---

Wine is Good News for Health in 2006

There were a large number of research studies reported in 2006 that continue to substantiate the health benefits of wine. The modern wine industry cannot tout these findings to the public because of events that transpired back in 1991. That was the year that Morley Safer ran a televised feature on ‘60 Minutes’ about the French paradox. According to AC Nielsen, red wine sales were moribund at the time (17% of the market), but by 2005 have grown to 42%. Winemakers like Robert Mondavi and others wanted to promote the health benefits of wine following this 1991 telecast, but the B.A.T.F. blocked all attempts to do so. It was unlawful to make any health claims for wine on wine labels. The Wine Institute stayed in step with the B.A.T.F. and advised against advertising wine as a healthy beverage. To this day, the Wine Institute still discourages member wineries from promoting the health benefits of wine. In addition, the U.S. Public Health 2005 Dietary Guidelines contain no wording that refers to drinking with meals. UK-based Alcohol in Moderation (AIM) and The Desert Heart Foundation and its associated Reynaud Society are among the few voices that are bringing the message of truth about wine and health to the public.

Most of the health benefits of wine have been attributed to alcohol and a polyphonic compound found in the skin of red grapes called resveratrol. Many studies have shown that polyphenols protect against cardiovascular disease and have possibly multiple other far-reaching health enhancing effects. The mechanisms of alcohol/resveratrol cardioprotection are complex and beyond this discussion, but suffice it say that the protection stems from the following major actions working in combination with a number of as yet unexplained mechanisms: antioxidant effects, increase in HDL cholesterol, reduction of platelet function, and protection of blood vessel endothelial function.

Among all alcoholic drinks, red wine is the most beneficial. According to Science of Wine (written by Jamie Goode), a typical glass of red wine contains 200mg of phenolic compounds, while a white wine contains about 40mg. Wine contains more polyphenols than grape juice or grape extract because alcohol during the fermentation process helps extract these compounds from the skins. In addition, red wines differ in the amount of resveratrol they contain, with cool-climate Pinot Noir being one of the highest. A recent study by Bodega Catena Zapata in Argentina has shown that its wines have more resveratrol that red wines from France, Spain, Italy, Chile, and Australia. One of the confounding issues with resveratrol is that its beneficial effects shown in a number of animal studies require a dose far in excess of that recommended for healthy consumption of wine (2-3 glasses a day for men, 1-2 glasses a day for women).

Some recent research reported in Nature (November 29, 2006) disputes the claim that resveratrol is the key to heart health from wine. Researchers Roger Corder of Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry in London and Alan Crozier of the University of Glasgow tested the endothelial lining of human artery walls with various compounds to see which had the greatest effect. The tests indicated that flavonoids called oligomeric procyanidins (condensed tannins that cause bitterness in red wines) repressed the production of the peptide that causes hardening of the arteries. The authors pointed out that resveratrol was “available at one one-hundredth or one one-thousandth of the levels of procyanidin.” The two researchers went on to look at regions that produced unusually long-lived men and the wine drank in those areas. The Nuoro province of Sardinia and the Gers region of southwest France have a large population of men who live past the age of 75. The local wines of these two regions have as much as four times the mount of procyanidins than wines from other regions. The large amounts of procyanidins was attributed to the extremely long hang times and fermentations (up to four weeks) employed, the type of grapes involved, and the higher-elevations where the grapes were grown. The exact effects of procyanidins have not been investigated in humans as yet.

There are a number of scientific investigators who are not convinced that wine is the health panacea that it is proclaimed to be.. They point out that moderate wine drinkers tend to lead a healthier lifestyle, and are richer and better educated. In other words, moderate drinking is more a sign of good health, but may not be the cause. Kaye M. Fillmore of the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing and a group of colleagues published findings in Addiction Research and Theory this year that adds to the debate about the health benefits of wine. They reviewed fifty-four published reports on the health effects of drinking and discovered that the majority of the papers had significant numbers of people who had recently quit drinking (due to age, illness or the use of the drugs that contraindicated the drinking of alcohol) among the group who abstained from alcohol. Only seven of the studies included long-term abstainers and these studies showed no benefit from moderate drinking.

