Is Wine Healthy?

Is wine healthy for you? Scientists have been debating whether drinking wine in moderation is a healthy practice for many, many years. There is a wealth of scientific evidence to suggest that drinking responsibly has some substantial health benefits.

Since we are a winery focused on making you the cleanest wine possible, we are committed to Organic and Biodynamic viticulture AND winemaking! Not only are our wines made with organic grapes, they are processed organically in our cellars; we don’t ever put chemical additives in your wine because we believe in organics and are certified “Organic” from the grape to the glass.

Furthermore, we have compiled ten links to several scientific and literary articles that have been published, documenting the positive findings that consuming wine has health benefits. Since we are in the business of making wine and not studying the science of wine, we are offering you a curated list of the some studies showing wine’s health benefits. We will cite all of our sources at the end of this blog, in case you want to dig into the studies more yourself! In summation, there are many articles documenting research studies suggesting that yes, drinking wine can in fact be healthy.

Frey Wine Compared to Other Wines

One of the things that we love the most about bringing you Frey wine is that we offer you one of the cleanest drinks possible! In the scale of what is healthy, we think it’s important to consider the source and processing of the grapes that go into making your favorite wines. At Frey, all of our grapes are grown organically and/or biodynamically. We never use pesticides or harmful chemical sprays on our vineyards. What’s more, all of our wines are produced organically, without adding sulfites or other chemicals during winemaking. When we use yeast, it is always 100% organic, and we don’t use the incredibly long list of allowable additives when we make wine. Just organic grapes and organic yeasts: that’s what you find in Frey wines. We pride ourselves on being the cleanest drink!

Glyphosates in Wine

Unfortunately, glyphosates are a chemical associated with all kinds of health issues in humans. In viticulture, glyphosates are commonly used as herbicides, clearing the area under the vines from weeds. We don’t spray herbicides. Instead, we do a combination of mechanical cultivation and weed eating. We grow cover crops and care for our vines holistically and organically. Glyphosates are present in very high numbers where RoundUp has been sprayed in vineyards, and they are unfortunately also found in areas that have not been sprayed with RoundUp.

As part of our commitment to bringing you the cleanest drink possible, we have never sprayed RoundUp on any of our vineyards or the surrounding areas. This past year, we were contacted by Leah Segedie of Mamavation, an eco-crusading mom-blogger who tests different lifestyle products in a third party lab to find out what levels of toxic chemicals supposedly healthy products actually have. Her mission is to find the best products on the market, from a health perspective, and then she reports on the lab findings to her community of health-conscious consumers. Mamavation tested some Frey wines earlier this year, and all the wines came back from the lab with a squeaky clean report: no-detectable glyphosates were found in the tested wines. We’re thrilled to share this impartial science with you, our Frey fans.

From the Earth

The entire line of Frey wines represents the epitome of Organic and Biodynamic agriculture. As the Frey family lives on the land where the grapes have been grown since 1980, the respect for natural farming methods isn’t just “close to home,” it is home. Sprinkled across the Frey Vineyards home property are four generations of organic farmers, green energy activists, and enthusiastic environmentalists. These family members cultivate and tend their own organic gardens, live closely with the land, and steward the surrounding ecosystem. After working a day at the winery, the family members go home to care for their small part of the larger family landscape. Tending bees, foraging for herbs, hiking the native plant trails, and living with reverence for the landscape are all pastimes that show how the Frey family strongly live “from the Earth.”

For the Earth

Frey Vineyard’s investment in organic wine (before organics was a popular category in the marketplace) highlights the organization’s value of caretaking the landscape for optimal health. With an abundance of organic grapes from the earth providing the livelihood for the family business, the Frey winery works hard to give back to the land to nurture, protect, and support healthy vines. In addition to growing exclusively Organic and Biodynamic grapes, the family protects a reserve of redwood trees in a land trust surrounding the Frey property. Around all of the vineyards, hedgerow areas help support indigenous plants and animals as well.

“Organic production must integrate cultural, biological and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance and conserve natural resources. Certified organic operations must select, carry out and record production practices that ‘maintain or improve the natural resources of the operation.’ (NOP §205.200) CCOF”

— California Certified Organic Farmers

The health of the soil, the grapes, and the people who enjoy them figured prominently into the choice to become the first Organic winery in the country. Frey Vineyards pioneered organics because the Frey family lives on the land, and understands the essential commitment to create a healthy environment for all to thrive.

The Science

There are many scientific articles that have been published about the possible benefits of drinking wine. The findings from these scientists concur that moderate consumption of wine can in fact be a health-conscious choice for adults. Most of the findings suggest that the presence of important antioxidants and polyphenols in wine are part of the reason that wine is considered health-giving when consumed appropriately. However, some also mention the dopamine response for enjoying a good wine beverage with a meal. Below you can find a list of articles that offer further insight into the science of why wine can be part of a healthy lifestyle.

Is wine healthy? These articles all point to the positive health correlations between consciously drinking wine and staying in good health. Please drink Frey wine responsibly: to your health!