If you’re like most people, the upcoming new year will bring a host of new resolutions. Some will resolve to spend less. Some will stop smoking. Some will try to spend more time with family and friends. However, the number one resolution each year is to lose weight. With this resolution, a variety of methods will emerge – a daily exercise regime, a membership at a gym, giving up certain foods completely. More than a few people will swear off alcohol, especially since most of it is so high in calories. However, you don’t have to give up your favorite red wine!

Extraordinary Health Benefits Await

The latest news about this wonderful beverage is wonderful for those who appreciate a glass with dinner. The French have long enjoyed wine with their meals and they also have one of the highest longevity rates of any nationality. Coincidence? Not at all. There is a direct link between this favored drink and a long life.

A glass of red will give you about 640 mg of Resveratrol. If you haven’t heard about this substance, then you may be surprised at the benefits. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in high concentrations in the skin of red grapes. It offers a number of benefits, including promoting a healthy immune system, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, and has shown promise in slowing down the growth of certain cancers. Research has also shown that Resveratrol can lower blood pressure and even reduce or slow down certain signs of aging. However, that’s not all that a glass of each day can do!

Red wine also contains high levels of flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants that can reduce the risk of cancer. It also has anti-bacterial properties and has been proven to reduce ulcer infections. However, one of the best benefits of red wine is that it has a calming effect. When you enjoy a glass with a good meal, you can feel the day’s trouble’s ease away. You can begin to unwind and enjoy the rest of evening. With less than 100 calories in a four ounce glass, you needn’t have to worry about your diet either!

Add a Glass A Day to Reap the Rewards

The French have discovered one of the true secrets of longevity and good health. Isn’t it time you added this phenomenal, low-calorie, preservative-free beverage to your daily dinner menu? You won’t even have to worry about breaking one of your New Year’s Resolutions!

If you simply love a great glass of red wine, then take a look at the Wineweaver. With a combination of one complete breathing system and a beautiful, artistic design, this wine aerator brings the very best aroma, flavor, and character directly to your glass.

The top 10 Christmas gifts for specific themes or for specific people will always change from year to year. New gifts come in and then fall out of fashion or style. New trends emerge, and people’s tastes end up changing and evolving. One thing that doesn’t really change however is the types of red wine that exist. If you have a wine lover in your life, choosing amongst some of the famous and renowned types of red wine and using those as gifts is a fantastic idea. Here are the top 10 Christmas gifts for the red wine lover that you know.

Top 10 Christmas Gifts:

Popular Types of Red Wine

There are many types of red wine that will make for great Christmas gifts. On this list we’ll first start with some of the most popular wine regions in the world, and then we’ll offer a few varietals that are also sure to make for great gift ideas.

1. Bordeaux: Bordeaux is a region in France, and it produces the most famous wine in the world. Bordeaux wine is complex, rich and heavy, and anyone who enjoys red wine will enjoy. Many Bordeaux varieties are also hard to find, which makes these gifts a real premium.

2. Chianti: Chianti is a classic Italian wine from Tuscany, and it goes great with big, heavy meals. In other words, it’s a perfect fit to be on a list of the top 10 Christmas gifts. Finding a Chianti Clasico is one of the best options when looking for an official Italian wine.

3. Rioja: Rioja wines come from Spain and commonly are made from the Tempranillo grape. Flavorful and fun, these wines aren’t too dry or too heavy, so even those with modest interest in types of red wine will enjoy Rioja.

4. Barolo: Coming from Italy, a Barolo is a great gift idea for someone who likes a heavy, rich and bold wine. Made from the Nebbiolo grapes, these wines are traditionally very tannic however now are sometimes made in alternate methods which changes the style.

5. Burgundy: Burgundy wine from France is highly sought after and can become quite expensive. Most reds from Burgundy incorporate a great deal of Pinot Noir and purchasing a great bottle of Burgunday as a gift really shows that you put some time and thought into your gift.

6. Merlot: A classic red varietal, Merlot is grown all over the world and is great as a gift because while flavorful and rich, it’s also accessible and can be enjoyed by nearly anybody.

7. Shiraz: Amongst the types of wines, a Shiraz is great for a Christmas gift idea. Its spiciness and crisp, sharp flavor is perfect for the cold of the winter season.

8. Cabernet Sauvignon: This is a favorite in Napa Valley California. Many consider this a “big wine” that can challenge the most flavorful of meals.

Other Options:

If you don’t want to buy a bottle of wine, or you are looking for something a little bit more, then one of the following gift ideas should help fit your needs.

9. Red Wine Glasses: Instead of choosing from the types of red wine, you can purchase wine glasses. Red wine glasses are wider than white wine glasses, allowing the wine to breathe and the drinker to get a full range of scents and tastes. Every wine drinker needs the right hardware to get the job done.

10. Wine Gift Basket: A red wine gift basket is a fantastic idea amongst the top 10 Christmas gifts for a wine drinker. You can include a few bottles of some great red, and include some snacks and food items that can be paired with that food. For example, include a selection of sharp cheeses with crackers and dips.

