Welcome. I’m Dr. Laura Catena, a Harvard and Stanford-educated physician and fourth-generation vintner. My perspective on wine and health has evolved alongside scientific research. Today, we find ourselves at a point of equipoise, where light to moderate alcohol consumption, presents both benefits and risks. As UCSF cardiologist Dr. Greg Marcus says, “The evidence for health and harm is fairly equal.”
While heavy drinking is undeniably harmful, studies on the Mediterranean Diet, which includes moderate wine consumption, indicate potential reductions in heart disease, dementia, and cancer risks. For people over 40, moderate drinking may offer cardiovascular benefits, as noted in The Lancet (2022).
Personally, I enjoy a glass of wine a few times a week, often with family dinners or friends. For me, the heart benefits outweigh the slight cancer risk—a decision made in consultation with my doctor. I encourage you to consult your physician to make informed health and lifestyle choices.
Thank you for visiting—I hope you find this information-packed exploration of the science behind wine, alcohol and health useful.
SAVOR Lecture
Is Wine Healthy?
Letter to the Editor: Stanford Report
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AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
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“Alcohol Use and Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association“
In June 2025, the American Heart Association published a review of current data on moderate alcohol consumption and health, confirming associations between moderate drinking and a reduced risk of several cardiovascular diseases: Coronary Disease, Stroke, Sudden Death and Heart Failure. These findings are consistent with evidence from many large Mediterranean cohorts, where moderate wine consumption with meals was associated with a reduction in cardiovascular events and death.
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PRESENTATION
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Watch and Download the Presentation
Dr. Laura Catena is a physician and 4th generation vintner. Dr. Catena attended Stanford Medical School (Class of 1992), and practiced Emergency Medicine in California for 27 years.
American Society for Nutrition, “Gut Microbiome and Moderate Wine Consumption”, June 21, 2025
Abrieux, Antoine, Mariana Barboza, Kristin Hirahatake, Hunter Jacobs, Harold H. Schmitz, Sean H. Adams, and Justin B. Siegel. “A multi-omics framework to unlock the relationships between wine, food, and gut health.” Advances in Nutrition (2025): 100468.
The Wall Street Journal, “My Vintner Friend (Who’s Also a Doctor!) Says It’s OK to Keep Drinking”
By Joel Stein, January 16, 2025
“Excerpt: “Catena assured me that, for those over 40, moderate drinking is fine. More than fine, she said, citing research on its positive effects. There’s evidence that it prevents blood clots that lead to heart disease, a greater cause of death than the cancers it contributes to. It also has been shown to decrease stress. Plus, drinking often involves socializing, which the Surgeon General says has major health benefits. (…) If it weren’t for addiction, doctors would be prescribing alcohol in moderation to people over 40,” she said.”
The Washington Post, Letters to the Editor
By Laura Catena, January 15, 2025
Excerpt: “We should stop talking down to Americans who drink: They are smart enough to understand that a substance can have benefits and harms, depending on the quantity consumed. Over the past month, we’ve heard the surgeon general warn Americans about the lack of knowledge regarding alcohol’s cancer risks, while at the same time, a 2024 National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine review confirmed – with moderate certainty – what medical research has long shown: that moderate drinking is associated with lower mortality from all causes.”
Read my op-ed in SevenFifty Daily
SevenFifty Daily, “What the Headlines Get Wrong About Alcohol and Health“
By Dr. Laura Catena. November 11, 2024.
Read this article to understand the nuances of the current alcohol and health debate
Harvard Public Health, “How Much Alcohol is Safe?”
