A compound found in red wine may help to repair heart damage, according to research, giving oenophiles one more reason to break open a bottle of Cheval Blanc.

Resveratrol is found in nearly all wines, but in particularly high concentrations in reds made from pinot noir and St Laurent. Red wine has higher concentrations as it is fermented with the skins, allowing the liquid to absorb the compound.

The Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine last week published a study indicating that resveratrol increases the survival rates of stem cells undergoing cardiac regeneration experiments, Wine Spectator reports.

Cardiac function was "significantly improved" when resveratrol and stem cells were used together compared with heart tissue treated with stem cells alone.

Additionally, stem cells survived for four times longer when used alongside the compound, living for 28 days compared with just seven days without. It is believed the findings could help survivors of heart attacks.