I feel guilty about where and how my clothes and electronics are manufactured, where my produce and coffee beans are grown and picked, and how my meat is raised and slaughtered, among a thousand other things. But I haven’t yet learned anything to make me feel guilty about how my wine is produced, which just adds to my conviction that it’s the greatest thing ever (and vegan). Does anyone know of any travesties in grape growing/wine-making that I should feel guilty about (but not guilty enough to stop buying wine)? I just Googled “wine industry terrible things Omelas,” but it turned up nothing.
Anonymous July 31, 2013
Something about Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers and grape pickers in California. I know he helped make things better, but I doubt he made it got better enough for us to drink vino guilt-free, even now. Hope this helps. 😀
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Elizabeth July 31, 2013
Whew, thank you! I was feeling really conflicted about enjoying something.
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Cat Rymer August 1, 2013
Where is your wine from? If it is not locally sourced you are destroying the environment with the shipping and processing, not to mention all the struggling family farmers you are failing to support in your local community. Of course, if it is locally sourced then you are undoubtedly drinking wine that is contributing to the globe’s water scarcity problem with wasteful agricultural water usage practices.
There. Feel better now that you can attach guilt to wine too? I suggest handling that guilt in the only way possible, by drowning it in wine.
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Elizabeth August 1, 2013
Oh, thank you! I’m definitely not drinking local wine – Albuquerque isn’t really known for its grapes. Guilt reaffirmed!
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Daryl L. L. Houston August 1, 2013
Well, there’s this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMS0O3kknvk
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Elizabeth August 1, 2013
I feel guilty for laughing so hard at that.
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