What Are The Best Red Wine Brands For Skin?

Alcohol is generally bad for your skin. Overconsumption can dehydrate your skin, causing it to appear dull and aged.

It can also cause other skin problems like rosacea, a condition that is characterised by a red puffy appearance on your face.

But taking alcohol does not always damage your skin. It can actually improve your skin health.

I’m talking about red wine.

It’s full of antioxidants called polyphenols such as resveratrol that not only benefit you on the inside, but also make your skin glow and slow down aging.

I’m not saying you indulge in multiple glasses of red wine every day. Take more than the recommended daily maximum and you easily reverse any skin benefits.

The key is moderation.

A small glass of red wine with dinner is just enough to supply all the antioxidants you need for a glowing skin. For a visual guide, stop pouring when the wine reaches the widest part of a standard wine glass.

In this quick buying guide, we review the best red wines for the skin, from those available to buy online in the UK.

How we chose the best red wine brands for skin

We picked red wines that have high levels of flavonoids (the largest group of polyphenols) such as resveratrol, catechins and quercetin.

These antioxidants come mostly from the grape skins used to make the wine.

For a stronger dose of resveratrol and other antioxidants, pick red wines that are made from thick-skinned grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.

We also went for drier wines with medium alcohol content. They contain less sugar, which is better for your skin.

Dry wines also tend to have higher levels of antioxidants compared to sweet wines like port.

Finally, we picked sustainably produced wines made with grapes that have few to no pesticides.

If you can find a bottle of organic dry red wine, that’s the best one for your skin.

Remember to drink with moderation. A standard 750ml bottle should last an entire week.

Top Rated Red Wines For Skin Reviews

1. Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon Wine

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Cabernet Sauvignon wines are typically high in resveratrol and fall on the drier side of the scale, making them perfect for the skin.

At 13.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), the Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium-alcohol wine. It’s not too sweet nor is it too strong.

The wine has a strong cassis and black cherry flavour with a discernible background of coffee and dark chocolate.

It pairs well with meat-based dishes, especially red meat. It also goes great with mature cheese and dishes flavoured with herbs.

The wine is produced in the Maule Valley wine-producing region of Chile.

This particular case has a vintage of 2014 (when the grapes were harvested). The case contains six 750ml bottles.

What we like about it:

  • High in flavonoids.
  • Low sugar content.
  • Great flavour profile.
  • Affordable.

2. Berry Brothers & Rudd Rioja Crianza Red Wine, 750ml

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At 14%, this bottle of Rioja Crianza wine has a slightly higher alcohol content but still falls within the medium range.

It’s dry enough to benefit your skin but not too strong to leave you tipsy after just one glass.

The wine is chock full of antioxidants derived from three different types of grapes: Tempranillo (90%), Mazuelo (5%) and Graciano (5%).

As a result, the wine has a sweet blackberries aroma that gives way to a smooth flavour rich in dark fruit, mocha chocolate and hints of spices.

The wine is produced in the famous Rioja wine region in Spain and has a vintage of 2015.

It’s not too expensive, making it an ideal daily accompaniment for roast meats like lamb.

Allergen note: The wine contains almonds.

What we like about it:

  • Plenty of antioxidants from three types of grapes.
  • Low sugar content.
  • Great deep flavour and aroma.

3. Rawnsley Estate Shiraz, Case of 6

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Shiraz is a medium dry wine that’s great for those who are looking for an affordable bottle of red wine that’s not too sweet but also not too strong.

This particular Shiraz is made by Rawnsley Estate in the Barossa valley region of Australia.

As many customers point out, it’s not particularly fancy wine. It has a certain shallow flavour that’s associated with low-cost wines.

It’s not the kind of wine you buy for a special occasion or as a gift. But it’s perfect for daily drinking along with dinner.

It has a decent flavour profile consisting of plum and blackcurrants with a spicy aftertaste.

This is a case of six, 750ml bottles with a 2015 vintage.

What we like about it:

  • Low-cost – perfect for daily consumption.
  • Good flavour and aroma.
  • Versatile – goes well with just about any meal or on its own.

