There are more and more health studies piling up showing the powerful effects of Resveratrol. As we noted over 3 years ago (The Human Elixir), there are companies, such as Sirtris, in existence specifically to synthesize this molecule into an anti-aging drug. Supposedly Resveratrol helps the production of more efficient mitochondria, whereas most antioxidants only neutralize free radicals in the system. This is like creating a more efficient engine that pollutes less vs. sequestering carbon. Beyond this, there have been numerous tests showing Resveratrol’s ability to kill forms of cancer, help with caloric restriction, increase life expectancy through diminished probability of contracting diseases like Alzheimer’s and diabetes, and many say it is the reason for the famous French Paradox. As a result of all this press and consumer awareness, the market is flooding with Resveratrol pills and supplements, claiming to extend life and end all ailments.

However, interestingly enough, there is evidence that suggests that it is not the Resveratrol that gives red wine its health benefits…

There is supposedly such a small quantity of Resveratrol in red wine that it couldn’t have any type of significant impact, not to mention that the bio-availability is even smaller, meaning that most of the Resveratrol consumed is not absorbed into the blood stream. So where do the health benefits come from?

Roger Corder, professor of experimental therapeutics at the William Harvey Research Institute in London, has been studying the health benefits of red wine for 15 years and has written an interesting read called The Red Wine Diet. He proposes that it is not the Resveratrol, or even the anti-oxidants or alcohol that give red wine its magical benefits, but rather another set of special molecules called procyanidins. These procyanidins are showing to be powerful inhibitors of Endothelin-1, which is known to constrict blood vessels and lead to a build up of artherosclerotic plaque. Thus, a consistent diet of procyanidins will keep your body clean and functioning well. Most importantly, it is found that certain red wines produced from grapes grown in certain natural environmental conditions contain enough procyanidin to give you the powerful health benefits (such as those outlined in the French Paradox) in only 1 or 2 glasses of wine a day!

This is fantastic research continuing our alchemical pursuit of the elixir of life… and remember, it isn’t about living forever, it’s about living well. More research to come…

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Well, I guess we thought. That’s why we’re Grapethinkers… lol. Exciting for us, given that we’re a technology company focused on enhancing the health of our world. We always made a big bet that grapes and wine would become this icon for health, environment, sustainability, and even technology, who knows. As this magical little fruit becomes symbolic of so much more, so will Grape Thinking.

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For those of you not familiar with Muscadet, it is a region within the Loire Valley in North West France. The grape is Muscadet, but if outside of this area will go by Melon, such as Melon de Bourgogne. This wine can be both white and red. Though the name is similar to Muscat, it is not related.

If you are looking to eat something with this, I would go with something light such as seafood. This is great wine with cheeses, possibly with contrasting characteristics, a strong nutty flavor, or a creamy rich cheese. I am eating hummus and crackers right now and it tastes delicious, but I also have a hummus problem and it would taste great with anything, but I’d rather not discuss that right now. If you are used to drinking sweet wine this is a great contender to transition yourself into a new world of wine. But get out there are try new wines, new grapes, and Wine Your Diet.

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We love this because it’s one of the main influences in our brand name — we’re all about a healthy lifestyle and we think that wine is a vital component to healthy living. Once more research like this surfaces, it is going to be the key that blows wine into the mainstream and transforms it from simply a sophisticated alcoholic beverage into the holistic human elixir. Check out this post we wrote a while back after reading a Fortune article about Resveratrol. This substance is becoming a core component of what GrapeThinking is all about. There are going to be some very smart wine marketers that keep a pulse on this and will market their products accordingly — this is because it will be a rare marketing opportunity that has real merit opposed to just another way to sizzle the consumer.

Here are some stats on Resveratrol concentrations in wine and certain foods (peanuts and grapes). Resveratrol – Wikipedia

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Renewable energies, recyclable supply chains, organic growing methods, and healthy lifestyles are the wave of the future. We won’t just be driving hydrogen powered cars and have our electricity generated from photovoltaic solar panels and off-shore wind farms. Every aspect of human nature is going to change… our habits, our routines, and even our thought processes… systematic instead of linear. Waste management and recyclables will be integrated into every imaginable human system to promote efficiency and productivity, foods will be organic and healthy lifestyles will be promoted, and most importantly, our planet will be cherished instead of cut down, polluted, and destroyed.

And what’s a better place to help start this movement than wineries? They’re some of the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing locations in the world (just look at the rise in wine tourism) and they create a product that is doctor recommended as good for your health, with red wine having the magical anti-aging component Resveratrol. Check out an old post about this: The Human Elixir

Aside from just being a Green evangelist, (although this revolution will absolutely make the world a healthier, happier, and wealthier place), green technologies and green marketing is something that wineries should certainly partake in. Not only will investment in green energy sources and eco-friendly farming methods make your winery more profitable and your product that much more natural and tasty, but having the ability to market yourselves as a Green winery will make you more attractive to your consumers.

When Al Gore released his movie “An Inconvenient Truth” last year, the trend tipped, making it more than a movement for treehugging hippies and Greenpeace activists. It’s now a movement that everybody is starting to get behind (other than Exxon and other special interested oil companies) all because of the overwhelmingly positive potential of its impact on our world. We’re hopefully about to enter another Golden Age of human civilization and wineries can help lead the way. It makes sense.

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In the Fortune article pictured left, it was discussed that wine, more specifically red wine, can slow down the aging process. It highlights Sirtris, a pharmaceutical company based out of Cambridge, that is working to synthesize the magical component in red wine known as Resveratrol, and hopes to deliver it in an anti-aging pill one day.

The process all starts right at the core of our life force… the energy producing components of our cells known as mitochondria, which convert sugars into energy and power the human body. Just like a coal plant produces energy and pollutes greenhouse gases that harm our planet, mitochondria also pollute in the form of free radicals that cause damage to our cells and our bodies. More so, these free radicals harm other mitochondria, causing them to become more inefficient and give off more free radicals, thus sparking the cell-degrading snowball effect that is thought to be the major cause of aging.

Wine may have an answer, however. We now know that wine has not one, but two ways to combat free radicals. First, it has antioxidants, which most people are familiar with. Antioxidants are found in green tea and orange juice and serve to soak up the free radicals produced in the body, thus eliminating their harmful impact. Secondly, and more importantly, red wine possesses this Resveratrol compound, which activates an enzyme that creates new and increasingly efficient mitochondria. To put this in perspective: Antioxidants will just make you feel better, whereas new efficient mitochondria can lead to weight loss, increased endurance, and even disease prevention, including cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimers!

Could wine become the human elixir?… More on this later

UPDATE: 1/7/2009

Grapes Kill Leukemia

UPDATE: 7/12/2010

The Truth About Resveratrol

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