Red wine can be a healthy beverage if you drink moderately -- no more than one or two 5-ounce glasses daily -- because it has more polyphenol antioxidants than other alcoholic beverages. Polyphenols are linked to cardiovascular benefits, blood sugar improvement and cancer prevention. Choose red wines with high polyphenol levels. The polyphenol procyanidin may provide cardiovascular benefits as it inhibits blood clots and inflammation, and relaxes and dilates blood vessels, improving blood flow. Procyanidin is the most potent polyphenol for improving cardiovascular health and is highest in the Tannat grape, according to researchers of a study published in the journal "Nature" in 2006. Researchers of this study found wines from Sardinia, Italy and southwestern France to have the highest procyanidin levels, likely as a result of the traditional production method which ensures a high level of procyandidin makes it into the wine. Among these wines, they found Madiran wines from southwestern France to be the highest in procyanidin likely because they are made mainly from Tannat grapes.

Resveratrol is a polyphenol which may reduce cardiovascular and cancer risks and improve blood sugars. In the 1990s, Leroy Creasy, PhD emeritus professor in the Department of Horticulture at Cornell University, studied over 100 different red wine varieties -- 70 from New York, 22 from California, and the rest from other states or countries. Creasy found that Pinot Noir wines had significantly higher resveratrol content than other wine varieties regardless of processing or geography. The polyphenol anthocyanin gives wine its red color. The darker the wine, the more anthocyanin there is in it. Polyphenols multiply in humid weather and when grape skins are exposed to ultraviolet light. Creasy found that all New York wines-- not just Pinot Noir, but also Merlot and other wine varieties -- had significantly higher resveratrol content overall. This is likely a result of New York's often sunny and humid weather. Dr. James Harbertson, an enologist at Washington State University, advises choosing wines from regions farther from the equator because they have more daylight hours.

Also choose dry -- less sweet -- wines, such as Cabernet, as they have higher anthocyanin and procyanidin levels. According to the American Heart Association, there is insufficient evidence to recommend to people who do not drink to start drinking red wine as a protective measure for their cardiovascular health. The health benefits of red wine may be influenced by other factors such as genetics, physical activity, smoking, social life and environment. Discuss moderate drinking with your physician especially if you are a cardiac patient. Gain 2 pounds per week Gain 1.5 pounds per week Gain 1 pound per week Gain 0.5 pound per week Maintain my current weight Lose 0.5 pound per week Lose 1 pound per week Lose 1.5 pounds per week Lose 2 pounds per week Grape Juice Vs. Wine for Health Benefits Is Grape Juice High in Iron? Wines With High Levels of Polyphenols List of Heart-Healthy Wines The Best Red Wine for Your Health

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Can Drinking Wine Lead to High Cholesterol? Risks and Benefits of Pomegranate Juice Does Red Wine Increase HDL Levels? Is Red Wine Good for Fatty Liver?Aglianico: used to make quality full-bodied red wines in Campania (best commune being Taurasi) and also in up and coming Basilicata. the best wine to go with pizzaOf Greek origin, it was known as “Vitis Hellenica”best wine offers internet Aleatico: strong Mediterranean red varietal grown on the island of Elba and also in Puglia and Laziogood wine for mac n cheese Barbera: makes both elegant and juicy wines in Piedmontbest nyc wine classes Bonarda: classic Lombard grape grown in the Oltrepò Pavese and Colli Piacentini DOCs.

Bovale: Sardinian red grape of Spanish origin Cannonau: grown in the gorgeous island of Sardegna, also called Alicante. Said to have been imported from Spain in 13th century Cesanese: grown in the Lazio region it is often used to make semi sparkling red Corvina: one of the key grapes used for the production of Amarone, also used for wines like Valpolicella, Bardolino and Recioto Classico Dolcetto: originated in Piedmont and has become a huge commercial success Frappato: main grape used to make the famed Sicilian Cerasuolo Freisa: light red from Piedmont used to make semi sparkling wines Fumin: grown in the Aosta Valley Gaglioppo: Greek varietal imported in ancient times to Calabria, Cirò is most famous brand to use this grape Grignolino: light colored red wine is made from this grape in Piedmont mainly around Monferrato and Asti Lambrusco: historic grape in Italy from Emilia Romagna, became notorious for the sweet sparking red wines.

Malvasia Nera: Literally Black Malvasia, used in many wines from Puglia Molinara: one of the 3 grapes used for Amarone production (the others being Rondinella and Corvina) Montepulciano d´Abruzzo: up and coming grape used to make some excellent wines in the Marche and Abruzzi regions, also in Molise and Puglia Nebbiolo: the Piemontese grape used to make Barolo and Barbaresco, also called Chiavennasca in Valtellina to produce Sforzato, and Spanna Negrara: Veneto grape from the Negrar district of Valpolicella, characteristic Negroamaro: means “Black bitter”, this intense black grape is king in Puglia, Nero d´Avola: also called “Calabrese, this is considered to be the finest red grape in Sicily and makes powerful wines Ormeasco: the term used for the Dolcetto grape in Liguria Piedirosso: found in Campania, probably of Greek origin as many Campania grapes. Means “red feet”, and is main grape in some of Mustilli´s best wines. Primitivo: cousin to California’s zinfandel and originating in Croatia, this popular red grape used in Puglia, particularly in the Salice Salentino and Primitivo di Manduria wines

Prugnolo Gentile: name of the Sangiovese Grosso clone used to make the famed Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Raboso: grown in the Padua province especially for the wines from Colli Euganei Refosco: main red grape from Friuli, makes light reds Rondinella: used as part of a trio of grapes in Amarone and other Valpolicella wines Sagrantino: the main red grape of Umbria and used to make the excellent DOCG Sagrantino di Montefalco Sangiovese: also called Morellino, this is the flagship grape of Italy used to make Chianti Classico, Schiava/Vernatsch: northern red grape found in Trentino Alto Adige Albana: found in Emilia Romagna, making ordinary still whites and some interesting sweet passitos. Arneis: fragrant white grape found in Piedmont Bombino: found in central and southern Italy, especially in Puglia Carricante: found growing on the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily Catarrato: Sicilian varietal, one of the grapes used to make marsala

Coda di Volpe: means “fox tail”, used in the production of the Lacyrma Christi del Vesuvio Bianco wines Cortese: grape used to make Gavi, in Alessandria (Piedmont) Falanghina: fabulous varietal found in Campania, very aromatic. Top Falanghina comes from the Feudi di San Gregorio winery Fiano: used to make lovely whites in and around Avellino Forastera: found on the island of Ischia Garganega: grape used to make Soave and Gambellara wines Greco di Tufo: Greek descendant found all over the south of Italy Grillo: originating in Western Sicily, main varietal used for Marsala Inzolia: common white grape found in Sicily Muscat: aromatic grapey grape found throughout Italy Pigato: unusual varietal found in Liguria Pinot Grigio: commercial success story, this is Pinot Gris Pinot Bianco: found all over the north especially in Lombardia, Veneto, Friuli and Alto Adige Prosecco: the grape used to make the Venetian bubbly with same namesake, key ingredient to the famed Bellini cocktail