4. Piccini Chianti Riserva Red Italian Wine, 750ml

Piccini Chianti Riserva Red Italian Wine

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Italian Chianti wine is made mostly from the Sangiovese grape with some Canaiolo and Malvasia Bianca red wine grapes used as well.

Like other Sangiovese wines, the Piccini Chianti Riserva has a fruity earthy taste that goes great with classic Italian dishes, especially pasta.

It has a particularly strong cherry aroma, making it ideal for those who prefer fruity wines. It leaves a spicy aftertaste that adds a savoury signature to the wine.

It has a medium alcohol content of 13%, which is the best range for skin health.

It’s bottled in Tuscany, Italy and has a vintage of 2013.

What we like about it:

  • Great fruity and earthy aroma and taste.
  • Goes well with pasta dishes.
  • Medium dry – not too sugary and not too strong.

5. McGuigan Black Label Merlot, Case of 6

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We couldn’t finish this list without including a Merlot.

Merlot wines are very close to Cabernet Sauvignon though they are slightly sweeter and fruitier.

Merlot is a good choice if you want a cheaper wine that goes down easy with almost any meal.

The flavour and aroma are not as complex and deep as Cabernet Sauvignon but Merlot is great for daily consumption.

This one even comes in a generous case of 6 bottles to make sure you don’t run out.

The 2016 McGuigan Black Label Merlot is an affordable Australian red wine. It has a strong fruity profile with hints of raspberry, plums and cherries and an aftertaste of cinnamon and vanilla.

This soft flavour makes it a great pairing for most meat-based meals including pork, chicken and red meat.

It has virtually no sugar but is not too strong in terms of alcohol content (13.5% ABV).

Allergen note: Contains eggs and milk.

What we like about it:

  • Soft fruity flavour – perfect for those who find Cabernet Sauvignon to be a bit abrasive/strong.
  • Versatile pairings.
  • Medium dryness and alcohol content – great for the skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can wine really help your skin?

Although no one looks their best after a big night and many drinks, it turns out that if you stick to red wine, you will end up looking better than your friends who might be drinking different things.

Red wine is made from grapes, and one of the antioxidants in the skin of the grape is called resveratrol. This is not only anti-aging and good for your heart, but it can improve the appearance of your skin.

Added to this, proanthocyanidins in the wine can help maintain collagen (the thing that gives skin its soft, plump, youthful look), and can help you to stay wrinkle free and younger looking, for longer.

Another benefit of the wine’s antioxidants is that they can help protect against damage from free radicals, which can have a negative effect on your skin.

2. Which red wine is good for anti aging?

The good news is that all red wines contain the same antioxidants and compounds that have a positive effect on your skin. You can get away with the cheapest bottle that you can find, and know that it will still contain some of the good stuff – however, as with everything in life, you do tend to pay a little more for quality.

Pinot Noir is considered one of the healthiest and best anti ageing wines you can get, but if you don’t like the taste of this then you can still get the same benefits from a different type.

The absolute best thing that you can do, if you are looking to drink wine for its health properties, is to buy an organic wine – this means that the grapes will not have been treated with any chemicals as they were grown, so the wine is the best example of the health giving properties of the grapes, without any added nasties.

3. Which wine is good for facial?

Believe it or not, you can benefit from the red wine by not only drinking it, but by applying it to your face. (Don’t worry, you don’t have to sacrifice a whole bottle for this!)

  • Dampen a cotton pad with a little red wine – it doesn’t need soaking through, just a little to moisten the pad.
  • Apply it gently to your face in a wiping motion, avoiding getting it into your eyes where it may sting.
  • Let it sit for 20 minutes (you can use this time to put your feet up and drink a glass of red!)
  • Wash it with a mild cleanser and gently pat dry.

The antioxidants (flavanoid, tannin and resveratrol) will not only cleanse the skin, brighten the complexion and reduce the chance of acne breakouts, but it can protect the skin from ageing by restoring the elastic and collagen in the skin. Who knew that your favourite tipple could be so good for your face!

    1. DS September 17, 2020

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