One thing does seem certain about drinking: the pattern of drinking can significantly impact the health of the liver. A study from the State University of New York at Buffalo found that not only the amount you drink, but the pattern of drinking and when you drink determines the amount of damaging effect on the liver. The study found differences among the sexes. Women who drank alone and without a meal were more likely to suffer liver damage than women who drank with a friend while sharing a meal. With men, the amount and frequency of drinking were more important than the pattern of drinking, both with and without a meal. A safe weekly level for men was 14-27 drinks (14g of alcohol per drink) and for women 7-14 drinks. Another study from New York found that people who drank alcohol without food had a significantly higher risk of high blood pressure compared to a group of people who drank primarily with food. Research on Italian drinkers compared to non-drinkers reported that the risk of heart attack was reduced in those who consumed alcohol during meals only.

Alcohol is an important component of the Mediterranean diet that has been demonstrated to increase life expectancy among elderly Europeans, The Mediterranean diet consists of nine components: vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereals, fish, low amounts of dairy products and meat, high intake of unsaturated fats such as olive oil, low intake of saturated fats, and the moderate intake of alcohol, primarily as wine. When the Mediterranean diet is combined with nonsmoking, regular physical activity, and moderate alcohol use, there is a reduced risk of mortality from heart disease and cancer.

Following is a summary of studies reported over the last year in support of the health benefits of wine.

Life Span Italian researchers reported in December that moderate drinking (2-4 drinks a day for men and 1-2 drinks a day for women) may lengthen life. They gathered data from 34 observational studies conducted world-wide and looked at more than 1 million people in total who reported their drinking habits. The studies lasted from 6 to 26 years. Moderate drinkers were 18% less likely to die of any cause than light and non-drinkers. Heavy drinkers were more likely to die of any cause. Another study, which was widely reported in U.S. newspapers on November 2, showed that resveratrol extended the lives of fat mice. Research done by the Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Aging found that high doses of resveratrol may offset the negative effects of a high-calorie diet in mice and significantly extend their life spans. The catch here is that a consumer trying to drink enough wine to get the same dosage of resveratrol as the mice would inevitably develop liver problems. An 150-lb person would need to drink a 55-gallon drum of wine to get the same amount as was given to the mice! This study has spurred red wine sales but the researchers were careful to point out that their study did not support red wine consumption. A study published last February in Current Biology, found that resveratrol lengthened the life span of normally short-lived fish, and also slowed memory and muscle problems associated with aging.

Cancer Researchers, led by oncologist Joseph Anderson, M.D., reported in the September issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology that wine drinkers are 50% less likely to develop colorectal cancer compared to nondrinkers. Drinkers of beer and spirits did not enjoy the same benefit. The resulting anti-cancer benefit of wine is only speculation, however, as wine drinkers tend to enjoy a better lifestyle, do not smoke, exercise, and are less likely to be obese. There has been a reported link of breast cancer with alcohol consumption in women, but the risk is quite small.. Australian research reported in the British Medical Journal this year showed that a diet rich in folic acid found in leafy greens, citrus fruits and beans may eliminate any added risk of breast cancer caused by moderate alcohol consumption in women. Because a metabolite of alcohol in the stomach may destroy folic acid before it is digested, women drinkers are advised to increase their folate intake.

Stroke A Columbia University study found that drinking two 4 ounce glasses of wine a day reduced the risk of ischemic stroke by about 50%. This 13-year study was reported in the January issue of Stroke. The effect was beneficial to both men and women and participants of all races. Those who drank more than two glasses of wine a day had a risk level close to those of non-drinkers. This was one of the first studies on wine to include Blacks and Hispanics.

