How are your New Year’s Resolutions doing? One of the more popular resolutions is refraining from drinking alcohol for the entire month of Dry January.
An associate professor in hepatology at University College London, Gautam Mehta, said, "Our work has shown that a month off alcohol, in healthy individuals drinking at moderate to high levels, does lead to tangible health benefits by the end of the month.”
"Our study saw a weight loss of around 2 kg, a decrease in blood pressure of around 5 per cent, and improvement in diabetes risk of almost 30 per cent. However, we don’t know how long these benefits last, or whether they translate to long-term improvements in health,” he added.
Many Canadians find it hard to stick to this resolution. Without going cold turkey, there are other ways to feel better about your alcohol choices for the year ahead. One is to choose a low-alcohol wine.
The Arterra Wines Canada offers a new low-alcohol wine, the Kim Crawford 2022 Illuminate Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand ($19.99 on sale until Jan. 28).
Spinning Cone technology is used to reduce the alcohol from a portion of the base wine. This is a process of low vacuum distillation that can target the removal of alcohol without spoiling the aroma of the wine.
The Illuminate only has 7 per cent alcohol, which contains 70 calories per 5 mL serving. That’s almost half the calories of Kim Crawford’s regular 13 per cent bottling.
The Illuminate’s nose is typical Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc with gooseberry, guava, herbs and grapefruit, although it is lighter than the regular bottling.
Because there is less alcohol, the body isn’t as round as the regular Sauvignon Blanc. And the acid seems crisper and the wine tastes dryer. Although these differences are noticeable, they make for a very good wine to serve with food, especially seafood, fish, and white meats like pork and chicken.
Of course, the total amount of calories you ingest from a wine depends on how many glasses you consume. Even a calorie-reduced beverage will deliver more calories than you want if you watch your weight but keep pouring glass after glass.
Kim Crawford Illuminate Sauvignon Blanc is available at all three Richmond BC Liquor Stores: Brighouse, Ironwood and Seafair.
Wine for Lunar New Year Celebrations
This Sunday marks the beginning of Lunar New Year for Chinese and Asian communities worldwide. The day celebrates the beginning of the lunar calendar, and many Canadians partake in the vibrant festivities.
According to Wine Growers of Canada, China is the largest export market for Canada’s Icewine industry. To honour both countries’ love of authentic Icewine, here are two Icewine-based beverages to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. Enjoy over the rocks.
Inniskillin Okanagan Riesling Icewine 2018 ($27.99 on sale)
For a drink as complex and vibrant as the Lunar New Year Celebrations, this shows the elegance of tropical aromas and flavours of lemon and lime. The crisp acidity of Riesling allows for a refreshing mouthfeel amid the many layers of flavours that unfold.
A Cocktail to Pair with Ice: Inniskillin New York Sour with Inniskillin Okanagan 2020 Pinot Noir ($20.99)
According to Pinterest predictions for top 2023 trends, cocktail creations will be all the rage this coming year including a 75 per cent increase in searches for fancy ice cubes. In light of this upward trend, below is a refreshing wine/spirit cocktail that is enjoyed on the rocks:
2 oz. rye whiskey or bourbon
1 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
¾ oz. simple syrup
½ oz. Inniskillin Okanagan 2020 Pinot Noir
Add the whiskey or bourbon, lemon juice and simple syrup into a shaker with ice. Shake until well-chilled (15 to 20 seconds), then strain into a cocktail glass over ice. Gently pour the red wine over the back of a spoon so the wine floats on top.
Inniskillin Okanagan 2020 Pinot Noir is available at all three Richmond BC Liquor Stores.
Here’s to 2023, Lunar New Year, cocktails, New Year’s Resolutions, and conscious wine and spirit consumption!
