Mary Lynn Tucker

Mary Lynn Tucker is a registered nurse, yoga instructor and 20-year resident of the lake. She has worked in the field of wellness and health education since 1978 and currently serves on the adjunct faculty at The Jefferson College of Health Sciences.

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The traditional toast as you raise your glass of wine is "to your health." This is most apropos, because studies have indicated that moderate consumption of wine with meals is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.

Because the 18th annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival gets under way on Saturday, I thought it might be interesting to share a bit about the history of the festival, as well as some tips for enjoying it and insights into the health benefits of wine.

In 1989, my husband, Lee, and I, along with our friends Phil and Margaret Hager, hatched the idea of a local wine festival. We'd all been to wine festivals in Northern Virginia, and, with the burgeoning vineyards and wine production in the state, it seemed like something Southwest Virginia and the lake area might appreciate.

We financed and hosted the first three Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festivals at our home at The Manor at Taylor's Store B&B Country Inn near Burnt Chimney. With the help of family and friends, and the voluntary support of the Smith Mountain Lake Lion's Club (through Phil Hager's connections), we established what is now an annual and popular event.

The first few years of the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival included booths with 10 wineries, regional vendors and food. In our humble back yard, we also had a "grape-stomping" booth for kids and hot air balloon rides. We offered educational talks about wine tasting with Bill Phillips of Blue Ridge Beverages.

Lee's brother, Joe, a professional jazz musician, provided a wonderful musical background in addition to recruiting other musicians. It was great fun for all. After three years of growing success and interest, we realized that this event needed to be on-going. Having established the template for a wine festival, we passed it on to the Chamber of Commerce/ SML Partnership in 1992. The rest is history.

One of the celebrants who will be enjoying the festival this weekend is Arnie Kropf, president of Smith Mountain Lake Wine Tasters. The organization has 80 members and meets monthly to taste and learn about wines.

"Virginia wines have come a long way over the past decades, and many regional vineyards are now producing world-class wines," said Kropf, who offered the following tips about wine-tasting:

• You can't be wrong about wine. What you taste that appeals to your palate is good wine. The only way to find out what you like is to experiment.

• Be open-minded. Some wines go better with food, while others may be sipped as before or after a meal.

• Proper storage of wine is essential to preserving its taste. Rather than storing it in the kitchen, where it is exposed to heat and light, it is recommended that you store it someplace cool and dark (perhaps a basement closet).

Kropf acknowledged the research that has indicated some of the health benefits of moderate wine consumption (moderate being one or two 4-oz. glasses a day). While statistics show a correlation between drinking red wine and a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, it should be noted that this does not necessarily prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

Recent research has focused on the specific compounds found in wine, which are thought to provide antioxidant and other protective effects. The phenolic compounds epicatechin and reservatrol appear to inhibit platelet aggregation and act as antioxidants to prevent the breakdown of cholesterol into atherosclerotic plaque.

White wine is made without the use of grape skins, while red wine is made by fermenting the juice along with the skins. Grape skin provides red wine with its color, and also contains the highest concentration of polyphenols. Interestingly, even red wine without alcohol appears to have similar benefits for cardiovascular health, as reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000; 71:103-108).

As you enjoy the festivities at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival, remember to drink responsibly, appointing a nondrinking designated driver.

As you taste the wines and discover which you like, raise a toast, "to your health."