On the grapevine

Paperwork shredded: Because of Brexit, all wine importers were threatened with huge amounts of formfilling to bring in wines from Europe. After months of lobbying, that threat has now been removed, so EU wine will still be able to flow freely into the UK without endless paperwork. The complex form-filling would have cost around 10p per bottle, so although we won’t see a reduction in prices, at least European wines won’t all be going up by that amount.

Alcohol and health: Most weeks there will be some learned group of medics who declare that wine is good, bad or indifferent to your health.

This time it is BMC Medicine journal which has found that light to moderate drinking can have a beneficial effect on your heart. In a study involving 48,000 patients, consumption of around six grams of alcohol per day (that’s a small glass of 12 per cent wine) resulted in a 50 per cent reduction of heart attack and stroke. The researchers extrapolated up to 62g of alcohol per day, which is almost a full bottle, and concluded even that does not have an adverse risk of a heart attack. I don’t know anyone who drinks wine for their health. Most people open a bottle because friends come round or because they want a glass of wine with dinner.

If alcohol becomes a straightforward medicine, then the sheer pleasure of exploring styles, regions and grapes disappears. Just like all good things in

life, enjoy wine in moderation.

Tequila at the Tetley:

UK brand ambassador of Patrón Tequila, Gianluca Pavanello Canella, inset, will be at the Tetley in

Leeds on Friday to guide a tasting of this distinctive spirit. Tickets cost £30 and for this you get a welcome cocktail and a tasting of several tequilas from the Patrón range as well as a gift bag. Tickets are available on Eventbrite – call Latitude in Leeds on 0113 245 3393 for the link.