A while back, Tom Wark of FERMENTATION and the SWRA asked for our input in how we involve kids in the world of wine, which led to a contest for the cutest picture of a kid in a winery. All of this caught the attention of AP reporter Victoria Brett who followed the trail of blog comments back to my wife and me.
Several conversations later and a visit to our dinner table by an AP photographer, Victoria wrote her article. I discovered today that it began to be disseminated throughout the media last week. I know. I should keep a closer watch on my Google Alerts. The article has already appeared in a few newspapers and blogs. The easiest to read at this time is on the Dallas Morning News Website from this morning. Victoria did a nice job of presenting the arguments and was able to synthesize our hours of conversation into a few sentences.
I look forward to the continuing conversation. It has been very lively over at Catavino as Gabriella led us in a discussion over the place of wine and winemaking in education. Be sure that you also check out the post and comments from RichardA, A Passionate Foodie. Alcohol is certainly a volatile topic (Sorry. Bad enology joke.) which can make for a minefield when we are in discourse from the point of winemakers, wine retailers, wine drinkers, and now as parents or those concerned for the welfare of children.
Again, read the AP article here as well as see four great family photos by AP photographer, Eric Risberg and add your two glasses worth to the ongoing dialogue in the blogosphere. We all raise a glass to you!
Fantastic article in the AP! As much as she brings both supporters critiques to the table on the debate, one can’t help but sympathize with education on the issue, especially from a cultural proponent.
However, an interesting thought came to mind this morning when read:
“You could be affecting a child’s intelligence and ability to function in the world,” she warns. -Janet Williams, chairwoman of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Substance Abuse Committee
What does this mean? If my child sips watered down merlot, will she lose brain cells?! Hell, if my child walks down our city streets in Spain, she’ll lose brain cells from sucking in those polluted fumes, from eating processed food, from learning that Columbus really did discover America [we've heard it was the basques
] and from playing video games nonstop instead of actually using her creativity. I’m far from convinced that Europe as a whole, who has allowed children to sip wine for centuries, has devolved as a result of it.
Obviously, I’m not saying that children who are gulping down glasses of wine back to back don’t have an issue, but once again, the argument should inherently assume that parents who are supporting this are supporting moderation not excessiveness.
In short, great article!