Daily glass of wine

December 1, 11:52 PMBoston Wine ExaminerJulia Timakhovich

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You’ve heard about the benefits of a daily glass of wine. Specifically, red wine. Great news for those of us who like it. But there is one sticky point.

What is a healthy glass of wine?

Apparently, a kid’s portion, five ounces. Reduced from six.

Just like a three ounce serving of meat is supposed to be a “portion”, it doesn't make the perfect sense. For a ten year old, maybe—for us carnivore adults, no. Agree with me. It really isn’t enough. Twice that, sure. Three times that, way too much. But three ounces? Who are we kidding?

I’m not saying you should consume pounds of meat with bottles of wine for dinner. I am just saying a five ounce glass of Cabernet Saugivnon with a three ounce steak won’t leave you satiated—if you like both of those things. (Unless you have a lot of salad and a very hearty side dish.)

Let’s say, hypothetically speaking, you have a significant other and he or she eats everything and enjoys wine. Let’s say you want Cabernet and a piece of steak. Are you really going to measure a palm-sized piece and a tiny glass of vino? Very unlikely, if you are human and you prefer to enjoy your meal.

There is a limit, as it should be, with such politically incorrect concepts as steak and Cabernet. If you are having a steak dinner, pick the meat that is either grass-fed, game (buffalo, for example), or otherwise of very good quality. Have an adult portion of it—less than half a pound (less bone, etc.) Split a bottle or half a bottle of wine with your significant other if you so desire. Just eat less pasta or rice with that dish. Enjoy a good vegetable appetizer prior. Don’t obsess about portion sizes so much.

Don’t repeat this every day. But don’t deprive yourself to eat like a child if your energy needs require you to consume a little more than “recommended”, especially after a hard workout.

A daily glass of wine is a stretchable concept. My glasses are pretty big, for example. They can fit half a bottle. Do I pour that way? No. Do I consume the nectar in bottle portions? No. It’s just more fun knowing whatever it happens to be is not limited to a strict measurement.

Wine is considered a part of the meal is so many cultures—those that brought wine to life in the first place. Italian wine is almost impossible to enjoy without food. However, I sincerely doubt an Italian family sits down for dinner and offers everyone a measured portion. Or counts calories. That even writes foreign.

Enjoy what has meaning to you, and forget about the food pyramid. Don’t over-indulge. Trust yourself. Listen to your senses, your hunger, and your energy needs. A daily glass of wine with food is an excellent choice of a beverage—much healthier than many others that have alcohol in them. Maybe for you it’s eitght ounces. Maybe six. Maybe five. Maybe a sip. Just don’t do it mindlessly.

There is something about savoring a meal with wine that is magical. Around the world. If you get attuned to it, you will know what your limits are, and understand why it makes so little sense when authorities concoct portion sizes based on population samples with ambiguous input data.

Maybe it’s worth it for all of us to take a trip to Europe to find out why this food and wine thing works so well there without a bias to back it up.

Or maybe it’s just up to you.