Wine is truly one of the greatest alcoholic beverages to grace our humble planet! There's nothing quite as good as a chilled glass of rose wine on a hot day, some white wine with a tasty chicken meal, or a bit of rich red wine served with steak and pasta. Of all the alcohols, wine is probably the only one that does more good than harm. While most alcoholic beverages just give you more sugar, calories, and toxic alcohol, wine actually offers some health benefits.But which wine is the best? In this post, we'll take a look at everything you need to know…There aren't just three types of wines, but actually there are six:All of these types of wine are tasty, but not all of them offer the same benefits.Did you know that studies have been done examining the types of people who drink certain types of wine? According to one study: Those who drink red wine tend to drink more frequently than those who drink white or rosé wine.Those who drink white wine tend to be content with their career position.

It's more common for red wine drinkers to be married and have a degree.White wine drinkers tend to be content to stay at home and love holidays.Red wine drinkers are usually more relaxed when it comes to wine preferences.Rose wine drinkers like to try new and different things.It's common for white wine drinkers to drink the same vintage regularly.55% of rosé wine drinkers have left school at the age of 18.86% of red wine drinkers are in a happy, stable marriage.85% of rosé and white wine drinkers are either single and not looking for a relationship or in a happy, unmarried relationship. What does your wine preferences say about you?We all know that wine is healthy, but do you know how healthy? Some wines offer greater health benefits than others, so here are the wines you should definitely be trying: Cabernets/Madirans -- These two types of wine come from tannat grapes, which are known to contain very high levels of antioxidants known as procyanidins. The antioxidant can improve the health of your heart and vascular system, and has even been proven to increase your life expectancy.

Pinot Noir -- Of all the wines, Pinot Noir has the highest concentrations of the cancer-fighting compound resveratrol, particularly the ones grown in cool climates that receive a lot of rainfall.Merlot/Syrahs -- The flavor of these wines are different from Cabs and Madirans, and they contain more procyanidins as well. Syrah is made with black currants added into the wine, and Merlot is made with blue grapes. These are the three wines you want to drink A LOT of, as they offer the best health benefits. Yes, there are many other types of red wines, but these listed above are the best of the reds.When it comes to rosé and white wine, you get a lot of sweet flavor, but almost nothing in the way of antioxidants. The dark red color of red wine is the proof of the antioxidant content, but white and pink wines have almost no color. It's like comparing a purple cabbage with a regular green cabbage--there's still some value, but nowhere near as much!Here's a short video showing the differences between red, rose and white wine.​

Did you know that dry wines offer greater health benefits than sweet wines?Red wines that have a drier flavor profile tend to have higher levels of antioxidants like flavonoids and procyanidins. buy organic wine online ukThese antioxidants are produced by the tannins that come from the skin of the grapes, and they are the ones that offer all the health benefits. best port wine portugalCabernets and Madirans are the ones with the highest levels of flavonoids, though all red wines are loaded with the antioxidants.famous french wine regionsSweeter wines usually have lower levels of flavonoids, offering fewer health benefits. buy a wine cooler uk

If you're looking for a heart smart wine, it's better to go dry every time!So, we know that most of the health benefits come from red wine, but what benefits can you obtain by drinking more wine?wine online australia giftsPretty amazing stuff, right? best wine in a bag ukTime for me to pop open that cork and pour myself a glass of good health!where to buy 90 plus wineDid You Know: Red wine stimulates your appetite, so it's best when drunk with a bit of food.best wine with christmas dinnerNow comes the tricky part: knowing how much to drink.good wine guide 2012All of the health benefits listed above aren't the result of drinking five or six glasses of wine per day (Sorry, ladies of The View!).

In fact, almost all of the studies into the benefits of red wine have proven that just ONE glass of red wine per day is the best way to go.The studies will always use the term "moderate" when describing wine consumption, and that means between one and two glasses per day. More than that, and you start to lose the health benefits due to an increase in calorie intake and alcohol's effects on your body.With just one glass of red wine per day, you'll stay healthy without overdoing it on alcohol!Drinking a glass of wine with an evening meal could help those with type 2 diabetes improve the management of their blood sugar levels, according to a new long-term health study. The research also found that sufferers of type 2 diabetes increased their cardiac health and improved their cholesterol levels when they drank a glass of red wine – thanks to the presence of antioxidants such as resveratrol. The CASCADE (Cardiovascular Diabetes and Ethanol) trial is believed to be one of the first long-term alcohol health studies of its kind and was published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

However, previous studies have urged caution in linking resveratrol in wine to specific health benefits. And diabetes support groups in the UK and US advise sufferers to manage their alcohol intake carefully to avoid potential problems. READ: Red wine weightloss theory is nonsense, says UK health service The new study involved 224 people with type 2 diabetes, splitting them into three groups which consumed 150ml of mineral water, white wine or red wine with their evening meal every night for two years. Participants followed a Mediterranean diet without calorie restrictions. While red wine appeared to slightly improve heart health and suppress bad cholesterol, both red and white wine appeared to help to improve sugar control among those who metabolise alcohol slowly (roughly 80% of those studied). Those who drank wine also recorded a significant improvement in sleep quality, compared to those who consumed only mineral water. ‘Initiating moderate wine intake, especially red wine, among well controlled diabetics, as part of a healthy diet, is apparently safe, and modestly decreases cardio-metabolic risk,’ said Prof Iris Shai, of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel.