WIC Scientific Coordinator speaker at the Eger WineMeetup 2026, Hungary
More than 180 participants from the Hungarian wine sector gathered at the Eger WineMeetup on 27 March 2026, to listen to experts about how to adapt to environmental changes, wine market trends, sustainability, and innovative cellar management. This renowned, revitalized conference – organized by the Eszterházy Károly Catholic University – on viticulture and oenology aims to serve as a bridge between scientific findings and practical application in the vineyard and wine cellar.
Ursula Fradera of the Wine Information Council was invited to speak on “Moderate wine consumption under debate: cultural heritage, meal accompaniment or health risk?”
The talk addressed the ongoing debate around wine and health, noting that while excessive use of alcoholic beverages and binge drinking clearly increase disease risk, the evidence on light to moderate wine consumption remains more complex. It highlighted that scientific findings over the past two decades have often shown lower mortality and some beneficial outcomes among moderate drinkers compared with abstainers, yet public health messaging has increasingly focused on the idea that there is “no safe level” of alcohol because of cancer risk.
She also emphasized that wine is regarded as a cultural asset in many wine regions and in many countries, with recognition by the United Nations of its broader cultural significance. The presentation placed wine in a wider cultural and dietary context, referring to UNESCO-recognized traditions such as German wine culture and the Mediterranean Diet, where moderate wine consumption has long been considered part of meals and a healthy lifestyle. The presentation concluded by examining whether current evidence supports changes to drinking guidelines and by discussing the risks and role of moderate wine consumption within lifestyle patterns. The talk was very well received by the audience since it covered a different, yet essential topic for the wine sector.