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You might have thought that the supposed health benefits of wine were most pleasurably obtained from a glass savoured over a fine meal. French viticulturists have other ideas, however.
In an attempt to profit from studies suggesting that wine molecules may help to ward off cancer and heart disease, producers are transforming the fruit of their vines into pills, health tonics and other dietary supplements.
With vineyard revenues falling as alcohol consumption declines in France, an attempt is under way to tap into the teetotal market by creating health foods from parts of the grape that used to be discarded. “It’s essential for us,” said David Ageron, business manager at Vitimed, a unit of l’Union des Distilleries de la Méditerranée (UDM), one of France’s biggest wineries.
His trade has traditionally involved transforming wine
residue into state-subsidised industrial alcohol. But with
the European Union ordering an end to the subsidies over the
next 24 months, producers are developing medicines and
supplements based on grape seed or grape skin extracts.
They hope to generate a new source of profit by exploiting the contested scientific theory that says rates of heart disease are lower in France, despite a fatty diet, because of moderate wine consumption.
“We absolutely must find some way of extracting value from the waste products,” Mr Ageron said. He makes a dietary supplement based on a red wine extract containing a high concentration of polyphenols, an antioxidant touted as a shield against disease. Now he is trying to the persuade the food industry to use the molecule as a health additive in drinks, yoghurts and other products. “We think the market is ready now,” he said.
While French industrialists nourish the dream of developing a multimillion-euro market for soft drinks containing red wine extract, Didier Hauret is also trying to sell his wares to teetotallers, but on a smaller scale.
At Le Clos du Grand Riou, his vineyard in Loire Valley, he makes an organic red wine. But has now set up a business that produces Dionysox, a drink made from the skins and other residue of his grapes, which he sells as a dietary supplement.
It took him five years and €100,000 (£87,000) to create the product, which he says is equivalent to two glasses of wine. “Personally I would prefer to drink the wine,” he said. “But some people prefer to have the health benefits without the alcohol.”
He is not alone. In southwest France Olivier Godin has set up Vino-Cure, which sells cosmetics and dietary supplements made from vines at Château Vent D’Autan. “It’s for people who don’t drink wine but want to stay young and healthy,” he said.
Where is the veritas in vino?
• 80 per cent of wine studies show that it has a
positive effect on health if consumed at moderate levels,
according to Joseph Vercauteren, of Montpellier University
in southern France.
• Other scientists say there is no clinical evidence to back
such theories, Marvin Edeas, chairman of the French
Antioxidant Society, among them.
• Even if wine is beneficial, there is no guarantee that
wine extracts are, too. Some researchers think the alcohol
in wine may aid the absorption of antioxidants. If the
alcohol is missing, they could be less effective. Dr Edeas
said: “The truth is we just don't know how polyphenols work
in Man”
The Times
Προσθήκη:
3/3/2010
Τελευταία Ανανέωση:
3/3/2010
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