May protect your heart: Red wine may have several cardio-protective effects, and a recent review revealed that drinking red wine was linked with a lower risk of developing heart disease. But the American Heart Association points out a potential issue with the current research, stating that there is no established cause-and-effect link and several other factors, such as dietary habits, may play a role. For example, if you drink red wine every night then you may also be following a Mediterranean Diet which might be to thank for the heart healthy benefits. Can combat inflammation: Red wine is abundant in certain polyphenols including resveratrol, anthocyanins, catechins, and tannins (proanthocyanidins and ellagitannins). Resveratrol in particular is found not just in red wine, but also in foods such as grapes, peanuts, chocolate, and certain berries. Research suggests that the phenolic compounds in red wine exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Not only does the research suggest that red wine consumption can reduce insulin resistance, but it can also decrease oxidative stress.