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 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.
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 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.
