Red wine is a rich source of resveratrol and contains significantly more resveratrol than white wine. This is because the skins of the grapes are left in the juice longer when making red wine, and the skins are where most of the resveratrol is found. However, the resveratrol content varies considerably from one red wine to another. So what are the best red wines for resveratrol content?
By far the highest content of resveratrol (about 40 mg/litre) is found in both red and white wines made from the thick-skinned Muscadine grape, which is native to Florida and other parts of the southeastern United States Joined. However, Muscadine wine is not widely available outside of the US.
Other red wines usually contain between 2 and 12.5 mg of resveratrol per litre. Of the most popular grape varieties, Pinot Noir produces wines with the highest average levels of resveratrol. The Pinot Noir grape tends to thrive in warm, humid climates, which also encourage mold and yeast that attack vines and other plants. In this moist environment, plants produce higher amounts of resveratrol to defend against oxidation damage caused by fungal growth and other external pressures. Scientists have discovered that resveratrol has similar antioxidant benefits for the human body.
Pinot noir from its native Burgundy, France, as well as from Oregon, Washington state, or New Zealand, generally contain more resveratrol than the equivalent wine from a hotter, drier area such as California or Australia. Levels will also vary significantly from vintage to vintage depending on temperature and rainfall during the growing period. However, you don’t have to limit yourself to drinking Pinot Noir: other red wines from cool, humid regions of the world are likely to offer good levels of resveratrol. So the key to choosing a red wine that provides you with a decent amount of resveratrol is knowing a little geography.