[dgt20 (OP)]

In what way has the wine industry affected the economy at a both national and local scale other than more jobs being created and more foreign currency being yielded?

[alancalverd]

As far as the UK is concerned, climate change has brought commercial winegrowing back to these shores. It hasn't had a great economic impact as the volume is small, concentrated at the highest quality end of the market, and not much exported. By contrast, New Zealand wines have made a profound impact on that nation's economy: similar volume and quality to English wines but distributed over a much smaller population so significantly exported.

[evan_au]

Growing vines and making wines is a major industry.

The Romans spread winemaking around Europe - traveling in the Moselle region, we stayed at a modern winery which had discovered a Roman wine press in their grounds. Ancient shipwrecks in the Mediterranean show wine as a common commodity of trade.

In other parts of the world, different feedstocks have been used in wine production, for example rice wine in Asia.

Fermentation acts as a preservative, extending the shelf life of the grape juice.

The mild antiseptic properties probably prevented some cases of water-borne diseases.

Overuse probably caused cases of reduced productivity, liver disease and car accidents.

[alancalverd]

In northern Europe, beer was essential for economic development. The movement from agriculture to commerce and manufacturing (i.e the industrial revolution) depended on people living at high density, and competitive international trade required long continuous sea voyages.

Drinking water is a fragile material, prone to becoming at least unpalatable and at worst, toxic, if stored or recycled through large numbers of people. It is rendered safe by boiling then adding alcohol and hop extract as preservatives, ad "export ale" at twice normal serving strength can be added to local water as a disinfectant.