New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Meg Bernhard, "Wine" (Bloomsbury, 2023)
Nov 28, 2025
Meg Bernhard, a journalist and essayist with hands-on experience in family vineyards in Spain, discusses her book, which explores wine's complex cultural and power dynamics. She reveals the evolution of wine from a humble beverage to a luxury good, highlighting issues of class and access. The conversation touches on gender dynamics in winemaking, the ecological impacts of climate change on vineyards, and innovation in response to environmental challenges. Bernhard also shares her personal journey with wine, emphasizing the cultural significance of shared experiences.
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Learning Wine By Living In A Vineyard
- Meg Bernhard moved to central Spain after college to work on small family vineyards and learned winemaking hands-on.
- She watched a full vine cycle and developed a theory of wine from practice and conversations with winemakers.
Tasting Language Reveals Class Bias
- Wine tasting language reflects class and sense memories, so descriptors favor those with travel and specific experiences.
- Efforts now push tasting notes toward storytelling and broader cultural references to make language more equitable.
Gender Barriers And Knowledge Hoarding
- Meg observed few women winemakers in Spain and California and learned of cultural and institutional barriers.
- She cited the Court of Master Sommeliers scandal where mentorship was exploited to hoard knowledge and maintain male power.
