The place of wine in society in the face of climate change

Extract

[...] This includes the notion of mischief related to alcohol abuse and numerous attempts at legislation to address the problems caused by its excesses. And this, since the oldest civilization in Babylon. In ancient Egypt, there were papyruses describing the virtues of wine, but also recommendations for excessive consumption or drunkenness. Among the Pharaoh people, women and children were forbidden to consume it or only in very small quantities during religious rites or specific festivals. In the Greek-Roman world, consumption during religious holidays or orgiastic fertility rites, such as bacchanalia or Dionysus, was very well known. [...]

[...] The scope for progress is therefore still very large. Evolution of wine consumption in China Long a heavy consumer of beer and strong alcohols, the Chinese have never had a developed traditional wine culture. Historically, China has been part of the world of grain alcohol consumers and produced so-called "cereal wine" drinks made from rice or millet. Considered as a luxury product reserved for the elite and consumed during celebrations or festivities, wine has become more democratic with the arrival of urban middle classes with higher purchasing power, who initially saw in wine a way to distinguish themselves socially, wine being seen as a luxury product, consuming it allowed to show its refinement, its success. [...]

[...] In 1999, one of the exports from France fluctuated with a +9.7% increase. This evolution of exports is explained by the production during a few years of very good vintages but also because of the phylloxera crisis which allowed a strong increase in wine imports from the Americans. It should also be recalled that as the year 2000 approached, consumers boosted sales of alcohol and especially wine and champagne. We will even record sales. Nevertheless, following the celebration of this new year, we will start to feel a drop-in wine sales -0.7% in value At the same time, consumption patterns are changing, and regular consumption is giving place to occasional consumption of wine. [...]

[...] Its variations are called Milankovitch cycles in honor of the Serbian astronomer who first calculated them in the first half of the 20th century. But the universe is not the only factor that needs to be taken into account when talking about climate change. For its variations, although significant, occur over a long period such as thousands of years. Today, on the other hand, many changes can be observed compared to previous years, which means that climate change is occurring over shorter periods of time. [...]

[...] This parasite bringing unknown diseases to plants has been named Tuckerian Oidium. The diseases spread rapidly in France, then to Italy and Spain. The harvest then becomes practically non-existent and it will be necessary to discover that sulphur can save the vines so that the harvests can spread. This first episode will be followed by another chaotic episode for wine since later, when other winegrowers plant new American vines, it will be the turn of an aphid to come into play: Phylloxera which will cause real damage. [...]