Here's to Hypoallergenic Wine!

Summer is patio time. And what’s more fun than relaxing with friends on a sunny patio and enjoying a crisp glass of organic wine with a plate of tapas? Unfortunately, for 30 percent of us who are allergic to compounds in wine, a few sips could result in a pounding headache or an unsightly rash.

But there’s good news for wine lovers whom wine doesn’t love back. The University of British Columbia’s Wine Research Centre has been working on your problem. And they’ve announced the creation of a strain of yeast that prevents allergic reactions.

Hypoallergenic wine

Wines fermented with this strain of yeast are hypoallergenic and can be sipped and enjoyed by everyone. This new yeast is being used by some popular vintages produced in Canada and the United States. Contact your favourite vintner, or check out your local wine or spirits store to find hypoallergenic wines.

Red wine for heart health

And while you’re relaxing on the partio with your glass of hypoallergenic red wine, you don’t need to feel guilty that you’re not out jogging or exercising. A recent study by University of Alberta researchers found that high doses of resveratrol, a compound found in some fruits, nuts, and red wine, improve physical performance, heart function, and muscle strength.

"We were excited when we saw that resveratrol showed results similar to what you would see from extensive endurance exercise training," stated Jason Dyck, principal investigator. "We immediately saw the potential for this and thought that we identified 'improved exercise performance in a pill.' "

His team will soon begin testing resveratrol on diabetics with heart failure to see whether it can improve heart function.

In the meantime, be sure that any experimenting you do with wine, red or white, is done responsibly.