Best Times to Drink Wine

Wine is one of the most popular drinks people seek after a long, hard day, for a party, dinner, or just enjoying alone time with pizza or exquisite meals. In any case, pairing your favourite dishes with wine is a practice followed by many people worldwide. People drink wine to unwind or rewind at various times. However, a lingering question about the best times to drink wine remains unanswered. 

The Wine O’clock Science

Usually, people enjoy drinking wine with dinner after finishing their day’s duties. However, if we had to follow science, the time between 11 A.M. and 1 P.M. should actually be wine o’clock. The reason is that the mouth is drier at this time of the day. Your saliva has a considerable impact on the wine taste. Thus, if you wish to take complete advantage of the vintage bottle, you must take it as a pre-lunchtime beverage.

However, one glass of wine in the evening can relax and ease the strains and stresses of the day. Thus, you can enjoy unwinding yourself without getting concerned about the details. 

Wining and Dining History

As meal times have changed, the concept of drinking and dining has also evolved throughout history. Wine used to be a luxury in past times, not affordable to all. It would get consumed in the Tudor times with the main meal of the day, usually consumed at 10 AM. With time, the main meal times got pushed to 2 AM by Stuarts and 8 PM by Victorians. Today, wine o’clock is whenever a person wants. However, most people prefer 5 PM as one of the best times to drink wine and consider it the optimum de-corking time.

Benefits of Drinking Wine on the Day

The following points highlight the advantages of drinking wine during the day:

Healthy Start to the Day

Drinking red wine early in the morning provides several health benefits. Red wine contains several antioxidants like procyanidin, resveratrol, and quercetin. Moderate consumption of red wine reduces bad cholesterol, boosts the immune system, helps in weight management, and prevents cancer and heart diseases.

Enjoy Untainted Tastes

The morning palate is more sensitive to new sensations because the day’s tastes haven’t yet tainted the tongue. It heightens a wine drinker’s experience and elevates their tastebuds to sommelier levels. You can even taste the subtle flavours and notes of good wine. However, a tip to remember is to not brush before drinking, as wine and toothpaste don’t pair well.

Best Friends With Breakfast

Like dinner and wine pairings, wine and breakfast are also best friends. Some promising pre-noon pairings include pancakes, french toast with Prosecco, light seafood with Sauvignon Blanc, and sweet and savoury combos like Champagne with chicken and waffles. At Hunter Valley private wine tours, you can taste and enjoy the flavours well at the best times to drink wine. 

Happy and Memorable Morning

Excellent news for senior and young wine drinkers alike is that a glass of red wine enhances memory and protects cognitive function. The phytochemicals in the wine calm the body naturally and block anxiety and stress-inducing enzymes. Adding a wine glass to the meditation routine aggravates the calming effects. 

Worst Wine Drinking Times

The following points reflect the times when you must not consume wine:

Before Bedtime

Although people believe drinking wine at night helps them sleep peacefully, the opposite is true. The sleep cycle gets disrupted when you drink wine closer to bedtime, which drops the blood sugar levels. Since the liver metabolises alcohol during this time, the sleep cycle duration takes a hit. Also, it irritates the stomach lining and enhances Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) symptoms. 

When Stressed or Anxious

While a drink seems ideal during stress or anxiety, you must avoid using it for coping. Since alcohol is addictive, it can lead to dire consequences and is not on the list of the best times to drink wine. Legitimate problems require proper solutions rather than delaying pain until the buzz wears off. Thus, drinking wine to cope with stress and anxiety is not ideal.

Pre or Post Workout

Drinking wine right before a sweat session can cause poor form, injury, and inability to do particular exercises. Similarly, consuming wine right after the workout can cause dehydration as it is a diuretic. Instead, an electrolyte-fortified beverage will help rehydrate.

Satisfying Dehydration

Quenching your thirst with wine is the absolute worst idea during dehydration. If you feel thirsty, pass dark-coloured urine, have less frequent urination, or experience dizziness, confusion, or fatigue, it indicates severe dehydration. Consuming wine in such circumstances is not at all advisable. 

After a Vaccine

Since a vaccine hits your immune system, pairing it with an alcoholic wine may not be good. The alcohol will depress the immunity and might make things worse. 

Drinking Empty Stomach

Consuming alcohol empty stomach aggravates the alcohol effects as the small intestine absorbs it far quicker. Thus, you must have food and enjoy wine alongside. 

Winding Up

While everybody has their opinions regarding the best time to drink wine, it all comes down to your needs and requirements. So, pick a bottle of beautiful wine and relish it when you see fit or join Hunter Valley Wine Tours.

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