By Kathleen Lisson, CSW

http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com

I recently came across a slew of great research on the Wine Spectator website indicating the positive effects of wine, especially red wine, on reducing health risks. The idea I want to share with you is an easy way to start a practice of drinking one glass of wine a day without wasting the rest of your bottle of wine.

Its called the Buddy System.

The way I get my one glass a day is to plan my meals ahead and use a meal 'buddy system.' Basically, I choose two or three meals that pair well with the same bottle in on my wine rack and serve them for dinner back to back!

A great way to brainstorm ideas for meals is by using a wine and food pairing website, like the one at Canadian Sommelier Natalie MacLean's website, but there are a few wine and food matching websites out there, so use your favorite.

For instance, a bottle of Pinot Noir can match with:

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

Grilled Vegetables

Hamburgers

Meatloaf

Pot Roast

Pork With Hoisin & Honey Sauce

Lasagna

Risotto With Mushrooms

Grilled Salmon

Grilled Tuna

Bean-Based Dishes

I’m single, so I choose three meals in a row that match with a wine. For that fourth glass of wine in every bottle, I can use it as the wine in a wine sauce for one of the dishes, as an ingredient in a red wine vinaigrette salad dressing (make leftover wine into red wine vinegar by adding one part wine to three parts white vinegar), or invite a friend or neighbor over for dinner or a glass of wine on the porch one night a week.

Cooking for two is even easier, just plan your wine friendly meals back to back and save the wine bottle overnight in the refrigerator. When you and a friend or loved one share a glass of wine each night, you'll be using your wine wisely and possibly improving your health!

Find wine and food pairing advice and links to the health research at my website: http://kathleenlisson.blogspot.com

Kathleen Lisson is a Certified Specialist of Wine and teaches wine classes in Albany, NY.