When you drink alcohol, changes happen to your body, which will vary according to how much you drink. If you drink moderately, it can be fun but if you go over the top, you can become ill and have a hangover the following day.
Perhaps you have felt sexually aroused when drinking wine and maybe you are wondering why this happens. In this article, we will take a look at the effect of alcohol on our hormones.
The Science of Sexual Arousal and Wine
It is a fact that wine and other alcoholic beverages increase libido. This is because the ethanol in alcohol affects the hypothalamus above the brainstem. This part of the brain controls behaviors and functions such as hormones and body temperature.
When you drink, you can become flushed and sexually aroused. However, if you overdo it, these feelings will diminish and you may even do stupid things which you will regret. If you want to feel aroused, drink one or two glasses and no more.
Another reason why wine can make you feel sexually aroused is the smell. Many of us are attracted to another person because of the way they smell. Perfumes and colognes can be a dealbreaker.
Men veer towards scents of baking spice, vanilla, caramel, orange, and lavender. They will enjoy wines such as Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and rose wines.
Women tend to like scents of licorice, cherry, and musk, as well as woody and earthy scents. Such wines include Tempranillo, Merlot, Zinfandel, Nebbiolo, and Sangiovese are good choices for women.
Amines also affect the libido. These are formed during the fermentation process and have an aphrodisiac effect. Amines are also found in foods such as chocolate and mushrooms and these foods can also be thought of as aphrodisiacs.
The Effect of Wine on Sex
Everybody reacts differently to alcohol. Some people can drink three or four glasses of wine and still feel in control while others will have one glass and they will become giggly and silly.
Probably, the more you drink, the more you can tolerate it, not that it’s good for your health if you drink too much.
Women generally can’t drink as much as men to get drunk as they are usually smaller but again a woman who drinks a lot probably has a higher tolerance level than a man who might only have a glass of wine now and again.
In addition to this, men and women react differently to alcohol. Let’s take a look at how alcohol affects men and then women.
Effects of Wine on Men
1 – Makes men more sexually aroused.
Drinking just one or two glasses of wine can increase the libido of a man. If he weighs over 180 pounds, just one drink can make him sexually aroused. However, if a man drinks a lot of alcohol, for example, more than a couple of glasses of wine, his sexual desire can diminish. He could even become irritable and loud. The worst scenario is that he starts a fight.
2 – Difficulty in getting an erection.
If a man drinks too much alcohol, he may have trouble getting an erection which will ruin the sexual experience. If he regularly drinks too much, this could become a permanent feature. The key is to drink in moderation.
3 – Delayed ejaculation.
If a man has drunk too much, the chances are high that he will have problems reaching orgasm.
Effects of Wine on Women
1 – Increases confidence.
A couple of glasses of wine can reduce inhibitions in a woman and she might do things that she wouldn’t if she were sober. This is because alcohol releases dopamine from the brain.
Dopamine makes us feel happier and increases our confidence. Unfortunately, if a woman drinks too much, an excess of dopamine will be released and she may do things she will regret. That’s why it’s better to drink in moderation.
2 – Wine can increase the libido of a woman.
The alcohol in the wine can release sex hormones and therefore the woman’s sexual drive is increased.
3 – Difficulty in reaching orgasm.
While a woman should be all right with a glass or two of wine, more than that can cause difficulty in reaching orgasm resulting in an unsatisfactory sexual experience.
4 – Wine interferes with wetness.
When a woman is sexually aroused, her whole body self-lubricates but if she drinks too much, this doesn’t happen.
Your Sex Drive and Wine
It is true that wine will increase your sex drive but it is conditional on how much you drink. If you drink too much, you may get effects that are not pleasurable such as nausea and a headache.
These are sure to reduce your sex drive. All you will probably want to do is take some tablets and sleep.
While the occasional binge might not affect you long-term, if you continually drink too much, there may be permanent negative impacts. Let’s take a look at some of them here.
1 – Low sex hormone levels.
As you probably know, the body produces hormones. Sex hormones are composed of dopamine and testosterone. If a man drinks too much, the hormones may be affected. They may be reduced and will then lessen the sex drive.
At worst, it can make it difficult for women to get pregnant.
2 – Can make you gloomy.
While one or two glasses of wine might make you happy and sexually excited, if you drink too much, the opposite may happen. You could start feeling anxious, have mood swings, or your esteem may become low.
In addition, your judgment may become distorted, and you may make bad decisions. You may lose your inhibitions and do things you wouldn’t if you were sober. This could lead to all sorts of problems and you may regret having that extra drink when you sober up.
3 – Can affect your sleep patterns.
We all need to sleep to recharge our batteries. It is not an option. It is a necessity. We should sleep for around 7 to 8 hours a night. However, if you drink too much wine, you might initially fall asleep but then you can easily wake up in the middle of the night and be wide awake.
Alcohol definitely disrupts your sleep patterns so try to stick to one or two glasses of wine and no more.
4 – Can cloud your mind
Too much alcohol can make your mind cloudy and you won’t enjoy sex as much as you would if you were sober or have had just a glass of wine. You can also make silly decisions that you will regret the following morning.
Wine and Food as an Aphrodisiac
We have said that wine can be an aphrodisiac. In the same way, some foods are also aphrodisiacs. If you pair wine with certain foods, then the aphrodisiac quality is enhanced. Let’s take a look at some wine and food pairings.
Sparkling wine or dry white wine and oysters
It has been well publicized that oysters are an aphrodisiac and if you combine them with sparkling wine or dry white wine, you will have a match made in heaven. Oysters contain iron, zinc, and copper, all of which are important if you want to conceive a child.
The oysters can taste very fishy but the wine helps to cleanse your palate. If you are drinking a dry white wine, Chablis is a good choice.
Milk chocolate and Port
Chocolate is a great aphrodisiac and pairing it with a sweet dessert wine such as Port is the ultimate luxurious taste that can get you in the mood.
Strawberries and sparkling wine
Strawberries are always thought of as luscious especially if dipped in chocolate, so combine them with sparkling wine and you will have an aphrodisiac made in heaven.
Asparagus and Sauvignon Blanc
Asparagus can be difficult to pair with wine because it has a harsh flavor. However, because Sauvignon Blanc is herbaceous, it pairs well and the harshness is muted especially if the asparagus is covered in melted butter or a hollandaise sauce.
Make sure that the asparagus is cooked lightly so that it stays firm and crunchy. Soggy asparagus is not an aphrodisiac.
Soft cheese and Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay
Soft, creamy cheese, such as Camembert and Brie, can be luscious especially if it is slightly melted. Serve these cheeses with warm crusty bread and a glass of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc and you will feel warm inside.
Chardonnay adds richness with its buttery flavor and Sauvignon Blanc cuts through the richness, making a delicious contrast.
Pine Nuts and Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
Pine nuts are full of zinc which increases testosterone production. This increases the libido in men. Serve the nuts with a glass of Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc before your meal or make a pesto sauce to go with pasta.
Other foods that can be paired with wines to get the aphrodisiac effect are avocados, steak, sauerkraut (yes, you heard that right), bananas, and figs.
Final Thoughts
We think that this article has proved that wine is an aphrodisiac. It increases your libido because the ethanol in the wine stimulates your sex hormones. However, you need to drink in moderation because these benefits are eliminated with too much alcohol.
More than a couple of glasses of wine can cloud your mind and make you tired, not the ideal scenario for a romantic night.
