their portfolio from buying only sweet wines to more dry and tannic wines. Tannins make the mouth feel dry after every wine sip. Tannins come from the fruit skins during the winemaking process. Tannins also exist in plant leaves and stems. Tannins are very healthy because they contain chemical compounds like Polyphenols. These compounds give some wines like Cabernet Sauvignon their characteristic astringency and dryness. Tannins are also important because they help a person to age a wine for long because they preserve the wine.

Low ABV Wines

Low alcohol wines have an ABV (Alcohol By Volume/Alcohol Content) ranging from 0.5% to 5% while high alcohol wines have an ABV of 5% to 12%. Low alcohol wines are better than high alcohol wines because of the effects that alcohol has on the body. However, high alcohol wines should be drank in moderation. There is also an assumption that high alcohol wines are better than low alcohol wines but this is not the case. Many wine experts argue that when a wine has a very high ABV people don't generally appreciate the flavours as they should. When having an event, dinner or party, low alcohol wines are a better choice because they ensure that people are drinking responsibly. Sometimes, experts group low calorie wine and low alcohol wines together as healthy alternatives. It is a bit hard to find low alcohol wines just by a glance but with a careful search and consultation with a wine store representative, a person can find the wine.

Dry Wines

During winemaking, the grape fruit has its own sugar which is then transferred to the wine. This sugar is important during the fermentation process to produce alcohol. When wine is labelled as ‘sweet’ that means that there is a lot of sugar that is left after fermentation. However, in dry wines., there is little or no sugar left during the fermentation process. There are so many dry wines in select wine shops in the country. Dry wines are considered healthier for people who have cut sugar from their diet because these wines contain very little residual sugar. Dry wines can be red or white.

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This piece is strictly for wine education purposes and I do not encourage underage or irresponsible drinking. Sip Responsibly.

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