It can be hard to avoid occasionally overindulging on wine, especially if you’re having a good time; however, it’s important to know about your unique tolerance for alcohol. It’ll keep bad hangovers at bay, for starters, and keep you safe.
As far as how much you can drink before you get drunk, the answer is: it depends. The kind of wine you’re drinking, how much you’ve had, even whether it’s bubbly or not all matter.
LOW ALCOHOL If you’re looking to find a white wine you can enjoy multiple glasses of without worrying about overindulging – Riesling is the grape for you.
Wine ABV: How it’s Measured
Alcohol in wine is measured by alcohol by volume, or ABV. ABV represents the amount of ethanol in an alcoholic beverage, and the way it’s measured is the same from wine to beer to spirits.
If you’re thinking about becoming a winemaker, ABV in wine is measured using a hydrometer. Winemakers typically take 2 readings, one before any yeast is added and another post-fermentation. Even then, the total ABV is an estimate.
How many glasses of wine does it take to get drunk? It can take only 2 glasses of wine to get you drunk, depending on various tolerance factors and the kind of wine you’re drinking.
The higher the ABV, the less wine you’ll need to drink to start feeling alcohol’s effects and the greater effect it’ll have on your blood alcohol content (BAC).
The ABV in wines varies quite a bit based on the type of wine and fermentation process.
Does red wine get you drunk faster than white? Red wine can get you drunk faster than white if you’re drinking red wine with a higher ABV than its white counterpart.
Generally, sparkling wines and Champagne have a lower ABV than both white wines and red wines.
Can you get drunk on a bottle of wine? A bottle of wine will get the average person drunk. Most wine bottles contain about 5 standard glasses of wine. The limit before most people start feeling alcohol impairment is 2 glasses of wine for women and 3 glasses of wine for men.
Keep in mind that it’s about the size of those servings, too. A standard drink when it comes to wine is only 5 oz. A standard pour of a fortified wine with a higher alcohol content may only be 3-4 oz.
If you’re sipping on generous pours, that “one” glass may get you tipsier than you expected.
Medications & Health Conditions
Some pre-existing conditions and medications may affect how your body responds to alcohol consumption. Talk to your doctor if you’re worried about it, especially if you’re on blood pressure medications.
How Does Alcohol Get You Drunk?
FAQ
How much alcohol is in Riesling?
How strong is Riesling wine?
Is Riesling low alcohol?