There seems to be a growing debate about a return to 'natural' wines (https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/may/15/has-wine-gone-bad-organic-biodynamic-natural-wine). This, essentially, involves using the ancient methods of wine production starting with grapes untreated with pesticides (traces of which are found in many commercial wines) and fertilisers as well as relying upon the highly-variable natural yeasts on the skins of the fruit. Natural wines are reportedly smellier, cloudier and taste very different from their commercial cousins. The article contains the remarkable claim that grape production occupies only 3% of land but uses 20% of pesticides in France. There are no regulations (these would be difficult to specify) for a wine to deserve the epithet 'natural' (causing some folk to describe it as a 'scam') and, as the products are highly variable, it is impossible to specify a marketable 'character' (as beloved by wine buffs).
This blog may help people explore some of the 'hidden' issues involved in certain media treatments of environmental and scientific issues. Using personal digital images, it's also intended to emphasise seasonal (and other) changes in natural history of the Swansea (South Wales) area. The material should help participants in field-based modules and people generally interested in the natural world. The views are wholly those of the author.
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