9 Comments
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Aleksandar Draganic's avatar

Spot on. It’s the most logical response to the current 'neoprohibitionist' shift. We need more discussions that respect the science while acknowledging the pleasure and tradition of the vine. A much-needed reality check for the industry!

Sara Danese's avatar

Exactly. The way the mechanical watch industry has done it could be a strong example for the wine industry to copy.

Ben Dunlap's avatar

For Catholics like me (and Orthodox Christians) the answer to 'does humanity need wine?' is actually a giant YES. As one 4th-century martyr put it, more or less: "without the Eucharist, we just can't".

The word 'useless' in your great. It's mostly the things that are 'useless', in other words that we do for their own sake instead of to get something else out of them, that are the best things in life.

Written from my phone, and I used AI to source the early Christian quote. Oh well

Sara Danese's avatar

Ah! Good point! (Re. the Eucharist)

Yes, I think we need to reject this purely utilitarian point of view and embrace contradictions and a certain pleasure of doing things just for the sake of it!

Simon J Woolf's avatar

This really resonates with me. I was always very anti the way that mobile phones penetrated every part of life, but resistance is futile for all the reasons you mention.

I still have my little protests - no phones in my bedroom, I have all notifications permanently turned off - so I actively have to pick up the phone and check, if I want to know if I got an email or a WhatsApp.

And yes, we must cling to everything in life that is just about beauty, hedonism and idle thought.

Sara Danese's avatar

Indeed, whatever the reason, wine keeps me grounded in the real world. I’m resisting the digital world with all my might.

David Mastro Scheidt's avatar

I've been referring to wine in my writing as a consumer non-durable discretionary item, just so I ground myself in what I do. Keeps me sane when someone chooses light beer over my wines. Consumers have a lot of choices in beverage alcohol and that's not slowing down. And let's not forget the CA sober choices.

I'm 100% with you on Swiss watches and wine. I've made similar comparisons, but your historical perspective offers new hope and more light. Even the micro-watch industry is something I've been following a bit more recently, small little brands using the mechanics of the Swiss to craft small run watches for enthusiasts. I use the facilities of a much larger winery to create all of my wines and sell them to a completely different clientele than the winery of which I make and store my barrels.

And yes, a lot of our lives lead to the phone.

Sara Danese's avatar

We must think outside the box!

David Mastro Scheidt's avatar

An analog lifestyle is a bit more difficult these days, but I'm with you.