Why Are Some Wines Better for You Than Others?
Table of Contents
Today’s Wine Additives
How do you find the best in wine? It is estimated that wine has been being produced since 6000 BC. One thing we know is that what ingredients you find in most wines today, are nothing like there was back then. As a matter of fact, wines today are very different from those of even 170 years ago. For example, sulfites weren’t regularly used until the late 20th century. Sulfites are added to wine as a preservative due to their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Recently wine making has been under scrutiny as more chemicals have been added. Sulfites are something that are now monitored more closely. Obviously, the preservation of wine is important, but an argument could be made that rather than sitting on a rack for so long, they should be enjoyed more regularly to avoid the need for the adding of sulfites. There was a time when wine was a regular part of the evening meal.
Other Notable Additives to Wine
Yeast is a eukaryotic microorganism that turns sugar into alcohol. Various types of yeast are used to affect the flavor.
Tannins which come from the grape seeds themselves and are also added from oak aging. In Europe they will also use oak chips or tannin powder.
Sugar is often used to actually increase the fine alcohol lever, not to increase sweetness because it is consumed by the yeast when it is fermented.
More Questionable Additives
There have been growing concerns about other wine additives as well as the lack of requirements to show all of them on the wine labels.
Additives such as Albumen (egg white), Milk products (pasteurized whole, skim, or half-and-half), Isinglass (Dried swim bladders of fish), Gelatin, Protease (Trypsin), Protease (Pepsin), Casein, potassium salt of casein.
Then there are Acid Control Additives such as De-acidifiers (Calcium Carbonate), Acidifiers such as Tartaric Acid, Malic Acid and Citric Acid.
Finally, there are Stabilizers such as Acetaldehyde and Dimethyl Dicarbonate (DMDC).
The problem really comes down to how these additives affect those who drink the wines. Severe headaches and flushing are a common complaints among wine drinkers. There are allergic reactions in others. So, people have to be careful and take the time to learn about how they are made and how they might be affected by drinking them.
As Always, We Want to Point Out the Good News!
The Benefits of wine consumption
There are some distinct benefits to wine consumption. Especially reds in moderation. Some studies have shown it to boost memory and cognitive function as well as lowering the risk of dementia. Other studies show that it may improve eye and heart health. There are a whole host of other potential benefits such as reducing the risk of cancer by preventing growth of cancer cells. It can fight harmful bacteria in your mouth, regulate blood sugar, helps to control blood pressure most of these benefits are due to the polyphenols found in a fine bottle. This according to RealSimple.com and WebMD. A great deal of information about these studies are available to any who care to research the internet.
So, What Do We Have to Offer Here? We’re So Glad You Asked!
For those who want to enjoy a good glass of wine and would rather have as few of these additives as possible, we have a great program where you can become a member of a group who can purchase these high-quality wines regularly and enjoy them during the holidays and throughout the year.