Brain In the November 11 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, researchers at the Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders in New York found that resveratrol assisted human cells in breaking down the molecules (amyloid-beta peptides) which forms lesions in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. This anti-amyloidogenic effect was observed in cell culture and may require concentrations of resveratrol that are not obtainable by diet and moderate alcohol consumption. What is exciting is that the researchers have found analogues of resveratrol that are twenty times more potent than the original natural compound. The author of the study notes that a glass of red wine may ease the fear of losing memory and even make for some nice ones! Another study conducted on a mouse model by scientists at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, showed that a moderate amount of red wine consumption in the form of Cabernet Sauvignon helps reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The mice who drank Cabernet Sauvignon had 50% fewer amyloid-beta plaques than the mice that drank water. The group given ethanol alone showed a 25% reduction in plaques compared to controls. Two other studies (published in Stroke and Neuroepidemiology) this year showed that moderate drinkers performed better on cognitive tests than non-drinkers, light drinkers, or heavy drinkers. The results were most evident in women. Finally, research published in the Annals of Neurology revealed that participants who kept strictly to a Mediterranean diet were 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Some benefit also resulted from partial adherence to the diet.

Ears A British report published in New Scientist found that wine, in association with aspirin and green vegetables, may delay the onset of age-related deafness and reduce hearing loss from other causes. The mechanism of this effect is thought to be due to antioxidants acting on hair cells in the inner ear.

Eyes Resveratrol has been shown to reduce the incidence of senile cataracts by up to 50% and may also aid in slowing senile macular degeneration.

Teeth Both good news and bad news here. First the good news. Scientists from Universite Laval in Quebec, Canada, reported that polyphenols can help in preventing and treating inflammatory periodontal disease. Red wine polyphenols modulate several inflammatory processes in response to bacterial stimuli by scavenging and inhibiting free-radical generation by host immune cells. The study was performed on mouse immune cells infected by bacteria that cause periodontal disease and exposing them to resveratrol. Research from Robert Richie of the University of California, Berkeley, found that alcohol fortifies the dentin in teeth by removing water, thereby strengthening teeth. This may not prove to have any practical value as the alcohol must remain in the mouth all of the time or the effect disappears. Now the bad news. The acids and alcohol in red wine can cause tooth erosion. As reported in the October issue of the British Columbia Medical Journal, frequent tasting of wine may potentially lead to dental erosions. The pH of wine ranges from 3.2 to 3.8 and demineralization of enamel starts at a pH of less than 5.7. Only two documented case reports exist. Rinsing with water and eating foods helps neutralize acidity, but may have no practical effect. The risk of staining the teeth with red wine is well-proven and probably more significant than the risk of erosion.

General Health= Tests at Madrid’s Council for Scientific Investigations showed that red wine has between three and eight times more fiber than white wine. In a major survey, researchers analyzed data from more than 8,000 respondents and found one alcoholic drink a day reduced the risk of obesity by 46% and two drinks a day cut the risk by 50%. Heavy drinkers were more likely to be obese. Another study, reported in the International Journal of Obesity by Danish researchers, confirmed these results and found that regular, moderate drinkers are less likely to be obese. Italian researchers found that melatonin in a number of grape varieties may aid sleep. However, the effect of alcohol may counteract this effect. The risk of type 2 diabetes (adult-onset) may be reduced by drinking moderately. The report was published in Diabetes Care. Fifteen health studies on individuals who developed type 2 diabetes between 1966 and 2004 world-wide were reviewed. There was a significant lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes among men and women who were light to moderate drinkers. Other studies have shown that moderate consumption of wine or beer may benefit women with type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin resistance.

