Cheers to the good life

Natural Health, Sept, 2004 by Mary Ellen Strote

Wine country could be the healthiest place on earth. While a case of studies confirms that your favorite merlot or cabernet (or nonalcoholic variation) reduces the risk of heart disease, the real health story goes beyond good checkups and good vintages. Breathtaking landscapes, a welcoming community of friends and family, and an organic connection to the earth offer nothing less than all that sustains us.

To enamored observers, says author Kevin Starr, the wine country is "a sun-graced land resplendent with the goodness of the fruitful earth." For it seems that wherever the grape thrives, people do, too. That's why grape-producing regions across the world have put out the welcome mat, luring visitors with cultural, educational and gastronomic events. In Burgundy, France, you can sign up for a walking tour that features rural views not much changed since the time of the Gauls, a visit to a 12th-century wine cellar and shopping at a contemporary farmers' market. Tuscany, Italy, entices visitors with soaks in the hot springs at an open-air Etruscan spa, tours of medieval abbeys and accommodations at growers' estates. In Turkey, young people hop on motorbikes and head to the Aegean coast, where they're welcome to help with the harvest and learn about winemaking. In California, a wine country visit might include lodging in a Queen Anne B & B, haute cuisine and a bike tour or hot-air balloon ride, attractions that pull in millions of tourists annually and fuel local economies.

Some of the attraction is aesthetic. Italy's cypress-and-olive landscapes couldn't differ more from Northern California's oak savannahs or France's vast sunflower fields, but the wine countryside--no matter where--is almost always achingly beautiful.

Another part of the draw is time quest for well-being. It doesn't hurt that wine country is often found near ancient volcanic activity, in locales where people have always gone for rejuvenation using mineral waters and warm mud baths. And then there's the wine itself, a natural panacea since biblical times. (Now we know what it's really good for and why; see page 62.)

Finally, there is time irresistible pull of tradition. Many vineyards have stayed in the hands of families for generations, challenging corporate growers to maintain the old-fashioned hospitality that is the wine country's hallmark. It's this nostalgia for the personal, for quieter and less-hurried times, that brings us to these places--that, and something older and deeper in our DNA: a desire for connection, not only with the land, but with each other.

Just as a glass of wine is more than a drink, the wine country is more than a place where grapes are grown. It is a welcoming state of mind, an open heart, an appreciation for life's simple joys. In that way, "wine country" is anywhere we gather to celebrate the wealth of local produce, the ingenuity of winemakers and cooks, and the pleasure of spending time with family and friends. With a meal of fresh ingredients thoughtfully prepared, a bottle of a decent vintage and some lively conversation, we can evoke wine country on the few square feet of our own kitchen table.

wine country style

To accompany the silken texture of a superb pinot noir, indulge in the luxurious softness of mohair, corduroy and faded denim. Left to right: Blush-pink featherwale corduroy blazer by Trina Turk, brown corduroy pants by Diesel, women's midcalf leather boots by The Frye Company; plum men's cotton button-down by Diesel, brown corduroy men's blazer by Boss, Lucky Brand jeans for men; blue velvet jacket by Richard Tyler; short-sleeve mohair sweater by Tree, smooth cotton-jersey-blend top with sash overlay by Tiffany Alana, green leather belt with studs from Jennifer Kaufman, Miss Sixy jeans by Miss Sixty, brown boots by The Frye Company.

wine and dine

The key ingredients for dinnertime revelry: sparkling and spirited conversation, a slowly emptying bottle or two, and casually elegant style. Left to right: Men's blue button-down shirt by The Gap; green velvet dress by Petro Zillia, 14-karat gold necklace with citrine and peridot from Jennifer Kaufman; plum blazer by Hugo, antique rose cotton-rib cami by Dana; floral dress by Rebecca Taylor; green cotton jacket by Diesel, green button-down shirt by Ben Sherman; couture lavender silk blouse by Richard Tyler.

RELATED ARTICLE: To your health.

Multiple studies have shown that a glass of red wine daily prevents cardiovascular disease, lowers cholesterol and staves off dementia. Who knew medicine could taste so good?

"Prescriptions" of wine go way back. "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities," wrote the Apostle Paul. Jumping to a decade ago or so in France, National Institute of Health and Medical Research investigator Serge Renaud discovered that his compatriots had less coronary heart disease than Americans did, despite the Gallic fondness for foie gras and Roquefort. This finding he attributed to the consumption of red wine, which was shown to lower the risk of heart disease by 40 percent or more. Subsequent research supported Renaud's theory and offered additional lifestyle explanations for the apparent paradox, such as smaller portion sizes and a higher intake of fruits, vegetables and grains.