This past week I was asked: Why do some wines make a person drunk, but others make a person go loco?
Let’s dive into this somewhat comical notion that different alcohols affect the body in different ways. When I researched this topic over the Internet below were some of the comments I found specifically relating to wine consumption…
- “I’ve always found wine to make a happy bubbly drunk”
- “Red wine makes me sleepy and makes my ears and cheeks very red, and I rarely drink enough of it to get me drunk”
- “Red wine puts me to sleep, whites make me a little tired, Champagne makes me energetic and giggly.”
- “Red wine makes me horny.”
- “I think champagne does the best job!”
The second statement above referring to the reddening of the face is simply answered by the fact that facial redness could be reaction to grapes, yeast (which comes from grapes and other fruits), sulfites or alcohol. But in response to the original inquiry of why some wines make you drunk and others make you crazy, the fact that you’re feeling crazy probably signifies that you are already quite tipsy. But there’s more to it than what it seems.
Some medical studies have found that certain red wine grape varietals have higher levels of melatonin. What’s melatonin? Melatonin is a chemical secreted by the pineal glad in the brain that regulates sleep. Studies suggest that the highest levels of melatonin are found in the skins of red grapes such as Nebbiolo, Croatina, Sangiovese, Merlot, Marzemino, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Barbera grapes. Yet Cabernet Sauvignon has 75 times more melatonion than Cabernet Franc, while Nebbiolo has the highest melatonin content of them all. So if you’re looking to drink red wine before a night on the town, do not pick a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Nebbiolo, and definitely not a Bordeaux!
To drink a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon as opposed to a red wine with lower levels of melatonin may have a heavy or drowsy effect on the boy (making you feel ‘drunk’ as opposed to bubbly and giddy). This is why Champagne and some white wines have the opposite effect on the body. The grapes (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier) used to produce traditional Champagne contain lower levels of melatonin than do the grapes in the previous paragraph. Combine the anatomy of these grapes with the physical characteristics of drinking Champagne (chilled, effervescent, lower alcohol than some reds, etc.) and your experience is much different- almost refreshing.
If we compare the experience of drinking wine to drinking hard liquor, however, we can really see why there are different levels of inebriation. Because traditional table wine is unfortified, there are lower levels of alcohol than hard liquor. Use the following as a example: if you drink four glasses of wine over an hour as opposed to four glasses of tequila in the same amount of time, the effects are going to be vastly different. With wine, you may loosen up, but depending on the person, you may just become tired. With tequila, you may feel mui loco, and possibly be very energized at the beginning, but in the end the result will be the same as the wine: you’ll eventually get tired.
Remember that all forms of alcohol are depressants, not stimulants, regardless of how different types of alcohol affect your body. This is where we can address the fourth comment above about wine: Wine or alcohol in general may relax inhibitions, but alcohol is not a proven aphrodisiac such as oysters, bananas, asparagus, caviar, and chocolate are said to be…
Have fun out there, but always drink responsibly. If you plan on having more than one drink, then do not get behind the wheel of a car. I view alcohol as a gift that we must never abuse.
Entender es Disfrutar!
-Josh
