Comments on: Does Alcohol In Wine Matter?

By: Joy

Joy — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:59:20 +0000

Yes, it matters, but hopefully it is not the reason you’re drinking wine (as opposed to other alcoholic beverages). If all you want is a buzz, then just guzzle the cheapest beer or gin that you can find. It matters to me because, sadly, meds I take prohibit any kind of alcohol. I do sip small amounts at special occasions, but gone are the lovely days when my lover and I could while away an afternoon with a nice bottle of wine, some good cheese, and a loaf of sourdough bread. Unfortunately, there are no “gourmet quality” non-alcohol wines - they’re pretty horrid. I miss being able to savor and enjoy wine the way I could when I was younger.

Ah Joy, I miss those good old days too. Thanks for your comments, they are great. - RG

By: Alicia

Alicia — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:03:46 +0000

I don’t think Alcohol in wine matters, it’s not like I ever taste the alcohol in the wine.

By: Drew @ Cook Like Your Grandmother

Drew @ Cook Like Your Grandmother — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:18:29 +0000

If you had seen the entire checklist you’d understand. They defined “intoxicated” as “You’ve had enough to notice the feeling.” They took sentiment of the wine snobs you describe to an extreme: If you ever drink alcohol because of the physiological effects it has on you, you are an alcoholic.

I guess everyone has an opinion. - RG

By: Drew @ Cook Like Your Grandmother

Drew @ Cook Like Your Grandmother — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:18:53 +0000

Years ago I saw a checklist that you were encouraged to use to determine if you were an alcoholic. One of the questions was, “Do you ever drink for the purpose of becoming intoxicated?”

My first reaction was, “Only when drinking alcohol.” I mean come on, there are plenty of other things to drink. If you’re drinking something with alcohol in it, you’ve chosen that on purpose.

If you choose to eat a steak, you are choosing to eat a dead animal. You don’t get to call yourself a vegetarian but you just happen to like the flavor of steak.

And by the way, just about the only way to conclude from that checklist that you weren’t an alcoholic was if you didn’t drink at all. The list was made by a company offering addiction counseling and treatment.

Hi Drew,
I’m not sure everyone who drinks wine is drinking it to become intoxicated. There is plenty of room between relaxed feeling and downright intoxicated. I have lots of friends who only drink one glass of wine with dinner because they like the taste of it with their food. My dad who is not suppose to be drinking at all anymore has a half a glass every now and then with a meal. I suppose it has something to do with age groups too. - RG

By: blair

blair — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:44:09 +0000

I have never pretended to know wine with the effete sensibilities of a true oenophile. I grew up drinking wine from a young age (watered down at first for you snarks), it was Spain and it is what you did. So, I have always appreciated a rich red at dinner (even with fish, see; I know nothing).
I married into a wine making family, an Austrian one, though we live in the USA. They are the first ones that taught me to look at alcohol content when choosing wines, explaining that is can provide a clue as to how bold or flavorful a wine may be. Mind you, it is not the only thing to consider, but is worth looking at. So, when I go to posh wine shops and the staff see me doing this and as often as not they turn up their nose at what they perceive my abilities to be.. I take a chance to remind them that I am the one purchasing the wine from THEM, if they find this so distasteful I CAN and will take my business elsewhere.

Great points Blair. Thank you so much for sharing you experiences. - RG