Biologists believe that red wines grown in harsher climates like Australia contain more chemicals that might help us all to live longer, as reported by Nicholas Wade in The Age newspaper on August 26, 2003.

The scientists hope the chemicals will act by activating an ancient survival reflex. One chemical, a natural substance known as resveratrol, exists naturally in grapes and red wine. And red wines from regions like Australia, where growing conditions are harsher, contain more resveratrol than those produced where grapes are not highly stressed or dehydrated.

The finding was announced by Dr David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School at a scientific conference in Arolla, a small village in the Swiss Alps and published electronically in the journal Nature.

The study by Dr Sinclair, an assistant professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School, and others showed that resveratrol extended the life span of yeast cells by up to 80 per cent.

While not yet tested even in mice, let alone people, the finding could help explain the so-called French paradox.

French paradox

“The term 'French paradox' refers to the observation that while both the French and Americans have a diet high in saturated fats, smoke cigarettes and exercise little—which are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease—the French have a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease than that of the Americans; 36% compared with 75%. The difference in risk has been attributed to the consumption of alcohol and, in particular, red wine. The French consume 60 L per capita of wine per year, while the Americans only consume 7.7 L per year. Australians, who consume 18.1 L per capita of wine per year, have a risk of cardiovascular disease in between that of the French and the Americans.

Recent research suggests that the regular and moderate consumption of alcohol, and in particular wine, may reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 50%. Furthermore, your overall life span may also be significantly increased. Moderate consumption is considered as approximately three to four standard drinks of alcohol per day for men and one to two for women, where a standard drink is 10 g of alcohol or approximately 100 ml of wine. The consumption of alcohol and wine above this moderate amount will, conversely, increase your risk of cardiovascular and other diseases, and hence decrease your overall life span.

Recent research suggests that the regular and moderate consumption of alcohol and wine promote both short-term and long-term cardioprotective effects. For example, regular consumption prolongs and maintains these short-term cardioprotective effects on blood clotting and on the plasma concentration of cholesterol.

Recent research also suggests that the cardioprotective effects of wine are imparted by the alcohol component (approximately 75% of the effects) and by the wine-specific phenolic compounds and their polyphenolic forms (approximately 25% of the effects). Polyphenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins and tannin, give wine its characteristic colour and flavour, and red wine typically has a 200-fold greater concentration of polyphenolic compounds than does white wine.”

Source:
The Australian Wine Research Institute Wine and Health Information, [2002]
ISBN 0 9577870 5 7, 21pp
http://www.awri.com.au/infoservice/wine_and_health/

Jacob’s Creek encourages the enjoyment of wine in moderation and does not encourage individuals to consume wine in order to receive health benefits.

 
Australian Wine topics:

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» Australian Red Wine Varieties
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