---

Best Quotes of 2006

“It’s nontraditional now, but in thirty years, this will be the traditional style of Pinot Noir.” … .Michael Browne, winemaker, Kosta Browne Winery

“The riper styles: I’ve made them and I’ve gotten high scores from them. But they weren’t my best Pinots by any means.” … .Bob Cabral, winemaker, Williams Selyems Winery

“For all sorts of reasons, success could spoil Pinot Noir. It could drive up prices for wines already in short supply. It could encourage people to make nominal Pinots that taste like generic red wine.” … .John Winthrop Haeger, author, North American Pinot Noir

“Jim Clendenen has been making wine for over 20 years in a style I love, and he doesn’t really care what the critics say. He’s a pioneer not only in creating great, balanced Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but making people understand that wine is supposed to be drunk with food. There are very few New World producers doing this.” … .Rajat Parr, wine director, Mina Group

“Too much fine wine is sacrificed on the alter of competition - great bottles tasted “against” each other to see which producer comes out on top.” … .Jasper Marris MW

“Let’s be honest: there’s only one activity more satisfying than drinking good wine with good food; and if you’re drinking wine in the right company, the one pleasure, more often than not, will lead to the other.” … .Jay McInerney, author, A Hedonist in the Cellar

“Good Pinot Noir has a delicate elegance and a luscious succulence that can transport you to another place. The charms of Pinot Noir are subtle and require patience. Pinot Noir rewards those with astute palates and experience. Great aged Pinot Noir provides the most ethereal wine drinking pleasure known to this detective.” … .Jake Lorenzo, writer, Wine Business Monthly

“Pinot Noir is like your best lady. You have to treat her nice.” … .Anthony Austin, winemaker, Sonoma Coast Vineyards

“The ‘bigger is better’ mentality is sweeping the world. Some of them are problematic. They are losing the elegance and finesse that drew me to the grape (Pinot Noir) in the first place.” … .Peter Palmer, wine director, Farallon Restaurant

“You see an awful lot of smart guys with bad Pinot, but you rarely see a good Pinot with a dumb guy.” … .Prince of Pinot

---

Notable American Pinot Noir Producers

It seems like not a day goes by that I don’t discover a new producer of Pinot Noir. In John Winthrop Haeger’s 2004 book, North American Pinot Noir, he states that “a fair estimate is that somewhere between 400 and 450 wineries make Pinot Noir” in North America. However, he recently noted in the San Francisco Chronicle that he now has 720 producers in his database. I am compiling my own list and believe the number may now exceed that. Beginning last year, I divided the major producers into four categories: Cult Pinot Noirs, Emerging Star Pinot Noirs, Just Hatched Pinot Noirs, and Reliable and Reputable Pinot Noirs. The wineries included are ones I have drank and recommend. The list is by no means complete and I am sure I have left out a favorite of yours. California and Oregon are grouped together.

Cult Pinot Noirs

A cult Pinot Noir is one that is furiously sought after by pinoaficiandos. They are produced in very small quantities and sold mainly through a mailing list, which in many cases is full and has, itself, a waiting list. In a number of cases, the wine is priced significantly above comparable wines from the same appellation and demands a premium on the secondary market. Cult Pinot Noirs are often purchased and then sold on the secondary market at a significant markup to pay for the few bottles that are kept to drink. The cult wine movement was born in California with the Cabernet Sauvignons of Napa Valley such as Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate.

Ambullneo, Aubert, Brewer-Clifton, Brogan Cellars, Dehlinger, DuMol, george, J. Rochioli, Kalin Cellars, Kistler, Kosta Browne, Littorai, MacPhail, Marcassin, Peter Michael, Pisoni Vineyards & Winery, Radio-Coteau, Rivers-Marie, Sea Smoke, Shea Wine Cellars, Sine Qua Non, W.H. Smith Wines, Williams Selyem

Emerging Pinot Noir Stars

Emerging producers of Pinot Noir are those of recent origin who have garnered many accolades and created significant interest among pinotphiles. Some are long-standing names that have become transformed through ownership or winemaker change into stellar producers, others are a product of the latest boom in Pinot Noir startup wineries.

