Don't let the hot weather fool you

The wine harvest in France is predicted to be earlier and better than in 2017. Of course it is important to make hay while the sun shines but climate change could bring many difficulties in the coming years.

Climate change is changing the patterns of the weather. The climate  and weather may become too hot or too dry or wet for certain types of grape varieties. Pinot Noir grapes do not lend themselves to excessive heat. The weather might become too hot for growers in  Champagne and Burgundy they might have to change to growing grape varieties which are able to sustain themselves in  the coming weather conditions. What will that do to appellation rules?

Also rain and thunder storms are becoming stronger and more frequent; excess rain and hail can badly damage crops.

Climate change in the coming decades could ruin wine production.

It is not just France that is affected by climate change. The South UK is becoming warmer in the short term this might render the climate more favourable for wine production but our winters are becoming wetter and this might counter balance any favourable effects.

If we do not start to mitigate the effects of extreme climate change we could lose our favourite accompaniment to good food. Enjoy the 2018 vintage and hope there are plenty of good vintages to come.

Wine and health again

Once again healthy living advocates are making comments about wine and its beneficial effects. Apparently, moderate drinking, which is defined as drinking less than 14 units of alcohol per week reduces your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders. No-one has fully described how this mechanism causes its effect.

So now it is good for you to drink wine and alcohol as long as you do not exceed more than 14 units a week.

As far as I am concerned there is no hard evidence that drinking moderately improves your health. Does one glass a day improve your health more than half a glass? Where is the point at which an individual's health is damaged by drinking wine and alcohol?

If you are an alcoholic it is better that you refrain from drinking completely. You are the best judge of how much wine you should drink. It is clear that if you over indulge in wine, beer or spirits over a long period of time then you will damage your health. It is not clear that one glass of wine a day will improve your health. The health authorities could be making a big mistake by publishing complex "rules" about how much you should drink. Some people could be pointed in the wrong direction and damage their health by drinking small amounts of alcohol, with especial regard to alcoholics and those who are suffering from liver disease

Maybe ,we would all be better off if the healthy living advocates stopped making pronouncements about drinking for a little while.

https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/wine-and-dementia-studies-clash-health-benefits-374264/