Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet TM

The intrepid and inspiring Travelling Gourmet TM who is also an International Wine Judge tells you about the elixir of the Gods…

MARVELLOUS Wine! 

MOST Dental Surgeons as highly trained healthcare professionals, appreciate good wines and fine foods. Terry has kindly asked me to start this new column on wine and how to appreciate them! The plain truth is that without food and water we would all be dead. They are essential to life. However, why stick to plain water when you can drink wine! In our daily life and work treating the sick and those in pain, we are subjected to incessant stressful stimuli from our demanding and fearful patients, CDE courses, BCLS-CPR courses, pesky sales reps, bills to pay, our family, friends and others. However, one very good way to cope with the stresses and strains of our noble profession is to have some nice wines with a lovely meal, whether it is a gourmet meal or a simple one of Wantan noodles. Paired with a nice Riesling, Gewuerztraminer or Pinot Noir or Merlot, it is ultimately the perfect way to relax, unwind and recharge! Foie gras with Donnafugata BenRye Passito di Pantelleria 2008 for example. It has been scientifically documented by numerous studies that wines and spirits in moderation are actually good for our health. It is not often that you can eat your cake and still have it!

Stay healthy, drink wine!

More and more Singaporeans are becoming wine lovers. In 2014 there was a 5% total volume growth to 11 million litres! Way back in 1995, the scientific journal of the American Heart Association “Circulation”, reported that two glasses of red wine a day may inhibit clotting, which can cause coronary thrombosis and heart attacks. The beneficial substances are naturally occuring compiounds called Flavonoids. White wines are good too and Professor K. Jung of Johanes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, found that drinking wine German wines also protects the heart from heart disease. White wine reduces the amount of the coagulant fibrinogen, and also helps to protect against the hardening of the arteries. It also has anti-oxidants that help shield the body against wear and tear. Moderate and regular wine consumption reduces your hear attack risk by 60%! Did you know that wine can also prevent cancer? Yes, it is true. a polyphenolic compound called resveratrol in wine has been shown to reduce cancer risk.

Are Free Radicals a terrorist group?

Ha! Ha! A beautiful Bulgarian blonde asked me that once when I was talking about Free Radicals. They are not terrorists but the harmful by-products of metabolism that cause a lot of illnesses. Never fear, Flavonoids and Polyphenols in wine can eliminate these “terrorists” to keep us healthy!

Red or White?

Why are some wines red and some white? Intriguing…the answer is quite simple. Grape juice from red or white grapes is colourless which explains why most Champagnes are made from illustrious two red grape varietals, namely Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. White wines are described as white (actually they are straw or golden in colour) because they are crafted with just the grape juice. Reds are made with the juice in contact with the skins of the red grapes which imparts the red colour to it. The number of days of skin contact determines the colour extraction. Rose wines are given a shorter period of skin contact. Rose Champagnes are somewhat different..red wine is added to the blend to give it that characteristic copper, rose or salmon colour. This is permitted in the AOC (Apellation d’Origine Controlee) Champagne region.

More on wines next time dear wine lovers…Merry Christmas! Crack open a bottle of Champagne, Cava, Sekt, Prosecco di Valdobiaddne or Franciacorta…

Keep calm and drink wine!

Zum Wohl! (it is a traditional German toast which means to your health) 🙂