As you probably all know, drinking red wine can make life a bit more bearable at times.
So finding out that it may also extend my life, well, that’s just gravy.
Mind you, this is science, not wishful thinking. Researchers at Harvard Medical School and the National Institute on Aging discovered that a substance found in red wine protected mice from the damaging effects of obesity.
The study also raises the prospect that someday this magical substance will be extracted and dispensed in pill form.
“We’ve been looking for something like this for the last 100,000 years, and maybe it’s right around the corner – a molecule that could be taken in a single pill to delay the diseases of aging and keep you healthier as you grow old,” David Sinclair, a Harvard molecular biologist and leader of the study told The New York Times. “The potential impact would be huge.”
I admit, Sinclair’s enthusiasm reminds me a little of Gene Wilder’s raving in “Young Frankenstein” (“Life! Do you hear me? Give me creation … life!”). And let’s not forget the adage: People aren’t mice.
But, then again, this is wine. The Hebrews, the Romans, the Greeks, even Jesus – someone I’m told knows a thing or two about immortality – thought wine was worth a miracle.
Certainly, many of you remember the French Paradox. The question was simple. Why are the French, despite their love of fatty food, smoking and drinking, suffering relatively low incidences of heart disease?
There have been no conclusive answers, but a lot of people were looking in red wine’s direction.
I ask Doug Caskey, director of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, what sort of economic effect all this healthy-wine talk will have on business.
“It just reinforces an upward trend in wine consumption in the United States,” Caskey explains. “Each new story about the positive aspects of wine just helps build on that and strengthen it. Ultimately, what is happening is that people are considering wine to be more like food than just alcohol.”
Wine as a food group.
Caskey also notes that over the approximately 15 years they’ve been keeping records, the average annual growth of wine sales has been around 4 percent, but the growth of the Colorado wine industry has come in around 20 percent.
Like a lot of people here, I enjoy wine. And like a lot of people, I have no clue what I’m doing when choosing it.
Typically, my selection process employs an indiscriminate checklist that could touch on anything from geopolitical considerations – “Hey, this is from Chile? Cool.” – or aesthetic appeal – “Look a kangaroo … let’s just get it.”
Chris and Darcy Davies were in a similar quandary a couple of years ago. While living the corporate life, they often had to stumble their way through wine lists. So they became experts and started a magazine called Wine Country International, based in Erie.
“We felt there was a lot to do with wine that wasn’t fun. The mystery is intimidating to people,” says Darcy Davies. “We started the magazine four years ago. We have a carefree attitude about wine. … Any wine you like is good wine. But, really, it’s about educating people. Letting people know about wine and about the many things wine can be about.”
The second Denver International Wine Festival, the brainchild of the couple, was held Saturday. About 1,000 participants were expected to attend. It’s been called a poor man’s Aspen Food & Wine Classic.
“Our industry has been coming to the forefront,” says Caskey. “The public as a whole, not just here in Colorado, has been gracing the regional wine trend. It is also related to this perception that wine is a food and that wine is healthy. And then there’s the idea that if it can be done, it can be done locally.”
What’s not to like about that?
Now, every time I write in praise of alcohol, prohibitionist do-gooders will castigate me for irresponsible behavior.
This time, I’ll offer a pre-emptive toast: Live and let live – longer.
David Harsanyi’s column appears Monday and Thursday. He can be reached at 303-954-1255 or dharsanyi@denverpost.com.
