The Right Chemistry: Is drinking wine good for you?

The fermentation of carbohydrates by yeast to yield alcohol may be the oldest example of applied chemistry, even predating the ancient process of making soap from animal fat and wood ashes. It seems that historically, drinking trumped cleaning. Much has been written over the years about the pros and cons of alcohol, with virtually everyone agreeing that overindulging leads to problems ranging from impaired driving to liver disease. The much-discussed question, however, is whether moderate drinki