| A wine loving friend recently bounced | | | | each other may belong to different |
| off a question to me, that he is | | | | producers and fetch very different |
| frequently bombarded with; why should | | | | prices. All this is because of the skill |
| one switch to wine when one is used to | | | | and style and philosophy of the |
| whisky and beer. His dilemma prompted me | | | | winemaker which makes it so interesting |
| to pen this Article. When I formed the | | | | for the consumer. Once you get |
| Delhi Wine Club three years ago, I was | | | | wine-educated and train your palate to |
| filled with passion and started with | | | | recognize these differences you can have |
| missionary zeal to convert as many | | | | the rest of your life of adventure ahead |
| whisky drinkers to wine as possible. It | | | | of you.. |
| would have been more realistic goal for | | | | Food and wine are really made for each |
| me to go to Mars during my lifetime! | | | | other, if matched properly; even Indain |
| Mercifully, I changed track and set out | | | | food. You may possibly love your kebabs |
| to motivate the Gen Next to this finer | | | | with beer but not many would enjoy |
| form of drink while enjoying it with | | | | whisky or vodka with their meal. The |
| like minded people. | | | | other day a friend and and I decided on |
| Before comparison, first the basic | | | | a working brunch with Indian style |
| difference between the three beverages: | | | | gobhi-parathas and egg-bhurji. We |
| Based on the alcohol content, raw | | | | decided to split a bottle of chilled |
| materials and processing style there are | | | | Babich 2003 Sauvignon Blanc from |
| three general categories; beer (3.5-7%), | | | | Marlborough. The medium body, highly |
| wine ( 7-14%) and liquor (above 40%) . | | | | perfumed wine with floral notes and |
| Of course there are fortified wines and | | | | tropical fruit flavour was a bit |
| liqueurs that fall between 14-40% but | | | | off-dry. But it really made the |
| that is a small section). Liquor or | | | | parataha-bhurji sing, adding to the |
| spirits include whisky, gin, vodka | | | | taste like no other beverage could. |
| tequila and rum etc. | | | | Imagine having it with beer or whisky! |
| A standard drink of beer, wine or liquor | | | | A subtle difference in the three |
| contains about the same amount of | | | | beverages is the ‘romance factor’ of |
| alcohol, i.e., 12-20 gms. Several | | | | wine. It has been well established that |
| studies have shown that an intake of | | | | intake of alcohol increases the desire |
| about 25-30 gm of alcohol in the form of | | | | for sex in the same proportion as it |
| any beverage improves the good | | | | decreases the performance. A bottle of |
| cholesterol (HDL) and reduces the bad | | | | wine split by a couple with food may |
| one (LDL). Each type is equally good for | | | | take you to a romantic high but try it |
| the heart and dementia. So there is a | | | | with a 6-pack or a pint of whisky and |
| 3-way tie here. | | | | you will know what I mean. |
| But wine scores over the others due to | | | | Wine should not to be taken as an |
| its anti-aging properties, especially in | | | | alcoholic beverage. Alcohol is there to |
| the red wines due to the presence of | | | | give it various flavours. To get high or |
| anti-aging compounds called flavonoids | | | | higher you may enjoy your liquor. Also, |
| in the skins, stems and pips. Studies | | | | due to the slow intake of wine with food |
| have also shown that white wine is good | | | | it is absorbed by the digestive system |
| for colds and lungs get stronger, a | | | | unlike whisky which makes the alcohol go |
| less-known feature that can actually | | | | straight into the bloodstream. In any |
| help smokers who cannot kick the habit. | | | | case, beyond a certain limit all the |
| Positive effects have been observed on | | | | alcohol beverages are bad for liver, BP |
| cancer for men with no such benefits | | | | etc and certainly, driving under their |
| with beer or whisky. No wonder the | | | | influence is dangerous to your well |
| demographic studies have shown that | | | | being-and others’. |
| better educated and health conscious | | | | The debate is an interesting one; enough |
| people all over the world are switching | | | | to have Dr. Arthur Klatsky of San |
| over to wine. | | | | Francisco, a pioneer in conducting |
| As a beverage wine is unique in that it | | | | studies on Heart and Wine relationship |
| has so many features like colour, | | | | speak on the topic, ‘Beverage Choice: |
| bouquet, fruit, tannins, acidity, | | | | Is Wine Better Than Beer or Spirits?’ |
| sweetness, body, aftertaste. Hundreds of | | | | during the 3rd International Heart and |
| grape varieties are used with different | | | | Health Summit being held in Napa, |
| blends, each giving its own | | | | California from March 2-5, 2005. |
| characteristics. Different areas, | | | | (www.winesummit.com). Incidentally Dr. |
| regions, styles of wine making put each | | | | Klatsky whom I met in Napa a couple of |
| wine label on almost a unique platform | | | | years ago is a healthy 90+ years young |
| unlike any other beverage. | | | | and has been having a glass of wine with |
| Wine as a lifestyle offers excitement | | | | dinner for over 30 years. |
| that lasts the lifetime. One can explore | | | | To summarize, I would tell my friend to |
| several unknown wine-related frontiers. | | | | ‘live and let live’ and ‘each to |
| A Merlot form Chile is different from | | | | his own’. The benefits of wine over |
| the one in California or St. Emillion. | | | | other alcoholic beverages are plenty but |
| In Bordeaux the Chateaux next to the | | | | like a blue chip stock on one’s equity |
| First Growth may not bring a fourth of | | | | portfolio, it should be a major part of |
| the price due its different climat. In | | | | the alcoholic beverage portfolio for a |
| Piedmont, the famous Gaja Barbaresco | | | | solid and healthy lifestyle. I end with |
| wines fetch US $ 280 while the next door | | | | a few simple lines: |
| neighbour Casetta sells for under US | | | | Whisky could be risky Beer may be dear, |
| $40. for a comparable bottle. In | | | | But wine sure is fine And fine wine |
| Burgundy, the two rows of vines, next to | | | | simply divine. |