Bonus Christmas Gift Idea

Wine of the Month Club: The ultimate for any wine drinker is a wine of the month club. This is a great way to give somebody a gift that they will be able to squeeze the maximum amount of value out of. Choose just one specific varietal or region, or choose a sampler of many different red wines.

As you can see, there is no shortage of gift ideas for people who love to drink wine. You can choose from some of the most popular Types Of Red Wine, or you can look into various options. That wraps our list of the top 10 Christmas gifts for wine enthusiasts, now go out there and make somebody happy.

The Valley Wine Shop is a resource for learning about wine and giving it as a gift for any occasion. There are a lot of Top 10 Christmas Gifts to about wine and wine accessories. One popular option are wine clubs which are perfect because they can be personalized for anyone by price or interests. http://www.valleywineshop.com

There are a few things you need to keep in mind about red wine storage. Here are some simple tips to properly store your red wine.

1. The storage temperature for your red wine is important. Make sure you store your wine in a place that is around 50 to 60 F. Even if your wine is stored for a short time at or above 90 F, there is a high chance it will be damaged. You also want to ensure your wine is not stored in direct sunlight. The best location is in a cool, dark basement or cellar. The other option is to invest in a wine refrigerator that allows you more control over the temperature.
2. Store your wine on a very study wine rack or storage unit. Wine that moves around a lot during storage can be damaged, even if it’s stored at the proper temperature.
3. Always lay the bottles on their side during storage. This ensures the cork doesn’t dry out during storage. Also, make sure you check that it’s not only on its side, but that the cork is facing down and the wine is keeping it from drying out.
4. You can store it for a few months or a few years. Red wines that are aged usually bring out more of the flavors in your wine. You will enjoy your wine even more. Check the storage time for the specific wines you are storing, since there is a slightly different recommendation on storage times for the different types. Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah wine are two that can be stored for longer periods of time.
5. It’s also important to understand how to store it. If you store your opened wine properly, you can drink it for up to a week or more. Once you open the wine, make sure you store it in a cool place to slow down the aging process. If you drink less than half of the bottle, move it over into a smaller bottle to reduce the amount of oxygen that is mixing with the wine during storage.

These are just a few quick tips on how you can preserve your precious wine during storage, both before and after you’ve opened your wine.

Jill Loeffler has more red wine storage tips and information about enjoying red wine on her site at AllAboutRedWine.com

What are the red wine heart health benefits you can get from drinking this delicious beverage derived from European grapes? Moderate consumption of red wine has long been acknowledged as helping cut the risk of heart disease, since the fermented beverage is a rich source of flavonoids (polyphenol antioxidants) which are found in the skin and seeds of red grapes. flavonoids can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in three ways:

Lowering the amount of LDL (low density lipoprotein) in your blood. LDLs can form harmful plaques in your arteries which could result in the development of diseases such as hypertension as well as increasing the risk of strokes.

Increasing the amount of HDL (high density lipoprotein). HDLs can help lower cholesterol in your blood by bringing excess cholesterol to the liver for removal from your body.

Reducing blood clotting. Blood clots can increase the risks of a heart attack by hindering the free flow of blood around your body.

In addition, red wine also contains the antioxidant resveratrol, which research has shown to help inhibit the development of some cancer tumors as well as aiding in nerve cell formation, which may make it useful in the treatment of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Red wine has been shown to help reduce the risk of developing breast, prostrate and prostate cancers.

How much wine should you drink to avail yourself of red wine’s heart health benefits? Doctors have recommended moderate intake of wine, specifically one to two servings a day for men and one serving for women (one serving is equal to a four ounce glass) if you currently drink. However, exceeding these recommendations may cause increased health risks. For example, those who drank three or more glasses of wine a day saw increased amounts of fat in their bloodstream. Women who drank two glasses of red wine a day actually saw their risks of developing breast cancer growing. Long-term excessive drinking can also result in conditions such as liver and neurological damage as well as malnutrition, since alcohol becomes a substitute for eating nutritious foods. People who are on a diet should also restrict their red wine consumption since it is a high-calorie beverage; one glass can contain as much as 120 calories.

It is not recommended that you start to drink if you are a non-drinker in order to avail of these health benefits. If you currently have a health problem that can be worsened by alcohol, such as cardiovascular disease, you should avoid drinking completely since you can get many of the same benefits by eating greater amounts of fish, grapes, whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.

What are the best red wines to drink to reduce your risk of developing heart disease? The red wines that were found to have the highest flavonoid levels include Pinot Noir, Petit Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. One general guideline for picking wines for red wine heart health benefits is to choose dryer red wines since they are richer in flavonoids than sweeter wines.

Samuel Coelho invites you to enjoy the fine Oregon Wines created at his family’s Willamette Valley vineyard, and to discover their sustainably grown and award winning wines. Benefit by joining the Coelho Wine Club and receiving premium limited quantity wines, library releases, current releases, and futures. Coelho Wines are allocated to club members before anyone else. Reserve your Wine Club Membership today.