I was raised Catholic in the time that the mass was in Latin. I remember the evolution to a mass in the national language (for me, Spanish or English) and the addition of community songs drawn from popular folk music (“Sound of Silence” by two nice Jewish boys from New York). This move to create a more interactive environment was welcomed by many younger Catholics as a positive evolution.

One of the interesting things was the addition of sharing of the wine at the communion (which ended during Covid), nevertheless the conversion of bread and wine to the body and blood of Christ is one of the most sacred tenets of the Catholic Mass.

Wine has been an integral part of the Mediterranean religions, and I am sure that you heard the Pope recently speaking out about wine being for everyone - not just the important people – but always consumed in a responsible manner! Besides the Catholic church, wine is historically present in many religious ceremonies, like at the Jewish Seder which includes the drinking of four cups of wine.

I understand that the temperance Methodist church uses grape juice or non-alcoholic beverages originating with wine, which may come down to being a question of the difference in philosophy between the North and South of Europe; the old “day and night” Viking culture or the more moderate Mediterranean civilisation.

So, when a temperance driven World Health Organisation attacks the moderate consumption of wine claiming - without scientific proof - that not “even one drop is safe”, the question becomes if there is a religious significance to this, or if it is the imposition of a Northern culture on the Mediterranean approach.

For millennia, wine has been firmly integrated into Mediterranean culture and civilised society, which can be traced back to the symposiums of Greek times. Today wine is consumed in moderation by millions of people around the world, people who a recognisably healthier than their less fortunate counterparts due to their balanced lifestyle.

This is not to deny the fact that there are some high-risk groups who abuse and misuse wine by consuming above the recommended amounts.

Religion and practices of faith are as much part of our culture as any other societal influences, and the way wine is interwoven into the fabric of the Mediterranean culture and diet makes its defence in a religious context equal to that in the framework of a rural economy or community.

Can we let the WHO politics drive us to substituting wine with “cola” in the future?

Wine is more than terroir. It is culture, community, gastronomy, rural economy and social interaction. In moderation, wine is great!

¹ The correct amount

Note: The opinions expressed in EX AMPULLA “Out of the Bottle” BLOG are exclusively my responsibility.
You can visit www.wineinmoderation.eu for more information on moderate and responsible wine drinking.