Enjoying an occasional glass of Bordeaux or Burgundy can help to keep bones strong, according to new research.

Medical science has known for years that the vitamin D and calcium found in milk and dairy products can help bones to grow and strengthen, but an article in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition claims that red wine can improve the bone density of older men, Wine Spectator reports.

As bone density decreases, the risk of developing osteoporosis rises.

Graeme Jones, the study's senior author and department head of the Musculoskeletal Unit at the Menzies Research Institute in Australia, believes that more research is now needed to find out what chemical it is in red wine that improves bone density.

"These somewhat contrasting results suggest it is not the alcohol per se but other factors in the beverages," he said.

This follows the publication of studies from the University of Northumbria which show that mixing red wine with dark chocolate can boost brain power.