Wine News

The health benefits of red wine may now be found in a white wine also, according to French researchers. Red wine has long been thought to offer more protection against heart disease. Now scientists have developed a white wine, which they say, has the same benefits as red. The wine, created by researchers at the University of Montpellier in France, is called Paradoxe Blanc. Red wine is believed to be a healthier choice because it contains antioxidants called polyphenols which in turn mop up damaging free radicalsthat prevent fat deposits building up in arteries.

The researchers, led by Pierre-Louis Teissedre, chose white grapes which were rich in polyphenols and altered the wine-making process, including steps such as heating up the juice to a higher level than normal. The end result was a Chardonnay, which had polyphenol levels four times higher than normal. The wine was designed for people with Type 1 - or juvenile - diabetes, whose bodies are less effective at mopping up free radicals than normal. Tests carried out on diabetic rats showed the wine restored antioxidant levels in the blood back to normal, even if all the alcohol was removed. However tests have not yet proved it reduces fat deposits in arteries, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The research has been published in the New Scientist Magazine. Head Researcher,Dr Teissedre, said a glass or two of the wine a day could benefit people with diabetes. But Eleanor Kennedy of the charity Diabetes UK said: "The best way to get antioxidants is to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. "People with diabetes should only drink alcohol in moderation."