The High Holidays are approaching, and wine is an essential element on every family's festive table.
I'm used to drink with my meals (not only on holidays) , red wine, which is actually 100% red grapes juice, with no addition of water, sugar, coloring. It's produced by Carmel winery, the largest brand in the Israeli wine market, and it's called Tirosh Carmel.
I like to mix it in my glass with some sparkling soda water (mixture known as 'spritz'), and it's almost like drinking champagne. Tirosh Carmel is very popular as it is considered a 'family wine', suitable even for children.
Tirosh red wine
I've often asked myself why is it marketed in a glass bottle and sold at the supermarket in the wine department? After all, it's different from the other bottles on the shelf, which have alcohol, and perhaps other additives. Even in the Wikipedia, it says "wine is an alcoholic drink, typically made from fermented grapes".
wines and beers at the supermarket
'Well, alcohol is just one factor regarding wine. There are other important factors such as : variety and quality of grapes, fermentation reactions, the whole wine production process, of which I know very little.
Anyway, red wine is said to decrease risk of cardio-vascular disease by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. That sounds great! It's due ,however, to the polyphenols (anti- oxidants) in the red grapes, not due to the alcohol. Alcohol might block them from working effectively.