HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 !!!

As most europeans I grew up drinking wine. My dad had a small vineyard (loze) where we grew grape vines, fruits and vegetables. I remember vividly how every fall the whole family would get together to collect the grape. We call that "grozdober" it was a whole day event with a lot of drinking and grilling. I didn't like to help with removing the stems and crushing the grapes, because there were always bees and wasps trying to get in the fresh grape juice. While collecting the grape juice in a big wooden barrel my dad would let us try it. I never get in to the whole process of fermenting the juice and turning it to a wine, but remember sampling trough the entire process. My dad would bring a small glass garafa every week to try the "shira" - - the juice that has began to ferment. I liked that but not the end product. My first real wine drinking happened years later in college. Some of the wine my dad saved in a special chamber that he dug in the concrete foundation of our building. Last time I went home, I checked that chamber to discover  couple bottles with barely readable handwritten notes of the year and grape type. I will always appreciate a good glass of homemade wine knowing the passion and hard work involved in winemaking. It has been 6 yers since my dad past away and that small "loze" had turn to a jungle of wild flowers and weeds. The grapevines are still alive producing juicy grape every fall waiting for the next grozdober party....may be one day.

This blog was supposed to be about the dangers of alcohol consumption but I got carried in different direction :)

I think that we can safely enjoy a glass of good wine from time to time and still be healthy and happy. 

Life is about balance and when we do anything in excess, our body pays the price.  Understanding the effects of too much alcohol is an important for our current and future fitness and health. 
Cheers ;)