Randy Chamberlin, founder of Grape Expectations in Winter Haven, has been in the wine industry for 30 years and is pleased to say that the business is still healthy today.
Yet it is not only the health of the industry that is garnering attention, but the health of the drink itself.
Several medical studies have revealed that a moderate level of wine consumption can yield promising health benefits.
"It can protect the heart from future damage and coronary disease and improve circulation in the legs," says Dr. Vicente Verzosa, M.D., a cardiologist at Lake Wales Medical Center. "The studies have even confirmed that it prolongs life, assuming one is only drinking one to two glasses a day."
Wine can also prevent cataracts, as well as help slow down the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia in the brain, Verzosa says.
The driving force behind the health benefits associated with wine is considered to be the flavonoid, antioxidant and polyphenol components of the drink. Resveratrol, a chemical commonly found in red wine, has especially been credited for many of wine's health benefits.
Jamie Moore, a registered dietician at Lake Wales Medical Center, says the prevention of platelets from sticking or clotting in the blood is a major benefit of wine, as well as its ability to increase levels of good cholesterol, HDL, while decreasing levels of bad cholesterol, LDL.
When deciding how many glasses of wine to have with dinner, the adage 'less is more' is a good rule of thumb. Moore cautions that people should stick to moderate wine consumption to fully reap the health benefits.
"Men should have no more than two, 5-ounce glasses of wine a day," Moore says. "Women should only have one glass due to body weight differences."
Those who prefer not to consume alcohol do not have to miss out on all of wine's health benefits, since many of the healthy components of wine, such as polyphenols, come from grape skin and seeds, Verzosa says.
"Half a cup of grape juice would be healthy as well if someone doesn't want to drink alcohol," Moore advises.
Moore would not recommend regular alcohol consumption for those with diabetes, high triglyceride levels or obesity.
"One glass of wine contains 150 calories, so those struggling with obesity should look elsewhere for health benefits," Moore says.
Other risks of wine consumption include a potential increase in breast cancer risk as well as the tendency for the histamines found in wine to cause migraines, Verzosa says. People also should take care not to overindulge, since the benefits of wine are associated with moderate rather than excessive wine consumption.
Drinking wine is not the only way to reap its health benefits.
"If you want to cut down on fats, sauté your meals in spices and wine," Moore suggested. "It certainly tastes good and sautéing food with white wine can decrease the levels of grease and fat in meals."
Recent medical studies have placed a spotlight on the connection between wine and health, and this has coincided with a healthy period in the wine industry itself.
Grape Expectations, a fine wine bar located at 5535 Cypress Gardens Blvd. in Winter Haven, opened its doors nearly 11 months ago, and business has been strong ever since.
"By the end of the year, it is projected that the U.S. will become the number one nation in the world for wine consumption," Chamberlin says. "This is partly due to the increasing recognition of the health benefits of wine."
Chamberlin offers an array of both red and white wine, but he admits that those interested in the drink's health benefits might prefer to drink red wine since the health benefits primarily come from the skins of the grapes.
"With white wine, the juice tends to run free and there is less contact between the juice and the grape skins, whereas in red wine the juice is soaking with them," Chamberlin says.
