Diet/NutritionHere's What Happens When You Drink Red Wine Every NightMandy OaklanderFor more, visit TIME Health.Alcohol is the Goldilocks of the nutrition world. Too much can be destructive to your health, raising your blood pressure and your risk of developing several kinds of cancer. Too little may hold you back from some of the benefits that moderate drinkers enjoy, like lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, mortality and type-2 diabetes.The amount that’s just right, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, might be a nightly glass of wine with dinner—for some people, anyway.Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel wanted to look at how safe and effective it is for a specific group of people—those with well-controlled type-2 diabetes and who had a low risk for alcohol abuse—to drink moderately. People with type-2 diabetes are more likely than the general population to develop cardiovascular disease and have lower levels of heart-protective HDL cholesterol, the authors note.

They chose 224 people who fit this profile, and who didn’t drink wine currently, then assigned them to start drinking one of three things. At dinner, the people in the study were told to drink five ounces of one of the following beverages: mineral water, dry white wine or dry red wine. Under the guidance of dietitians, they also followed a Mediterranean diet without calorie restrictions—and kept it up for two years.Intermittently, they took questionnaires and were subjected to follow-ups, including blood draws at the start of the study, six months in and at 24 months, so the scientists could look at biomarkers of glycemic control, lipids and liver function.RelatedDiet/NutritionHere’s Why It Feels Like You Always Have Room for DessertDiet/NutritionHere’s Why It Feels Like You Always Have Room for DessertThey found that the red wine drinkers had significantly increased their levels of good HDL cholesterol and had a more beneficial cholesterol ratio compared to the group that drank water.

They were also the only group to experience a significant drop in components of metabolic syndrome. People who drank either red or white wine also reported better sleep quality than the group that drank water, and the researchers found no significant adverse effects with any group.best wine bars new york magazine(It's worth making it explicit that those who drank alcohol, drank just one glass per night, with meals.)“best box wine 2011This is what I’ve been telling people for years based on observational data,” says Dr. James O’Keefe, chief of preventive cardiology at Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, who was not involved in the study. what red wine has the highest alcohol content

“It seems to me that my patients who drink red wine in moderation tend to do better, and this really solid gold-standard kind of research confirms our intuitions about the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol intake.”buy wine in paris on sundayO’Keefe wasn’t surprised that the best results came from the group drinking red wine—which had resveratrol levels 13-fold higher than the white wine, according to the study. best wine resorts in the world“Partly it’s the benefits of the alcohol, but red wine also contains a lot of unique antioxidants that are hard to get other places,” O'Keefe says. best bc wine 2015And pairing it with dinner, like they did in the study, is key.“If you have a glass of red wine with your evening meal tonight, your peak blood sugar, if you measured it an hour later, would be about 30% lower than if you hadn’t had the wine,” O’Keefe says.

The post-meal spike in sugar is one of Americans’ main sources of inflammation, which contributes to everything from diabetes to dementia to heart disease and arthritis, he adds. “It makes your system more able to sop up the sugar and the calories that you’re consuming in the meal if you have a little alcohol before,” he says.But there’s a disclaimer, of course. Drinking every day can be a "slippery slope that a lot of people can’t safely navigate," O’Keefe says. “If they start drinking daily and they drink a bottle or two a day, that’s a disaster.”For those who can safely imbibe, one glass of dry red wine—like pinot noir or Cannonau—with the largest meal of the day is the very best pairing, O’Keefe says. “If you’re going to drink red wine, this study is a good reminder to do it the old fashioned way: drink it with a Mediterranean meal high in vegetables and fish and lower in meat, with fruit for dessert and using olive oil. Doing it in a social, relaxed setting also goes a long way to improving health and happiness.”

QUIZ: Should You Eat This or That? Which is better for you: Half cup of ice cream or 3 scoops of sorbet?1 of 16Our StoryContinuous improvement – or the notion that our best wines are still ahead of us – has always been our driving force at Silver Oak. At Twomey, we combine this philosophy, experience, and a sense of curiosity to craft Pinot Noir, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc from outstanding vineyards and growing regions from California to Oregon. Always keeping in mind…it’s about your enjoyment with our wine.Our TeamWe are honored to work with a team of authentic and passionate people who share our family’s dedication to bringing you wines of quality, character and enjoyment.David R. DuncanTim DuncanExplore the home of our Single Vineyard and AVA Pinot Noirs while taking in sweeping views of lovely Sonoma County. Located just two miles from Healdsburg Square on one of wine country’s prettiest byways, Twomey Healdsburg features a striking modern design with winding, wraparound patios set into the rolling foothills.

The curving roof follows the lines of the landscape, while glass walls give expansive views of Mount St. Helena and Geyser Peak. Few things can upstage our exceptional wines, but the impressive beauty of our Healdsburg winery comes close.Enjoy the laid-back vibe at Twomey Calistoga, located just off Highway 29 a mile south of Calistoga and its bustling main street. Nestled within beautifully landscaped gardens, our friendly tasting room opens onto a sun-filled courtyard that offers expansive views of lush vineyards and the Calistoga foothills.Explore our on-line store for access to all of our wines, including our hard-to-find small production, limited-release and winery-only wines. Check back often for special offers!Our ClubsClub Twomey is our family’s way of sharing the bounty of wine country and the generosity of the place we call home. We bring the Tasting Room experience to your doorstep, with exclusive access to our limited-production, hard-to-find wines. What’s more, you’ll enjoy complimentary tastings as well as Club-only events and Release Days at our winery properties.

Choose from four membership options, and join our wine-growing family in the worthwhile pursuit of great wine.VelmaNamed after the matriarch of the family, Velma Marie Twomey Duncan, this 9-bottle club offers you the perfect introduction to the Twomey portfolio. Membership in the Velma Club also affords you access to our wineries and hospitality, including complimentary tastings and Club-only events. Duncan FamilyThis 16-bottle club offers a new level of access to all Twomey wines, including new releases and wines produced in highly limited quantities. Duncan Family club members also receive first access to hospitality events at both Twomey and Silver Oak, including our highly popular Release Days, Club-only events and complimentary tastings. Duncan Family RedsThis is a 16-bottle club for the red wine lover, featuring access to all Twomey red wines, including our new releases and wines produced in highly limited quantities. Duncan Family Reds club members also receive first access to hospitality events at both Twomey and Silver Oak, including our highly popular Release Days, Club-only events and complimentary tastings.