# Red wine for the heart - recommendations please? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wine-for-the-heart-recommendations-please/190651 "2003-07-24T16:39:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wine-for-the-heart-recommendations-please/190651/1 "2003-07-24T16:39:38Z")
Having read and heard so much about a glass of red wine a day being good for the heart, and not knowing much about red wines (I prefer rose and some white) I’m looking for suggestions. Right off the bat, I don’t like merlot, so don’t suggest that. I don’t like dry wines. I’d like something a little sweet and not obscenely expensive. Doper winos - help a girl out!! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wine-for-the-heart-recommendations-please/190651/2 "2003-07-24T16:56:26Z")
You might like Shiraz – it’s pretty fruity-tasting,a nd you can get decent ones for pretty cheap. Can’t remember for the life of me that really good brand we always buy; I’ll check tonight. I think it has a kangaroo on the label. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wine-for-the-heart-recommendations-please/190651/3 "2003-07-24T17:01:30Z")
Allow me to [quote myself] ([http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=188117](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=188117)): > [@](#): > > According to UC Davis (through a [secondary source](http://www.ynhh.org/online/nutrition/advisor/red_wine.html)), cabernet sauvignon has the highest concentration of flavonoids, followed by petit syrah and pinot noir. Merlot and zinfandel rank low, as do the white varietals. > > That noted, however, as of late there seems to have been a lot of people who want to claim the health benefits of moderate drinking, which include not just red wine but also [beer](http://www.realbeer.com/news/articles/news-001758.php). In addition, I’ve also read that reds may have no benefits over white wines (I can’t remember where I read that now, though [this](http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/ask_doctor/heart_wine.shtml) BBC column that I Googled up also makes mention of it). Maybe flavonoids aren’t the only factor, but really, I don’t know. If you’re stuck on reds, though, the first link does say that “dryer red wines are your best bet for a flavonoid boost,” so maybe you’re outta luck there. I am not an expert on these matters, so I’ll be happy to defer to anyone who knows more. _Upon preview_: **Daniel** , would it be [Yellow Tail](http://www.yellowtailwine.com)? Australia is known for shirazes. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wine-for-the-heart-recommendations-please/190651/4 "2003-07-24T18:55:51Z")
Shiraz (Australian) or Syrah reds are nice; really nice with steak. Try pinot noir, I like it with just about anything and you can get good ones at reasonable prices. Oh and it you like to try something neat try a Barolo. It’s Italian and I think tastes a little thicker(?) than a typical red. Plum like maybe? See your dealing with an expert here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wine-for-the-heart-recommendations-please/190651/5 "2003-07-24T20:28:04Z")
There is ongoing debates about the health benefits. ALcohol can be good for you, in moderation, but we’re talking about maybe 2oz of wine a day. Old winos might have a lot of problems, but clogged arteries is not one of them. They look more like PVC pipes. However, any alcohol will do. It doesn’t have to be claret. There are health benefits from red wines as well, but if you don’t like tem, why not drink grape juice. Wine is mainly grapejuice and alcohol and if it’s only for health, why suffer? Drink a couple of glasses of grape juice a day and get the rest through your alcoholic beverage of choice. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wine-for-the-heart-recommendations-please/190651/6 "2003-07-24T20:28:23Z")
More of an expert than I am - last wine I bought came in a box. And I always put ice cubes in my wine. Yeah, I gots class! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-wine-for-the-heart-recommendations-please/190651/7 "2003-07-24T21:46:03Z")
They’ve invented a pill that gives you all the benefits of red wine, without the alcohol. It’s called “a grape”. (apologies to SNL and Norm MacDonald, from whom I stole this joke)