I listened to a podcast the other day. It was both fascinating and alarming. As you know, I like a drink, and I suspect that you do too if you’re reading this blog. Well, get ready for this:

If alcohol had to be approved by the European food safety authorities, they would set a maximum recommended safe amount of one glass of wine a year.

Blimey. I guess that way we could all afford to drink Ch. Petrus, but to be honest, I’d rather live dangerously. The podcast goes on to explain why alcohol is humanity’s favourite drug.  It’s all down to a neurotransmitter called GABA.

When we drink, we turn on the GABA system which makes us feel relaxed, chilled and socially comfortable – that delicious tipsy feeling from the first couple of glasses.

But GABA has a partner that can cause all sorts of problems, Glutamate. Drink a lot and you will start to block Glutamate – the main transmitter that keeps us awake and alive.

So why do we keep on drinking? Because each drink ups our dopamine, so we keep wanting more. Not to mention the endorphins, which is why it can be so addictive.

Prof Nutt has created a non-alcoholic drink that acts like alcohol in turning on the GABA system, but never gets to the level of blocking Glutamate. Like the good Colonel, it comes down to a secret mix of herbs and spices. Well, really just herbs, but it was fun referencing KFC, which are considered safe and contain substances that turn on the GABA system along with other herbal substances that facilitate absorption.

I just hope it doesn’t turn out to be the alcohol equivalent of oxycontin!

In the meantime, if you want to keep your GABA busy, in the nicest possible way, I encourage everyone to drink Avalon Rosé. Being well over $20 ($38 – $40) it should limit your consumption enough to leave Mr Glutamate well alone.

You can get it at Le Pont and at Bar Elvina, both, funnily enough, in Avalon. Or you can go straight to the site and buy a case.

While thinking about social media posts we came up with the line COMPLEX, LIKE READING DE BEAUVOIR ON THE BEACH. I think it sums up the wine pretty well – if you want to treat it seriously you can, or you can just let the GABA go to work.

But this isn’t a website about Avalon Rosé so here are a few other things I’ve been drinking lately.

Billecart Rosé NV – for Valentine’s Day, naturally. I could happily drink it every other day too. It’s an exemplary rosé champagne. Sadly, I’d only bought a half bottle as we were heading out for dinner.

Dinner was at the Clareville Kiosk, which has an excellent wine list to match the food. A friend recommended a Loire red, the 2020 Yannick Amirault, Bourgueil to go with the duck (it was a set menu) and we were very thankful. While 100% Cabernet Franc it was like the love-child of a good Beaujolais and a St Emilion, firm tannins with abundant fruit and 13.5% alcohol. Perhaps climate change is helping the Loire?

Speaking of alcohol, I’m recovering from a 15.5% Italian we had last night. You’re probably thinking of some fiery Sicilian red, but no, this was a Trentino Gewürztraminer by Cesconi and as much a miracle as Lachryma Christi. To be honest, it was a bit hot, but maybe the earlier beers didn’t help.

Hmmm, nothing mentioned comes in under $20. But given the current inflation rate I do hope you can forgive me.