January 27 2010
Add another tiny ripple to the groundswell that is the Washington wine scene…
…A quick hitter for a Wednesday…
I examined three recent pieces of research for correlations in between wine consumption by state, overall happiness by state and ranking of “healthiness” by state using the following sources of research:
1) Top wine consuming states by volume (Wine Handbook data from 2006)
2) Gallup Healthways Well-being Index (Measures the “Happiest” states, Nov. 2009)
3) United Health Foundation rank of “Healthiest” states (Nov. 2009)
I hypothesized that there would be a strong correlation in between top wine consuming states and general happiness and health. The reason being, in pop analysis, is that wine promotes an erudite, moderate lifestyle that would (should?) equate to a general state of well-being and healthiness. Or, at least, that’s what you might think. The reality is—not so much.
In fact, there are hardly any correlations between the three pieces of research results examined together.
However, one interesting pattern does emerge – Massachusetts seems to be the place to be (despite their ongoing wine shipping battles). And, without question, if somebody was looking for a place to move that combined a wine industry, wine consumption, a “happy” state of being and a “healthy” state of being, the winner would no doubt be Washington!
Posted in, Good Grape Daily: Pomace & Lees. Permalink | Comments (9) |
That is awesome! People usually think WA = Seattle = Rain = Depressed. On the contrary, as you point out 330+ days of sunshine, great skiing, boating, hiking, climbing, and the best of all the worlds BEST wine! Washington is the place to be!
Thanks for the post!
Josh @nectarwine on twitter
OK this post makes the wine lover in me grin and the researcher in me groan 
That being said, I consider myself incredibly lucky to live in Seattle Washington where I have easy access to quality wine, even from the very unique Puget Sound AVA where we have some whites that are some of the best to pair with seafood and Asian style dishes to brooding and complex red wines from grapes on the other side of the mountains. I have quality and diversity in my wine, what more could I want?
Ha! Bean, I was waiting for the comment that said, “Dude, my 4th grader could come up with a better research methodology ...” You went easy on me.
That said, soak up the Washington glory!
Josh—I always thought the rain and gloom thing in Seattle was a myth to keep people out?
I couldn’t agree more…Washington is the place to be! Yes, the Seattle rain/gloom is mostly a myth for population control. On a gorgeous, sunny, January day in Seattle like today, it is easy to forget about the rainy days.
Another Washington wino chiming in with a… Well, duh?
Also, there is a reason the town in the middle of the Yakima Valley is called Sunnyside.
The Washington online writer contingent is strong!
I look forward to being with you all in Walla Walla in June!
Regards to each of you,
Jeff
Thanks for the information on wine lover’s places to live. Good post, wasn’t aware of some of the other options.
Haha, I also like being able to look at the worst of the 50 states. Poor Mississippi. If they consumed a little more wine, they might be a little happier and healthier.
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Happy to see that Jersey at least makes it into the top 25!