Is red wine healthy? 🍷 It’s a question someone actually asked me earlier this week, as I was sipping a glass of Merlot on a short visit to Bordeaux in southwest France – home to some of the best wine in the world.

It got me thinking. I’d certainly heard (on the grapevine!) that red wine was healthy… but I couldn’t really think of why.

Hence, I did some research and decided to write this article, which is all about whether red wine is healthy or not.

Be aware that in this article, I am not concerning myself with white or rosé wine. Only reds such as Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Barolo, Sangiovese and many, many more. (Anyone else thirsty all of a sudden?!)

Right, let’s grab a tall glass, some dark chocolate, and dive in…

But first, here’s the article at a glance:

1. My recent trip to Bordeaux
2. Red wine: nutrition facts
3. Why is red wine good for heart health?
4. Is red wine good for high blood pressure?
5. Is wine good for weight loss?
6. Is beer or wine healthier?
7. So, is red wine healthy or not?!
8. The final word on if red wine is healthy

My recent trip to Bordeaux

In June 2023, I spent three days in Bordeaux with a group of nine friends.

Over the three days, we drank amazing red wine, toured some vineyards in the prestigious appellation of Saint-Émilion, and even climbed Europe’s largest sand dune, known as Dune du Pilat.

You can read more about my general thoughts on my Bordeaux travel experience over on my personal blog.

Now, I bring up Bordeaux because it is one of the world’s most popular wine regions, known primarily for its merlot-driven red wines. In short, if you like wine, you’ll love Bordeaux.

Of course, it’s also where I was asked the question about whether or not red wine is healthy.

Red wine: nutrition facts

Let’s begin by taking a look at the nutrition facts of red wine.

The good news for red wine drinkers is that red wine can be considered healthier than white or rosé.

This is because red wine is fermented with the skin of the grapes, which is where the vast majority of the antioxidants are stored. More skins equals more antioxidants in the resulting wine.

One of these is a polyphenol called resveratrol, which we will return to in the next section.

Meanwhile, white wines and rosé wines are separated from the skins in the fermenting process and are therefore not as rich in antioxidants.

Onto the macronutrients and calories of wine. For the purpose of this article, we are saying that one serving of red wine is 5oz. And yes, I know that when you are drinking a delightful ‘Cab Sav’, sticking to one serving is pretty tough!

Still, according to the USDA, one 5oz serving of red wine contains:

• Calories: 125
• Protein: 0.1g
• Carbohydrates: 3.8g
• Fat: 0g
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugars: 0.9g
• Sodium: 5.9mg

Of course, these are just rough numbers. The actual amount of calories, sugars and so on will depend on the blend, the strength, and other factors.

Additionally, red wine contains small amounts of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. It’s certainly not enough to replace your daily multivitamin, but still it’s a nice bonus.

Why is red wine good for heart health?

If you have read anything about red wine, at some point you will have come across the notion that red wine is healthy for your heart.

This is largely thanks to the earlier-mentioned polyphenol called resveratrol.

Resveratrol is a flavonoid found in the skin of grapes and therefore in delicious red wine. It’s also found in other foods, like blueberries, cranberries and peanuts. Resveratrol is produced by the fruit to defend itself against attack from insects, bacteria and fungi.

According to some studies, resveratrol has an assortment of potential therapeutic properties.

It may help protect and prevent damage to blood vessels, which can be linked to a lower risk of inflammation and blood clotting. This can lead to a reduced risk of heart disease. Good news.

However, other studies have found no benefits of resveratrol in the prevention of heart disease.

Plus, as one study states, ‘it is not possible to absorb the recommended therapeutic doses of resveratrol by drinking wine or through dietary sources’.

In other words, the impossible amount of red wine you would have to drink to get the benefits of resveratrol would cause a lot of other problems. ☹️

Ultimately, drinking red wine may contribute to a healthy heart, but you certainly cannot rely on it.

Instead, it’s probably more sensible to eat more blueberries, peanuts and so on, or take a resveratrol supplement instead and save the red wine for when you actually want to enjoy red wine.

(Although always check with your doctor before starting any supplementation).

Is red wine good for high blood pressure?

As we have established in the section above, red wine has the potential to be good for your heart health – and therefore your blood pressure. Yet the amount you would have to drink to get these benefits is unrealistic.

However, as I also mention above, you can take a resveratrol supplement to get the benefits.

A review from 2014 concluded that a high dose of the polyphenol may help reduce systolic blood pressure, although it had no effect on diastolic blood pressure.

Again, we have to conclude that there may be some benefit in taking a resveratrol supplement, but if you are looking for wine drinking to solve blood pressure problems, you are looking in the wrong place.

Sorry.

Is wine good for weight loss?

If you are trying to lose weight, adding calories from alcohol may not be the most sensible thing to do.

This is because, despite some nutrients, a glass of wine equates to around 125 pretty empty calories.

Yet, while there is no benefit to adding a glass of wine for weight loss, there’s no harm in drinking a few glasses a week – providing you remain in a calorie deficit.

Personally, I would say the biggest danger of drinking wine on your waistline is what you consume with the wine.

In other words, wine snacks!

When I was in Bordeaux, I was enjoying things like olives and dark chocolate with my glasses of wine. A few olives never hurt anyone, but when you start snacking and drinking, you can quickly consume calories.

For example, three glasses of wine is 375 calories, and a bowl of 10 olives is another 50 calories. Suddenly, you have added 425 calories to your day and *POOF* your calorie deficit is gone! 😩

If you can stick to one glass a day and don’t snack alongside the wine, then there is no reason you cannot enjoy wine on your weight-loss journey.

Is beer or wine healthier?

While I plan to write a similar article exploring whether beer or wine is healthier, let’s take a quick look here!

The short answer is that… there is no clear winner!

Both red wine and beer have their pros and cons.

For example, if you are looking to stay slim, wine is a good choice because it tends to be lower in calories than beer when you compare a typical serving.

For example, a small glass of wine will contain around 125 calories, while some craft beers can contain 300 calories per bottle. But, like wine, this completely depends on the ingredients used.

However, beer trumps wine when it comes to nutrients, as it contains protein, fiber, B vitamins, folate, and niacin.

Ultimately, both can be healthy when drunk in moderation. Don’t drink one over the other for health benefits, it’s best to just enjoy whatever you already enjoy in moderation.

So, is red wine healthy or not?!

It’s a tricky one.

There is nothing fundamentally good nor bad about red wine from a health perspective.

It is certainly considered better for you than white or rosé wines, but the antioxidants in red wine can be found in other non-alcoholic produce.

If you can enjoy red wine in moderation (no more than a small glass or two each day), then great.

However, if you end up drinking red wine to excess, it can obviously add extra calories and jeopardize the maintenance of a healthy weight.

Plus, if red wine gives you a big hangover, then it can also cause issues the following day. Such as the desire to just lie in bed, eat greasy food, and feel miserable.

The final word on if red wine is healthy

Common sense is a theme that I use a lot on this blog, and this article is no difference.

If you want to enjoy red wine, then please do so in moderation. (Something I don’t think I did a lot of in Bordeaux… 😬)

Drinking a little red wine can contribute to your total antioxidant intake and for many people it can be a source of relaxation, both due to the pleasure (i.e. the appreciation of the flavour) and the alcohol.

As stress can cause health problems, drinking a little wine during a relaxing evening with friends or family could therefore be considered a healthy activity.

It’s not worth starting drinking wine if you don’t already drink alcohol, but if you enjoy red wine sensibly, then there’s no reason to stop drinking it.

Now, I’ll raise a glass to that!