Drink Your Way to Good Health
Wine Newsletter


September 9, 2005


Hello Wine Enthusiast,

Fall is upon us and with it comes change – leaves (and vines), back to school, new projects at the office, new driving routes, fresh faces and Cork and Karma. I'm very excited to share with you all the changes we are embarking upon - updated website and new look for this newsletter. I hope by the next edition, these changes will be complete. (Martin, are you reading this?)

A big event turned into a media powerhouse for Cork and Karma. Last month, a huge headshot of my mug was featured on the front page of the business section of the Montreal Gazette. The aticle and picture rippled across the newswire and popped up in The Vancouver Sun, The Welland Tribune and The Winnipeg Free Press - a huge coup for us and busy, busy days! I hope to add these articles as part of my Press page on the new and improved website for you to read.

Since I began writing this newsletter...oh about a year and a half ago...our readership has steadily been increasing. I'm ecstatic to share that 'The Vineyard Press' is now enjoyed across the continent - in each and every province and state in North America. Wow! I wouldn't have believed it a year and a half ago. It's the emails that I receive saying, 'my friend told me about you' from places like Florida that always amaze me. Word of mouth really is a powerful force. So, a sincere and heartfelt thank you to all my supporters - you're talking behind my back, and it's good.

A last word on content – it is king - and I do listen to and consider all feedback. I've received consistent word that my newsletter was getting a bit lengthy and you want to see wine reviews. You got it! This edition's feature article is much shorter and I've added a 'Wine Reviews' section which will continue in all future editions. I hope you enjoy my short piece on 'Drink Your Way to Good Health'.

Here's wishing you enjoy - not only your season of change - but ours too!

Cheers,
Sandi

P.S - Please forward this wine newsletter to anyone you think may enjoy it. For those that have forwarded it on to others, thanks.


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Drink Your Way to Good Health

Cheers! Bottoms up! Here's mud in your eye...we have innumerable ways to salute and raise our glass in favour of a spirit, pint or wine. But does a glass a day (of wine that is) really keep the doctor away? At one time or another, we've all heard something of the ongoing debate on research into wine and how it may benefit our health. In this piece, I've gathered some information that may surprise you...

Recently, Harvard researchers have pointed out that red wine is the most beneficial to your heart health. Scientists believe the antioxidants, called flavonoids, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in three ways:

• by reducing LDL cholesterol, also known as the "bad" cholesterol
• by boosting HDL cholesterol, also known as the "good" cholesterol
• by reducing blood clotting.

These same researchers also found that moderate - meaning 1-2 four ounce glasses per day for men and 1 four ounce glass per day for women - red wine consumption is beneficial to more than just your heart. It may inhibit tumor development in some cancers and aid in the formation of nerve cells which may help in the treatment of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In particular, they found that the antioxidant 'resveratrol' present in the skin of red grapes, has the greatest effect.

But folks, before you pour yourself a glass to celebrate, what kind of wine should you be pouring? Does the type of wine you drink make a difference? Researchers at the University of California at Davis, believe most certainly. They tested a variety of grapes and came up with this; the grapes with the highest levels of flavonoids are Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir. Both Merlot and Red Zinfandel are distant seconds. And white wine? It contains significantly less flavonoids than red wine.

After all is said and written, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the obvious – moderate, regular drinking is the key - and although research has found many health benefits to red wine drinking, nothing replaces a healthy diet (and no...french fries are not considered healthy), regular exercise and a hearty dose of joie de vivre.

Here's to you and your health...cheers!