Musings on Wine, Health & Happiness

Amid dry January efforts, a Neo-Prohibitionist movement, the growth of the non-alcoholic beverages category and the legalization of cannabis, alcohol has taken some news-worthy blows in the past couple of years. Below are a few thoughts on the topic.

First, what a turnaround from The French Paradox in the 80's that turned a lot of people onto drinking red wine for heart health, to the recent WHO declaration that not a drop of alcohol should be consumed, ever! As rational people, we understand the truth falls somewhere in between, as it always does in life.

Wine and humans have been together for around 8,000 years, and in many parts of the world daily wine is a part of a lifestyle that sees less chronic disease and more centenarians, plus a more supportive social structure. Numerous studies have been published on alcohol and cardiovascular health, cancer, strokes, etc., and we all understand that moderation is the key to seeing benefits and mitigating risk.

That balance and moderation seems to be lacking in the dialogue: While scientists behind some of the recent anti-alcohol studies are closely tied to Prohibitionist groups and are widely cited, other recent studies confirming alcohol's benefits are largely ignored. (The most recent from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine (NASEM), in December 2024, found an “association between moderate consumption of alcohol and lower all-cause mortality.")

This is a great article (for both clarity and brevity) from Stanford-trained physician and vintner Dr. Laura Catena, who has also launched a Web site called "In Defense of Wine." I encourage you to read the article and take a look at her site. She touches on recent studies, conflicts of interest and her opinion as both a winemaker and physician.

Dr. Catena also makes some salient points that, for our purposes, we're talking about wine, not beer or distilled spirits. Not all alcohol is equal, and we should remember that fermented grapes stand apart -- especially when produced naturally.

The other thread to connect in this narrative is that of social connection and what they are now calling "the loneliness epidemic" (see this article from The Harvard Graduate School of Education). Due to technology and other factors, people are feeling increasingly lonely and disconnected. A star-studded roster of wine industry professionals recently launched "Come Over October," highlighting the social connections that are created when we enjoy wine with others, and how that can combat this epidemic. Social connections also increase longevity -- a fact that has been well studied.

All in all, the best we can do is to stay informed and make educated decisions. Personally, after weighing it all, I'll continue to enjoy my wine, and I thank you for letting me share it with you too.

- Kristy Charles