Wine is optional on the Mediterranean diet. Many studies suggest wine, notably red wine, discourages artery clogging and heart disease when drunk with meals. Don't take up drinking as a health measure.
Excess alcohol is a greater health hazard than no alcohol.
The Mediterranean diet is patterned on the traditional foods of Greece, southern Italy, southern France, Spain, Morocco and Turkey. It is linked to lower rates of heart disease and other chronic diseases. Those hearty foods, all classified as complex carbohydrates, are mainstays of the Mediterranean diet. Fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants, including vitamin C and beta carotene, which seem to help prevent clogged arteries and heart attacks. That includes pasta, rice, couscous, bulgur wheat and cornmeal.