How Much Wine To Get Drunk?

Indulging in wine drinking can be a delightful and gratifying adventure, whether you enjoy it solo or among companions. It is essential to approach the experience with an open mind and thirst for exploration if you wish to heighten your enjoyment. 

Before taking your first sip, notice the scents from the glass and its flavorful essence; let these complex tastes dance on your tongue. Also, wine drinking has always been synonymous with gathering around people regardless of social status – having this activity even more captivating than ever before.

Just like any other alcoholic drink, wine can make you drunk. Before reaching your drunken state, there are different factors that you need to look at to know your limit.

Throughout this article, you’ll learn more about these factors and understand the variety of wines and their alcohol levels. Remember, it’s still safe to drink within your limits. You can always enjoy wine without getting wasted.

So, let’s dive in and understand the drunkenness threshold and wine alcohol levels.

How Much Wine To Get Drunk?

Age, BMI, carbonation, health status, and other variables can impact an individual’s tolerance or threshold for alcohol.

Age

As you age, your livers become less efficient. It makes it harder for you to handle alcohol in your systems adequately. This results in a lower alcohol tolerance level. Typically, younger ones have a more significant ability to tolerate alcohol than their elder peers. The younger drinkers often possess more agile livers and a quicker metabolic rate, which enables them to process alcoholic drinks at an expedited speed.

Women, unlike men, naturally have lower body water content but higher blood fat percentages causing higher blood alcohol levels when drinking wine. This difference causes most women to have lower alcohol tolerance than men.

BMI

The BMI is another factor that might influence how much wine you can tolerate. Higher BMI individuals could be more tolerant of alcohol than lower BMI individuals. Drinking has a delayed effect because alcohol is diluted by a larger body mass, which accounts for the distinction.

Carbonation

Intake of bubbly wine or champagne with carbonated content can affect your drinking capacity. The bubbles in these wines could speed up the absorption rate, leading to quicker intoxication since carbon dioxide tends to cause stomach lining irritation, which results in faster alcohol absorption.

Medical State

Health condition-wise, if you have liver or renal complications, you may have difficulty processing alcohol as effectively as those without these issues due to the organs’ inefficiency at metabolizing it. Furthermore, people with specific medical concerns, like those taking certain medications, might also encounter limitations on volume and frequency when drinking while maintaining healthy internal functions long-term.

Set a Limit

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise that daily moderate drinking is one drink for women or two drinks for men. Remember, these guidelines aren’t absolute, but for those who decide to drink. Choosing not to drink alcoholic beverages, in general, is the safest method. 

Getting intoxicated from wine consumption depends on various factors, with alcohol content being significant. Every standard glass of wine packs in about 5 ounces and delivers nearly 12% alcohol content, corresponding to 0.6 ounces of alcohol. However, drinking more than one glass in an hour can lead to impaired judgment and even drunkenness.

Wine and Alcohol Content

An alcoholic tradition cherished throughout the world, wine has a vast profile of flavors in its varieties, from white and red to sparkling and fortified. What distinguishes them is their alcohol content, usually lying anywhere between 5 and 20%. To give you an idea of the differences between wines in terms of the degree of intoxication, here is a comprehensive list categorizing them from highest to lowest levels.

Fortified Wines

Fortified wines offer a high alcohol content of 18-20% owing to the addition of brandy or similar distilled spirit during or after fermentation. Popularly enjoyed fortified wines come in Port, Sherry, and Madeira varietals. Compared to other wine types, fortified wines are strong and best enjoyed for their bold flavor profile. Examples of fortified wines include Port, Sherry, and Madeira.

Red Wines

Wine manufacturers crafted deep-hued red wines by leaving the skins of dark-colored grapes intact during fermentation. This method imparts a vibrant hue, tannins, and a higher alcohol content (generally 12-15%) than that white wines. Examples of red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah/Shiraz, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.

White Wines

Crafted with green and yellow grapes, winemakers gave birth to white wine with the grape’s skin removed ahead of fermentation. This technique leads to an alcoholic beverage that is paler in color and contains fewer tannins than red wines. Generally, white wines have an alcohol content of approximately 10-13%. Examples of white wines include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.

Rosé Wines

Wine experts got the blush of Rosé wines by letting the grape skins immerse in the juice only for a while. That is in comparison to red wines, which have much longer immersion. Rarely do Rose wines contain high alcohol content, usually hovering around 10 to 12%. Examples of rosé wines include White Zinfandel, Grenache, and Syrah.

Sparkling Wines

Glistening wines – whether white or red – bring a unique zest to any celebration thanks to the second fermentation process that injects carbonation into the liquid. With alcohol content ranging from 9-12%, these spirited drinks are the perfect way to indulge in a bit of bubbly! Examples of sparkling wines include Champagne, Prosecco, and Cava.

Dessert Wines

Sweet or dessert wines are usually served as the last course of a meal or after dinner. The alcoholic content of these drinks may be higher than regular wines due to the added distilled spirits added to the brew. Grapes in producing dessert wines vary greatly and range between 15-22% ABV. These drinks also often have tastes and aromas of caramel, honey, and stewed fruits. Famous examples include Port, Madeira, and Sauternes.

Conclusion

The level of intoxication varies from person to person and depends on certain factors. However, from three drinks of wine (approximately 15 ounces), you may start to feel the influence of alcohol. It is critical to be mindful of responsible drinking at all times. So, go for it and enjoy that serving of vino carefully, slowly, and prudently. Salut!

Mark Simons

I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.