This year’s “Vine to Mind” Symposium was hosted at EHL Hospitality Business School. The international event brought together statisticians, neurologists and winemakers to explore a topic that continues to spark debate across cultural and policy circles: wine and health. The discussions revealed a complex interplay between tradition and technology, with special focus on the algorithms that are increasingly shaping our perceptions of what is supposedly ‘good’ for us. This article unpacks the myths surrounding wine and health, and how today’s ambiguous digital narratives are redefining our relationship with wine.
About Vine to Mind
The annual Vine to Mind Symposium is part of the Harvard Data Science Initiative. Its mission is to shed light on the marriage between timeless winemaking traditions and the dynamism of contemporary data science and AI technologies, and to distill the future of viticulture with data-driven insight and collaborative innovation. This initiative has been spearheaded by Dr. Xiao-Li Meng, Professor of Statistics at Harvard University and founding editor of Harvard Data Science Review, one of the world’s leading statisticians - and a great lover of wine!
The Algorithmic Assault on Alcohol
Felicity Carter renowned journalist and wine expert, delivered a compelling narrative on how digital tools have amplified anti-alcohol messaging. What began as a localized campaign, ‘Dry January’ in the UK, went global with the launch of the app, Try Dry, along with many others that promoted the same message (Reframe, Dry Days, Sober January). Next came the smartwatch, tracking sleep and steps, nudging users toward self-monitoring and, eventually, a marked trend in alcohol reduction.
Carter explained how social media has played its part as a powerful amplifier of emotionally charged, often oversimplified narratives. The rise of “quit lit,” exemplified by the book Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol by Ruby Warrington, turned sobriety into a monetizable trend. Algorithms, designed to serve content based on user behavior, began reinforcing health-conscious narratives, often without nuance. Carter pointed to the Huberman Lab podcast episode “What Alcohol Does to Your Body,” now taught in schools across the USA, as a prime example of misinformation gaining traction through algorithmic popularity.
Wine and Health: Between Science and Sentiment
Physician and vintner, Dr. Laura Catena, founder of In Defense of Wine, argued passionately for wine’s place in a balanced lifestyle. She highlighted the mixed use of data by institutions like the American Heart Association and the ICCPUD (the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking), noting that few truly understand the link between wine and health. Her platform, In Defense of Wine, challenges the prevailing narrative that “no level of alcohol is safe” by presenting peer-reviewed studies that support the potential benefits of moderate wine consumption, particularly for adults over 40. It also critiques how public health messaging often ignores cultural and social contexts, reducing wine to a risk factor rather than recognizing its role in conviviality and ritual. Catena’s initiative aims to restore balance to the conversation by exposing biases in institutional reporting and advocating for a more nuanced, science-based understanding of wine’s place in modern life.
Neurologist Dr. Christian Lüscher from Geneva University, specializing in movement disorders, added further nuance to the discussion. Alcohol, he explained, can be neurotoxic in large amounts but, echoing Catena’s perspective, may also have beneficial effects when consumed moderately within a social context. He described the brain’s response to alcohol, from initiation and positive reinforcement to addiction and withdrawal, and emphasized the importance of how small amounts of alcohol can assist human interaction, i.e., help a very shy person make connections.
Enriched environments, Lüscher explained, lead to lower consumption. These are settings that offer meaningful social engagement and stimulation. In neuroscience, enriched environments are known to promote healthier brain function by reducing stress and enhancing dopamine regulation. In the context of alcohol, such environments reduce the likelihood of using alcohol as a coping mechanism because individuals are already receiving positive reinforcement through social and cultural interactions. Conversely, stress and isolation tend to increase consumption, as alcohol becomes a substitute for unmet emotional needs. Wine, therefore, has more positive connotations when it is part of a convivial ritual, rather than consumed in solitude or as a form of escape.
Cultural Contexts and Historical Echoes
The symposium also explored how cultural narratives shape our understanding of alcohol. In the UK, temperance movements linked to the Labour Party sought to “save the working man” from drink, while post-war prosperity led to increased drinking and car ownership, often with tragic consequences. In certain Nordic countries, to drink heartily to the extent of inebriation is culturally acceptable. By contrast, the Italian bella figura (the cult of looking good) embraces wine as part of daily life but frowns upon excess and the messiness of getting drunk.
Dr. Dan Malleck’s podcast Drinks Insider and Edward Slingerland’s thesis Beer Before Bread suggest that mild intoxication may have played a role in early civilization, helping creativity and social bonding. As Carter noted, algorithms are turning health into a virtue, but history shows that puritanism is often followed by reformation.
Education and Innovation: A New Blend
Wine is now being used in statistics education thanks to its rich data and subjective nature. Dr. Francesca Dominici, Professor of Biostatistics at Harvard University, emphasized that data science must be aligned with clear goals and open leadership to be transformative. At EHL, future wine professionals are being trained to navigate this complexity, balancing tradition with innovation. Meng suggested that AI could personalize wine experiences rather than homogenize them. Instead of using algorithms to shame consumption, why not use them to enhance it, helping individuals discover wines that suit their unique tastes and contexts?
Towards a More Nuanced Narrative
For millennia, wine has been more than just a beverage. For many, it’s seen as a cultural artifact, a social connector, a key feature of a meal. This year’s Vine to Mind symposium made it clear that our understanding of wine and health must evolve beyond binary narratives. Algorithms should inform, not dictate. Data needs to be interpreted, not weaponized. Just as a perfect vintage is a blend of tensions (soil, climate, skill and care), so too must our approach to wine and health be a thoughtful mix of science and sense.
Written by
