Why drink wine?

We ask this question by first disclosing that we are by profession winegrowers and winemakers. We have also read many studies on the connection between wine and health.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion. And as with almost any debate about health, you will have those who see the issue from only one perspective. We are writing about this issue as there has been much discussion and debate on the issue of alcohol consumption and health recently.

Many lengthy articles and books have been written on this topic, but our message today is to give you a perspective that is often overlooked by science on the issue of wine consumption. We all know that anything in excess is bad for you like food, social media, and alcohol. Moderation is the key to most things in life, and so it is with wine. And while we could cite scientific study after scientific study of how wine in moderation one to two  glasses a day has numerous health benefits, we will instead discuss the overlooked benefit of social connection when it comes to wine.

We will just cite one study as a way to preface our points on why wine enhances life.

“Our data demonstrates that wine drinking is a general indicator of optimal social, cognitive, and personality development in Denmark. Similar social, cognitive, and personality factors have also been associated with better health in many populations. Consequently, the association between drinking habits and social psychological characteristics, in large part, may explain the apparent health benefits of wine”
– JAMA Internal Medicine, Vol.161, No.15.

It’s all about slowing down, connecting, having deeper and intentional conversations. Wine does this like few other things can in life. Lack of social connections increases the odds of death by at least 50%, similar to the risk of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Our point to those focused on the dangers of alcohol is to separate wine consumption from that of other alcoholic beverages and to focus as much attention on alcohol as you do the dangers of overeating, lack of exercise, and lack of social connection which are causing poorer health outcomes. 

The “Blue Zones” of the world are the five areas where there is the highest concentration of those living to over 100. These special areas are in parts of Italy, Japan, California, Costa Rica, and Greece. What do they have in common? The similarity is physical activity and healthy meals that consist of one or two glasses of wine in the setting of other people. 

We have always said wine is best enjoyed in the presence of others. It just tends to bring out the best in each other when we gather and share our lives, our stories, and ourselves. Wine has been part of our human experience now for over 7000 years. That is not by accident. One to two glasses does not mean zero glasses Monday through Friday and then ten glasses on Saturday. 

Wine is about pleasure and presence and connecting with others, we hope that you bring a bottle when you “Come Over in October.”

All the Best!
– Steve & Maria