3 Common Questions about Wine

If you are just starting to get into wine, you may have a few questions that you find yourself asking. To help you sort out and answer some of those questions we've taken the time to answer just a few of those common questions you may be asking yourself about wine.

1. Is the consumption of wine healthy for you? Believe it or not, wine actually is packed full of healthy compounds like tannins, polyphenols, alcohol and resveratrol. In fact studies have shown that wine consumed in moderation, basically a glass or two a day, can actually help to lower the risk of a heart attack in middle aged people by 30-50%. Red wine has also been shown in other studies to raise the levels of good cholesterol while lowering the bad. The resveratrol found in wine is responsible for some of these benefits. Pinot Noir and Tannat are known to have the highest levels of resveratrol.

2. What are the crystals in my wine? Crystals are more commonly found in white wine but can still be seen in red wine. These crystals are simply acids, specifically tartaric acid. These crystals will often form and even attach to the cork after being exposed to very low temperatures. They aren't dangerous and are nearly tasteless. Just like sediment in red wine, crystals are made from the extra stuff that the wine doesn't need any longer.

3. What is the sediment in my wine? As red wine ages over time, sediment will naturally occur. During the aging process, pigments will have a tendency to drop out of suspension. In other words, some tannins will bond together which forms long chains that will grow to become too heavy to remain in suspension within the liquid. While sediment is both natural and harmless, it can still create a muddy, bitter flavor to the wine. It helps to let the bottle stand up for a few days before consuming and then decant the wine.