By Erin O’Donnell. January-February 2025.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
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Dr. Laura Catena’s
Responses to the Media
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Read more: Wall Street Journal :: Your Happy Hour Habits Could Raise Your Cancer Risk
“Your Happy Hour Habits Could Raise Your Cancer Risk” February 11, 2025, by Sumathi Reddy Dr. Catena’s Response: Sumathi Reddy’s article, Your Happy Hour Habits Could Raise Your Cancer Risk, mistakenly equates all alcohol drinking with smoking. This comparison is flawed. Moderate alcohol consumption—up to one drink per day for women and two for men—has been […]
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The New York Times :: “The Battle Over What to Tell Americans About Drinking”
Read more: The New York Times :: “The Battle Over What to Tell Americans About Drinking”“The Battle Over What to Tell Americans About Drinking” January 1st, 2025, by Roni Caryn Rabin Dr. Catena’s Response: The New York Times’ War on Moderate Alcohol Consumption The latest salvo in the New York Times’ war on moderate alcohol consumption came New Year’s Day, with The Battle Over What to Tell Americans About Drinking by reporter […]
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National Academies Science Engineering Medicine :: “Review of Evidence on Alcohol and Health”
Read more: National Academies Science Engineering Medicine :: “Review of Evidence on Alcohol and Health”National Academies Science Engineering Medicine December 17, 2024 Dr. Catena’s Response: I’m Dr. Laura Catena, a Harvard and Stanford-educated physician and fourth-generation vintner. A committee of the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, or NASEM, has issued a new report, “Review of Evidence on Alcohol and Health.” These are my immediate takeaways from […]
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The Wall Street Journal :: “Do Americans Drink Too Much? Alcohol Is Driving a Debate in Washington”
Read more: The Wall Street Journal :: “Do Americans Drink Too Much? Alcohol Is Driving a Debate in Washington”“Do Americans Drink Too Much? Alcohol Is Driving a Debate in Washington” June 24, 2024, by Kristina Peterson and Julie Wernau. Dr. Catena’s Response: As a physician who practiced emergency medicine in California for 25 years, I am surprised to read that the USA panel on dietary recommendations concerning alcohol does not include the United […]
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The New York Times :: “Older Adults Do Not Benefit From Moderate Drinking, Large Study Finds”
Read more: The New York Times :: “Older Adults Do Not Benefit From Moderate Drinking, Large Study Finds”“Older Adults Do Not Benefit From Moderate Drinking, Large Study Finds” August 12, 2024, by Roni Caryn Rabin. Dr. Catena’s Response: Following is an exclusive response from Dr. Laura Catena to the Editor RE “Older Adults Do Not Benefit From Moderate Drinking, Large Study Finds”. The article “Older Adults Do Not Benefit from Moderate Drinking” […]
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Vancouver Sun :: “For Gen Z and Millennials, it’s cool to be sober”
Read more: Vancouver Sun :: “For Gen Z and Millennials, it’s cool to be sober”“For Gen Z and Millennials, it’s cool to be sober” July 23, 2024, by Denise Ryan. Dr. Catena’s Response: In the interest of scientific accuracy, Dr. Catena would like to shed light on these points referenced in your article. A magna cum laude graduate of Harvard University and Stanford University Medical School, Dr. Catena practiced […]
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The New York Times :: “For Gen Z and Millennials, it’s cool to be sober”
Read more: The New York Times :: “For Gen Z and Millennials, it’s cool to be sober”“Deep Links Between Alcohol and Cancer Are Described in New Report“ September 18, 2024, by Roni Caryn Rabin. Dr. Catena’s Response: The recent New York Times article, “Deep Links Between Alcohol and Cancer Are Described in New Report,” presents a complex issue in a manner that may lead to some misunderstanding. While the article raises […]
Watch, Read, Listen
WineBusiness.com
Public Comment about ICCPUD committee for underage drinking advisory for DGA alcohol guidelines
July 29, 2024, by Laura Catena, M.D.
HDSR: The Harvard Data Science Review
Episode 43. How Many Glasses of Wine a Day Keeps the Doctor Away?
Listen on: Podbean | Apple | Spotify | Amazon Music | Audible
July 30, 2024, by Laura Catena and Ahmed Tawakol.
WineSearcher.com
Congress Questions Origins of Alcohol Panel
Why are openly anti-alcohol activists being allowed to influence US alcohol policy? We’re not the only ones asking.
July 25, 2024, by W. Blake Gray.
In Defense of Wine 