Posted by Cathy Bouchard in beverages, nutrition, wine on April 7, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I am a wine snob. I admit that. There is nothing I hate more than sitting down to a glass of wine and not enjoying it. That being said, I am also a nutritionist, and I like to think that my indulgences can also serve my body. Luckily, there has been a real trend towards organic and alternatively processed wines. The result is some really fantastic wines with premium flavour and antioxidant power that can make you feel good about your occasional glass with dinner. The really great thing is that they don’t have to cost an arm and a leg.
Let’s first talk about the grape. Grapes contain flavinoids, which are phytonutrients and they are what gives the fruit their colour. The more flavinoids there are, the darker the grape. These flavinoids help protect your heart, protect against certain types of cancer and also lower the bad (LDL) cholesterol. This is why the French seem to have it all figured out with their high fat diets, balanced out with lots of red wine. Many people also suffer adverse reactions to red wine and this is sometimes due to high levels of tannins. Tannins are also a flavinoid, which does its anti-oxidant thing and also releases serotonin, causing headaches in some people.
Wine also contains sulfites, both naturally occurring from fermentation and added as a preservative. Sulfites cause inflammation in the body and can lead to allergies and "stuffy wine nose". Conventional wineries have been adding sulfur dioxide as a preservative for centuries. Enter organic practice, which tends to lower the amount of sulfur dioxide or leave it out all together. There really is no such thing as “sulfite free”, but some organic wines can make that claim, really meaning that they haven’t added any.
The grape is also a magnet for bugs and other pests, which is why conventional grape farms use a large amount of pesticides and other chemicals. Grapes (and also raisins) are one of those things that I urge people to always buy organic. The toxin levels from spraying may also be a cause for inflammation in the body after drinking wine. Bugs, bees, birds, and bats help organic wineries keep trouble-causing insects and weeds in check. Organic wineries are a true ecosystem gem. There is only one certified organic winery in Ontario, Frog Pond Farm which also uses 100% green electricity. There is also biodynamic farming, taking it one step further and using the cycles of the earth and science as their guide to growth potential and pest control. Biodynamic wineries do not use pesticides and follow organic guidelines of Demeter and are therefore considered to be an organic practice.
Bottom line when choosing anything you put in your body is whether it is serving you and helping to balance your body. Why wouldn't you ensure that the grapes going into your wine are the best grapes possible, tended to and cared for? There are many great organic wines available at a watering hole or LCBO near you. Here are a few to get you started.
BARBABELLE VALLEE DU RHONE 2002 (FRANCE)
A wonderful biodynamic wine. Very dry and delicious.
Available at The Embassy Bar, 223 Augusta Avenue, 416-531-1132
glass - $7.00
bottle - $30.00
LA CAPPUCCINA DOC 2005 (ITALY)
An organic white wine that is crisp and full of aroma.
Available at Fresh (on Bloor), 326 Bloor Street West (and other locations), 416-910-8897
glass - $9.00
bottle - $46.00
DOMAINES PERRIN NATURE COTES-DU-RHONE 2004 (FRANCE)
This is by far my favourite organic wine available at the liquor store. Dry and really flavourful, at a nice price.
Available at some LCBO locations with better Vintages sections.
VINTAGES 10363 - 375 mL bottle - $10.05
VINTAGES 948059 - 750 mL bottle - $16.95
BONTERRA MERLOT (USA)
This organic wine is the most readily available at the LCBO. It’s also one of the higher priced. It’s a fine choice if there is nothing else.
Available in the Vintages section of many LCBO locations.
2003: VINTAGES 984724 - 750 mL bottle - $21.10
2004: VINTAGES 25247 - 750 mL - $20.95
