Wine, an enemy to some, but a friend to many. Whether you're drinking with friends on a Friday night or like to enjoy a glass before bed, wine is a good choice for almost any occasion. However, there's a popular belief that wine is incapable of getting people drunk like beer does. This leads many to ask "can you get drunk off wine?" If you've ever had had a glass too many of your favorite Pinot Grigio, you already know the answer.
Can You Get Drunk Off Wine?
The short answer to this question would be yes. This is due to congeners. Big word, I know. Basically, congeners are the chemicals that appear in alcohol during fermentation. They determine the taste and smell of whatever it is you’re drinking.
With wine, the grapes that are used undergo a process known as fermentation. During the process of fermentation, it "changes [the temperature], resulting [in a difference in the] fruit flavors and color in a wine." While this doesn't directly impact if you can be drunk from wine, it's definitely good to know.
What Affects How Quickly You Get Drunk
When people get drunk either off of wine or vodka, there are a few different reasons as to why it happens. The first reason behind this madness is because people have a tendency to pour too much (as if that's a really bad thing to do in the first place). According to Cosmopolitan, people tend to focus more on the vertical than the horizontal measures. That's why people tend to drink less when they drink from a narrow glass because they think they're drinking more.
So basically, in order to slow down how wine-drunk you're getting, opt for a flute glass instead of a tumbler or an Alsace glass.
The second reason behind this madness comes down to your weight and if you ate anything before you started to drink. You're almost always going to get drunk quicker if you drink on an empty stomach since you won't have food in your system to absorb the wine.
Also, if you're a petite person, it'll be easier to get drunk quicker. People who weigh more will have a lower blood alcohol concentration than people who weigh less and who drank the same amount.
Drinks to Order That Are Less Alcoholic
If wine makes you feel tipsy a little too quickly, here's what you might want to order instead:
1. Try opting for a cider. Most ciders are 4-7% ABV, which is much lower than your standard medium-bodied wine. Some good cider brands include Angry Orchard and Wölffer.
2. If ciders aren't your thing, opt for an Aperol Spritz. The main ingredient is Prosecco, and it's often mixed with Aperol, orange juice, and sparkling water.
3. Or you could be basic and opt for a mimosa. While it's literally just Champagne mixed with orange juice, feel free to ask for more orange juice than Champagne if you're not down for getting a hangover.
Can you get drunk off wine? Yes. While this might not be your goal for Wine Wednesday, just keep in mind that anything can happen.