as someone who loves and collects wine i was particularly interested in this question. first how did people come to the notion that red wine might have some heart healthiness to it? there's an observation called "the french paradox". that emerged when scientists noted a relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease among the french despite a high incidence of smoking and a diet heavy in fats (cheese creams etc). this notion gained widespread attention in the 1990s after it was covered in a story on "60 minutes. " it has spurred a great deal of scientific intrigue into whether or not a moderate amount of red wine consumption might balance some other dietary indiscretions. bottom line we don't know the answer definitively. most believe that a modest amount of daily alcohol has some health benefits. some believe that this benefit is pronounced with red wine due to some particular chemicals that are part of the grape skin. in fact companies have been formed to explore whether some of these compounds might be extracted and developed as drugs to treat/prevent heart disease. now back to your question. while drinking fine aged red wine is truly a delight there's no evidence (yet) to suggest that this might be better for your health than more simple less expensive wines. the key is moderation! so enjoy your glass after work or with dinner tonight and stay tuned for more evidence as the story evolves.
is cheap red wine just as heart healthy as a fine red wine or does the aging process boost the wine's healthy values?