For centuries, red wine has been associated with romance, passion and good times shared over dinner with mates and family. However, does red wine truly have any health benefits beyond being a delicious accompaniment to meals? This article explores the research into how and why moderate red wine consumption may provide certain health advantages . Red wine is made from dark-coloured grape varieties like Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz/Syrah. During the winemaking process, the grape skins are left in contact with the juice for a period before fermentation. This is what gives red wine its deep purple-red hue. Crucially, it also extracts polyphenols like antioxidants from the grape skins into the wine. Polyphenols are plant compounds that can help protect cells from free radical damage. Antioxidants in Red Wine One of the main types of polyphenols present in red wine are flavonoids, specifically a subclass called flavonols. Prominent flavonols in red wine include qu...