It has long been claimed that drinking a glass or two of red wine has its benefits: it’s rich in antitoxins, helps lower bad cholesterol, regulates blood sugar, can lower the risk of cancer and helps prevent heart problems, among other possible benefits.
All this, of course, with moderation in mind. Heavy drinking in all its forms–whether it’s beer, hard seltzers or sodas, spirits or wine, erases all potential health benefits and could be the reason for your early demise.
However, red wine lovers on the Italian island of Sardinia would argue that they harvest the healthiest wine on the planet, and they may have a case: their residents have a history of not only enjoying their wine, but also consistently living into triple digits!
Say hello to the cannonau.
The Cannonau Grape
Known as garnacha in Spain and grenache in France, the cannonau is a thick-skinned dark grape that ripens late in the season. It is also drought resistant which means it can thrive in hot, dry conditions.
Early records indicate that the cannonau came to Italy from Spain through the Aragones conquest of the 1300s, while more recent studies suggest that the grape is actually native to Sardinia and spread across the continent.
Why Is Cannonau Connected with Living Longer?
The people of Sardinia boast the cannonau as their own grape variety and are known to consume the wine regularly. What makes things interesting is that Sardinia is home to one of the world’s largest–if not THE largest–population of centenarians, i.e. people who live to be 100 years old or older.
Part of this tremendous outcome could be due to the special antioxins of their home wine. Flavonoids are a group of natural substances found in fruits, vegetables, grains, flowers, coffee and tea that can help manage high blood pressure, lower the risk of heart problems and even help fight cancer. Cannonau possesses two to three times the amount of flavonoids (a type of antioxidant) as compared to other red wines. That being said–even though every little bit helps–the amount in cannonau wine is so small and minute that, in order to get the full flavonoid health benefit, you would have to drink ALOT of cannonau.
Though the cannonau shows signs of significant health benefits, it MUST be in moderation to reap the health rewards. It should also not be left on its own often. The benefits only increase when pairing a glass of cannonau with a heart-healthy diet. In the case of Sardinia, this would be the Mediterranean diet, with a higher consumption of beans, greens, nuts, olive oil, and whole grains and a lower consumption of meat and processed foods (regular exercise doesn’t hurt, either).
Try This!
Palmalias Cannonau Di Sardegna
My first Cannonau, and it was recommended by a customer I was helping. The Palmalias winery in Sardegna is relatively young for an Italian winery having only been founded in the year 2000.
The wine is fresh and complex with a slightly dry finish. Tobacco is present on the nose, while the palate carries hints of dark chocolate beneath an explosion of berry flavors.
Other notable cannonaus:
Eric Kambach 