Researchers from Hokkaido University and the University of California explored how two red wines made from Zweigelt grapes grown in Hokkaido influence arterial health in middle-aged men. The study, published in Nutrients, suggests a potential reduction in arterial stiffness, a factor tied to cardiovascular risk reduction.
The investigation involved two red wines crafted from Zweigelt grapes grown in Hokkaido during 2015 and 2018. Ten healthy men aged 50 to 70 participated. Their vascular function was assessed before being randomly assigned to three groups. One group consumed 240 ml of 2015 Zweigelt wine, another drank 240 ml of 2018 Zweigelt wine, while the third group received sparkling white grape juice. The assessment protocol was repeated two to four hours later, and after seven days the groups swapped treatments to cross over.
Results indicated that both 2015 and 2018 Zweigelt red wines reduced arterial stiffness in the participants. The 2018 vintage also showed a significant drop in blood pressure. The 2018 wine contained nearly twice the amount of hydroxytyrosol compared with the 2015 vintage. Hydroxytyrosol is a phenolic compound found in red wines and olive oil, associated with various cardiovascular effects.
Despite the unique climate of Hokkaido, with its cooler, shorter summers, wines from this region produced vascular responses that paralleled those seen in wines from more temperate regions. The likely explanation is higher concentrations of phenolic compounds in these wines, which may influence vascular function.
Further research with larger groups is needed to confirm these initial findings and to clarify how growing conditions, grape varieties, and winemaking processes shape the cardiovascular impact of wine consumption.
Additional studies will help deepen the understanding of how localized viticulture practices may affect health outcomes related to vascular function and blood pressure.