I was foxed by a call earlier this week from a church official.
The pastor was not well and had expressed a keen desire to drink some tonic wine. I didn't know where it would be available but I did advise him some tannic wine instead because our stringent excise registration license policy would not make it viable to sell it. Although chemists have the luxury of stocking cough syrups and ayurvedic formulations steeped with drugs, I doubt if wine would be allowed to be sold as a tonic in chemist shops as an over-the counter drug.
Being curious, I asked the caller if he was looking for a particular label. 'Wincarnis is a very popular and one of the best tonic wines in the world,' he said. So I did some research and came up with interesting information.
The Health Connection
Since first produced in UK in 1887, Wincarnis has been recommended especially for mothers after child-birth, by those recovering from an operation or those simply wanting a 'pick me up'. In the 1920s, it was actually prescribed by doctors in the UK because of its positive effects.
The British Journal of Nursing in 1929 recorded: "Many nurses have found that in anaemic conditions, during convalescence, and in post-operation cases, Wincarnis stimulates appetite, promotes digestion, and effects marked improvement in nutrition." Besides the Brits ( I suspect our pastor is from UK) people in many other countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Gulf and even Jamaicans are its ardent fans.
I came across an Ad in Sunday edition of New York Times dated March 14, 1915 which describes it as a healthy UK import with trial samples available at 10 cents. The ad also mentioned it had been available in UK for 30 years.
Tasting Notes
Not exactly an old grandma's prescription, Wincarnis is wine fortified with malt extract and select therapeutic herbs and spices including: balm mint; fennel, coriander and cardamom seeds and peppermint leaves. The natural tonic is traditionally recognised for its ability to fight common ailments and alleviate their symptoms. It is rich in vitamins, especially Vitamin B complex and benefits the circulation system and blood pressure.
Broadland Wineries
Wincarnis is produced in Norfolk, UK by Broadland Wineries and is available online at their website £5. The brand was owned by Hedges & Butler which was acquired in 1998 by Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd of Scotland who market the tonic wine which also comes in a variant as ginger wine
Interestingly, the winery was bought last year in November by Indage Vintners Ltd. A mail to Indage did not elicit any response whether the deal was finally closed. But a statement by Broadband earlier this week confirms that the deal has fallen through.
If the good Pastor can convince the congregation about the good effects, it might even become a popular tonic for health conscious people, even those who do not consume alcohol or wine.
And if you can share any information you may have about the availability of this or any other tonic wine anywhere in India, do share it with us.
Hallelujah!
Subhash Arora
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