Alcina Cellars, Alesia and Rhys, Alma Rosa, Ambiouness, Artesa, Aubin Verve, August West, Ayoub, B. Kosuge Wines, Badge, Balleto, Beauregard Vineyards, Belle Glos, Belle Vallee, Bonaccorsi, Buena Vista, Casa Barranca, Chasseur, Cima Collina, Clos Pepe Estate, Clos Saron, Consilience, Copain, Copeland Creek Vineyards, D’Argenzio Winery, Dain, De La Montanya, Derbes Wines, Et fille, Freeman Vineyards & Winery, Green Truck Cellars, Gundlach-Bundschu, Gypsy Dancer, Gypsy Dancer Estates, Halleck, Hope & Grace, Inman Family, Hamel, J. Lynn, J. Wilkes, Ken Brown Wines, Kenneth- Crawford, 0Lachini, Lazy River, Le Cadeau, Londer, Loring Wine Company, Lucia, Maysara, Miura, Native9, Orogeny, Peay Vineyards, Pey-Marin, Privé, R. Stuart & Co, Red Car, Roar Wines, Robert Stemmler, Row Eleven, Rusack Vineyards, Silver Mountain Vineyards, Sinor-LaVallee, Skewis, Sonnett, Sonoma Coast Vineyards, Soter Vineyards, Stevenson-Barrie, Stoller Vineyards, Summerland Winery, The Donum Estate, Twomey Cellars, Varner, Van Duzer Vineyards, Vision Cellars, White Rose, Windy Oaks, Woodenhead.

Just Hatched Pinot Noir Producers

Ampelos Cellars, Anthill Farms Winery, Auteur, Benovia, Bianchi, Black Cap, Cardwell Hill Cellars, Carneros Della Notte, Carr, Churchill Cellars, Cherry Hill, Clary Ranch, Corda, Elliott Family Cellars, Eno Wines, Eric Kent, Gypsy Canyon, Harrington, Jack Greek Cellars, John Tyler, Kanzler Vineyards, Kastania, Kendric, Kenneth Volk, Ketcham Estate, Kutch Wines, L’Angevin, Lookout Ridge, Mahoney Vineyards, Miller Wine Works, Molnar Family, Nicholson Ranch, Pali, Paradise Vineyard, Paul Lato Wines, Peka, Pelerin Wines, Philo Ridge, Ribbon Ridge, Ridgeway, Sanctuary, Sojourn, Stephen’s Cellars, Stubbs Vineyard, The Four Graces, Toulouse,Vergari, Vino V, Winter’s Hill.

Reliable and Reputable Pinot Noir Producers

These are consistently reliable premium producers of Pinot Noir that have a track record of crafting fine wines.

