Best Australian red wines for drinking now Not all these young reds need to be drunk early. Some - this one in particular - have what it takes to age gracefully for many years, as well as being ravishing right now: stunning amalgam of black pepper and black berries and sinewy black tannin. Australians are getting a taste for thirst-quenching reds madeHere are ten of our favourites. Send this link to your friend or yourself via email. Sign up to receive the latest food, travel and dining news direct from Gourmet Traveller headquarters. How to Drink Without Gaining Weight Alcohol doesn't have to damage your waistline. Read this before your next night out to beat those cocktail calories.Those who suffer from any form of Celiac disease have to really monitor each and every bite and sip, especially when something is prepared without their supervision, like at a restaurant or by a good-intentioned friend. The awesome news for those who live the gluten-free life is that wine is naturally gluten-free, says Tory Tedrow, a registered dietitian and CNSC for the app SugarChecked.

"Gluten contamination can occur during the winemaking process. Some winemakers line the aging barrels with flour or a wheat paste, or they use coloring or flavoring agents that may contain gluten," she says. where to buy wine in san joseThough being mindful is never a terrible idea, Tedrow says it would only be such a small amount that unless you're severely affected by gluten, you'll probably be okay to have a glass or two. best wine cooler for money"Most people with gluten sensitivity can consume any type of wine without negative consequences," she adds. best wine for eggsYou may be surprised to learn that these other foods could also be hiding gluten.50 best wine labels

If you're sensitive to certain ingredients... iStock/CarlosAndreSantosLegumes make your stomach ache? Or dairy is definitely not your bestie (check out these signs of lactose intolerance)? what time can you buy wine in paSimilar to gluten, other ingredients might be added during the wine aging or prep process that could be problematic if you're tummy is finicky. best organic wine list"Some of the more commonly problematic ingredients include egg whites, chitosan (the exoskeleton of crustaceans), and casein. Egg whites can be used to clarify red wines while casein is used to clarify whites," Tedrow says. If you have an egg or milk allergy, avoid accordingly, she adds. And chitosan can be used as a finishing agent in white wines, so people with shellfish allergies should stick with red." If you're watching your weight...

iStock/OnzegRegardless of whether you're going to rock a bikini in a few weeks or simply want to tone up and slim down, alcohol can easily throw a wrench in your goal-setting plans. That's because alcohol's star ingredient—sugar!—can encourage fat storage. If you just can't go without a glass of wine occasionally, Tedrow says to pay more attention to the wines you choose. Specifically: Skip the reds, and opt for whites or bubbly. "Most white wines have around 140 calories per six-ounce glass, while higher-percent alcohol reds can contain up to 200 calories a glass. Europe has stricter alcohol laws, so their wines tend to be lower in alcohol, and therefore, calories too," she explains. "When it comes to champagne, Brut Natural and Extra Brut varieties contain the least amount of added sugar and calories. A four-ounce flute contains about 100 calories." If you're training for a big race or big event... iStock/kupicooIn addition to the anxiety that builds before a big adventure—from a marathon to walking down the aisle—your thirst for relieving said stress grows too.

Unfortunately, it's a double-whammy: Wine might make you relax and calm down, but it'll also put a dent in your training schedule, or possibly, a few pounds away from fitting into your wedding gown or bridesmaid dress. "If you're serious about training for an event, you will want to avoid alcohol for the most part," Tedrow says. Any type of wine is going to dehydrate your body, which will decrease performance. But, if you do want to reward yourself after your first double-digit training run or finally agreeing on the guest list with your husband-to-be, Tedrow says think about quality over quantity. "If you do drink, choose your favorite type and savor a single glass," she says. If you're easily hungover... iStock/MarkSwallowBlame it on your age, your size, or your inability to turn down another round of anything, but hangovers happen. However, if you've found yourself spending many a Sunday morning praying for your headache to go away, Tedrow says you might want to reevaluate what you're drinking, how much, and the quality of the stuff.

"If you're easily hungover, you probably shouldn't consume any alcohol or limit yourself to just a drink or two" she explains. "If you really want to drink, stick with white wine, as red wine contains congeners—a byproduct of fermentation that gives certain alcohols their deep colors (think brandy or red wine) and tend to heighten hangover symptoms." Here's how to cure a hangover naturally.Enjoy unwinding at the end of the day with a glass of wine? While there's no doubt that drinking wine – or any alcoholic beverage – in excess can adversely affect your health, career, and social relationships, there's some evidence that moderate consumption of wine may have significant health benefits. Still, some health professionals continue to warn against the dangers of alcohol consumption, making it hard to piece together the real story about wine, your health, and longevity. It appears the jury is still out on whether red wine is really good or bad for you.Much of the interest in wine and red wine in particular has to do with antioxidants.

Known as polyphenols, they are thought to protect your body's cells and tissues against damage that can lead to the development of diseases such as cancer and heart disease.RELATED: Are You or Someone You Know a Functional Alcoholic?The polyphenols in wine primarily come from the colored skins of grapes, so red wine tends to have a greater concentration of polyphenols than white wine, according to Georges Halpern, MD, PhD, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a researcher of the health benefits of wine. "It seems that these substances in higher concentration have a better protective effect on the cardiovascular system and possibly other systems," Dr. Halpern says.Over the past 20 years or so, many journals have published studies about how drinking alcohol, particularly red wine, may protect the heart, according to the American Heart Association. So when researchers challenged that notion in a 2014 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, they raised some eyebrows.

The researchers studied Italians who consumed large amounts of the polyphenol resveratrol and found it did not protect them from developing heart disease or cancer.There is some research showing that wine may have other health benefits, as well, including:Protecting against certain cancers.  A study published  in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology in 2014 found that resveratrol may prevent head and neck cancer. The resveratrol kills damaged cells that can lead to cancer, the researchers wrote. Another study, published in 2014 in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Food & Function, found that the more polyphenols, particularly resveratrol, in wine, the more the wine protects against colon cancer.Researchers at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine found that resveratrol may help prevent age-related memory decline. They published the findings from their study of rats in “Scientific Reports” in January 2015.Fighting weight gain. Researchers in Korea found that the compound piceatannol, which is found in red grapes and is similar to resveratrol, can block cellular processes that allow fat cells to develop and grow.

Piceatannol could be used as a weapon against weight gain, the researchers wrote in their study, which was published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry in 2012.Protecting against dental disease. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that red wine may kill dangerous bacteria in your mouth that could cause dental diseases, including cavities.Other research has found that wine consumption is associated with increased risk for:Certain cancers. A study published in Alcohol and Alcoholism in 2012 found that drinking wine could increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, alcohol consumption also increases the chances of developing mouth, throat, liver, and bowel cancer in some people.For some people, drinking wine or other types of alcohol can lead to alcoholism. "Some people become alcoholics very easily,” says Halpern. Getting the condition under control can be very difficult.While research and the debate continue, the key seems to be moderation.