No fewer than nine wine estates in the Rioja region in Spain are conducting research into resvratrol. The objective is to increase the content of this substance in wine ten-fold, and thus to offer extremely healthy wines for sale.

In all, nine estates in Rioja have together invested some 800.000 Euros in a bid to significantly increase the content of the substances resveratrol and quercetin in wine. The substance is formed naturally in vines, and the aim is to increase their content both by measures in the vineyard and by means of cellar techniques. The nine estates - including Viña Hermosa and Marqués de Murrieta - plan a second step, namely to bottle a special blend of wine. These wines are to be launched onto the market either late in 2009 or early in 2010.

Both substances resveratrol and quercetin are polyphenols, and have been repeatedly described by scientists as being health-promoting. It is claimed they are capable of catching free radicals. (WF)