Acacia, Adelsheim, Adobe Road, Ancien, Anne Amie, Arcadian, Andrew Rich Wines, A.P. Vin, Argyle, Archery Summit, Au bon Climat, Babcock, Beaux Freres, Belle Pente, Belle Vallee, Benton-Lane, Bernardus, Bethel Heights, Bergstrom, Bouchaine, Broadley, Brickhouse, Burrell School, Byron, Calera, Cambria, Cameron, Capieux, Carpe Diem, Casa Cassara, Castalia, Chalone, Chehalem, CL Wines, Claudia Springs, Clos La Chance, Clos Saron, Clos Tita, Coleman, Costa de Oro, Cuvaison Estate, Cristom, Davis Bynum, Davis Family vineyards, David Bruce, DeLoach Domaine Alfred, Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Serene, DuMol, Dutton-Goldfield, Elk Cove, Elke Vineyards, Erath, Eyrie Vineyard, Failla-Jordan, Fess Parker, Fiddlehead Cellars, Foley Estate, Forchini, Ft Ross, Goldeneye, El Molino, Erath, Etude, Evesham Wood, EIEIO, Eyrie, Flowers, Flying Goat Cellars, Foxen, Gary Farrell, Hamacher, Handley Cellars, Hagafen, Hanzell, Hartford Family, Hirsch Estate, Hitching Post, Holdredge, Hug Cellars, Husch, Iron Horse, Joseph Swan, J Wine Co, Kellar Estate, Kenwood, Ken Wright Cellars, La Crema, Laetitia, Landmark Vineyards, Lane Tanner, Lemelson, Lincourt, Longoria, Lost Canyon, Lucas & Lewellen, Lucia, Lynmar, MacMurray Ranch, MacRostie, Marimar Estate, Martinelli, Mayacamas, Melville, Merry Edwards, Miner Family, Morgan, Moshin, Mt Eden, Mystic, Navarro, Ojai Vineyards, Olivet Lane Estate, Ortman Family, Papapietro Perry, Paradise Ridge, Patricia Green Cellars, Patz & Hall, Paul Hobbs, Penner-Ash, Ponzi, Porter Creek, Red Car, Rex Hill, Roar, Robert Mueller Cellars, Robert Sinskey, Rochioli, Roessler Cellars, Russian Hill, Rutz Cellars, Saintsbury, Salamandre, Sanford, Scherrer, Schug, Scott Paul Wines, Sebastopol Vineyards- Dutton Estate, Siduri, Sineann, Soquel Vineyards, Sonoma-Cutrer, St. Innocent, Stephen Ross Cellars, Talbott, Talisman, Talley Vineyards, Tantara, Testarossa, Tolosa, Torii Mor, Truchard, Vision Cellars, Walter Hansel, WesMar, Whitcraft, Whitethorn, Wild Hog, Wild Horse, Witness Tree, Willakenzie Estate, ZD.

---

Trusted Wine Review Sources

The Wine Spectator has 382,000 subscribers and publishes 16 100-plus-page issues annually. A one year subscription is $50 (www.amazon.com).

The Wine Advocate has 45,000 subscribers and the 64- page newsletter comes out six times a year. A one year subscription is $75. Robert Parker Wine Ties are being sold on his website (www.erobertparker.com) for $65. The ties depict images of wine bottles, grapes, his bulldog, and the Wine Advocate logo. If you buy four ties, you get a pair of Wine Advocate cufflinks!

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar is a 48+ page bimonthly newsletter. A one year subscription is $70 (print) and $80 (www.wineaccess.com). “A critic is a necessary evil, and criticism is an evil necessity.” Carolyn Wells

---

The PinotFile Story

The PinotFile began humbly as a half-page e-mail sent to 20 members of my wine club, Le Grand Crew, on April 22, 2001. The original mission statement was to keep readers “apprised of news in the pinotphile world including latest releases, winery news, winemaker profiles and what to buy.” The intent was to circumvent the wine publications of the time which centered primarily around lengthy lists of tasting notes and scores. Within a year, the PinotFile had assumed a four page true newsletter format and was sent out faithfully on a weekly basis. It was an innovative concept and the first wine newsletter exclusively devoted to one variety: Pinot Noir. By word-of-mouth, subscribers were added, and the PinotFile rode the explosion in popularity of Pinot Noir ignited by the movie ‘Sideways’ to become popular in its own right.

My intent has always been to find the compelling stories behind every good Pinot Noir. Because of the serious commitment in time, effort and money that Pinot Noir producers put into the bottle, I prefer to avoid writing negative reviews of Pinot Noirs that were not appealing to me. I strive to give a truthful judgment and feature wines that I deem worthy of interest. Since we all have different palates and nobody tastes the same, the recommended wines are only a starting point for your own exploration of Pinot Noir.

Proudly, the PinotFile has nearly 10,000 subscribers, with new pinotphiles joining the Crew daily. The number of visits to the PinotFile’s website, www.princeofpinot.com, has gone from 59,000 a month to nearly 100,000 a month over the last year! The magic of the internet has brought readers from all over the globe including Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and many, many other countries as well.

I sincerely appreciate the feedback that I have received from readers over the past year. One of the readers commented: “If I drank over 1300 wines during the year, my wife would accuse me of having a drinking problem. You do it, call it research, brag about it, and gain respect among your friends. Way to go!”