The lunch meal is typically smaller and lighter than the dinner meal, so consider that when deciding on a wine to go with your lunch. White wines are typically lighter than reds and work well with most lunch options. When pairing your lunch meal with wine, keep in mind the acidity of what you ordered and ask the sommelier about what would work well with your meal. This wine, its grapes grown on trellises high above the ground in vineyards along the Atlantic coast, is very popular in its home country. It has a clear, subtle, bubbly and fruity taste and is most commonly paired with seafood and spicy dishes. Well known Albarino wineries are Pazo de Senorans Albarino Rias Baixas and Burgans Albarino Rias Baixas. Verdejo wine is a white wine also from Spain. This wine has a green apple and citrus flavor that goes well with light seafood and chicken dishes and well as salads. Verdejo wines also pair well with goat cheese. The most well-known Verdejo wines are from the Shaya Verdejo Old Wines and Hermanano Lurton wineries.

Rose wines are know for being very versatile wines that can go with many different food options. Rose wine is made all over the world by removing the skin of red grapes early in the fermentation process so that the wine does not become strong reds. Roses are typically very sweet with hints of strawberry but can also be made dry. Lighter roses go well with lfare such as salads or sandwiches. Darker roses have bolder flavor and go well with red meat, so a hamburger would work well. Popular rose wines include Domaine De L’estel and Bonny Doon.A glass of red wine contains 125 calories. Wine is an enjoyable addition to your lunch. It tastes good and relaxes you, but it has more far-reaching benefits to your health. While you certainly shouldn't drink an entire bottle of wine, especially if you have to go back to work, a glass of wine is a healthy addition to your meal. Heart Benefits Wine contains antioxidants called flavonoids that help protect your heart from damage and disease. These flavonoids lower your bad cholesterol levels and increase your good cholesterol.

They also increase blood flow, which decreases your risk of blood clots in the arteries surrounding your heart. top 10 wine brands in franceOne or two 5-ounce glasses of red wine has been associated with a decreased risk of heart disease and heart attack, according to a 2005 article published in "Circulation," a journal published by the American Heart Association. best wine buying websitesBrain Benefits Wine contains polyphenols, most notably resveratrol, which protect your brain cells from damage. where to buy good wine in franceResveratrol also aids in the formation of nerve cells, which could cut risk of brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, according to Yale New-Haven Hospital. basic red wine list

A study published in a 2008 issue of "Journal of Biological Chemistry" found that red wine extracts inhibited the development of Alzheimer's disease in mice, suggesting that resveratrol might have similar protective benefits in humans. beer and wine wedding receptionAnti-Cancer Benefits Resveratrol might inhibit the growth and formation of some cancerous tumors. red wine tasting glassesThe same compound helps destroy free radicals, which make it easier for cancerous cells to form. best buy wine storageRed wine is being studied for its potential to prevent leukemia, skin cancer and breast cancer. top 10 wine in india with priceWine is particularly beneficial for men. best indian made wine

One glass of red wine a day can reduce a man's risk of prostate cancer by 50 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute. Drinking Wine Choose red wine to reap the most benefits from your drink. Because red wine contains more antioxidants and resveratrol than white wine, it has more protective benefits. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of your best options. Pinot Noir is another kind of wine high in antioxidants. Merlots and red zinfandels are less beneficial because the sweeter the wine, the fewer antioxidants it contains. Women can take advantage of what wine has to offer simply by drinking one serving, which equals 4 ounces, per day. Men get the most benefit from drinking one or two servings daily. : Red Wine and Resveratrol: Good For Your Heart?Spring is here and the sidewalk cafés are bustling. It is so tempting to eat lunch outside everyday and occasionally indulge in a glass of wine. Over the past few years I have noticed more and more people enjoying wine with lunch. Not surprising given that the US is the largest wine market in the world, and the younger generation has embraced wine much earlier than older generations.

Another important factor is the increased attention that restaurants are giving to their 'By-the-Glass-Program'. How many times have you felt like having a glass of wine only to find the restaurant only sells by the bottle, or the by-the-glass options are very limited. Thankfully, today, many restaurants have put considerable energy into offering varied and interesting wine selections by the glass. For example, Easter weekend, I had lunch in a local restaurant that offered a Hungarian Dry Furmint, a German Elbling and an Indian Chenin Blanc by-the-glass. I opted for a glass of the dry Furmint. Not all by the glass offerings have to be so eclectic, just interesting with a decent number of choices. Other factors include the proliferation of screwcap closures, as well as the advance of single serve and tetra pak packaging, which make wine easy to carry and easy to open when out on a lunchtime picnic. Which wine to choose for lunch depends on what you are eating. In this warm weather we are probably eating more salads and lighter fare.

Salads can sometimes be a bit problematic for wine because of the acidity of the vinaigrette. However, there are so many ways to make a salad wine-friendly. For example, I often use verjus (the pressed juice of un-ripened grapes), lemon juice, apple juice or balsamic vinegar instead of a regular more acidic wine vinegars. It really makes a difference and lowers the overall acidity. Similarly, the ingredients in your salad (apart from the green leaves) can also help bridge the wine and the dish. For example, seared beef salad could take a red wine and spicy salads are great with slightly off-dry or fruity whites. Similar to salads, the wine to have with your panini or sandwich can be based on the filling. Much as a dry rosé works well with a Salad Niçoise, it can also work with your tuna sandwich, or even a grilled hamburger. That said, I would not get too stressed out about a perfect pairing. The worst thing that can happen is that the food overpowers the wine or vice-versa.

Not the end of the world. If that happens, you can still enjoy both — just take a sip of water between the wine and the food or clean off your palate with some bread. For spring I tend to favor white wines, rose or light-bodied reds slightly chilled at lunchtime. I also tend to steer away from oaked whites, unless the dish I am eating particularly calls for something a bit richer and full-bodied. Spain and Italy are countries that I often gravitate towards for refreshing lunch whites. In Spain you have Albariño from Rias Baixas, Godello from Valdeorras or Verdejo from Ruedo. Apart from the array of Italian Pinot Grigio wines, there is also Soave from the Veneto, Gavi from Piedmont as well as many of the whites that I mentioned in my post on wine with octopus. Below, are some wines that I have tasted recently that would work really well with lunch. • 2007 Channing Daughters Vino Blanco, South Fork, Long Island, New York, $20 – Had this with leek quiche and escarole salad last week.

A blend made of Tocai Friulano, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and a little Chardonnay. Crisp, but also has a lovely creamy texture. White peach, nectarine, green apple and lemony flavors, floral notes and quite minerally. Would also work with fish or seafood, as well as chicken or creamy pasta dishes. • 2008 La Cana Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain $16 – Crisp, packed with all sorts of citrus fruit, ripe apricot, nectarine, hints of white flowers and good minerality on the finish. I find this wine and most Albariños very versatile at the table and will work with a host of seafood, salad and spicy lunch fare. • 2008 Shaya 'Old Vines' Verdejo, Rueda, Spain $14 – Another favorite white from Spain. Crisp, key limes, lemon custard, green apple – lots of zesty flavor to pair with a crab salad, or some of great 'grain' salads as in Emma's post. • 2007 Chateau Pazjos Dry Furmint, Tokaji, Hungary, $16 – Really tasty wine. Crisp, gold color (much deeper than most unoaked white wines), flavors of ripe apples, grapefruit, spice and minerality on the finish.