Whether you’re going on a date or celebrating an anniversary, wine and chocolate always seem to spell romance and tension in the air. And while we might be able to chalk it all up to custom and capitalism, it does make one wonder how wine—more than beer, gin, and whiskey—became so closely associated with seduction and romance, or labeled as an aphrodisiac that paves the way to it.

But does wine really, scientifically make one feel more ready to Marvin Gaye and get it on? Here, we take a look at how our favorite drink actually affects the body, and consequently, our love lives:

Why is wine considered an aphrodisiac?

The textbook definition of an aphrodisiac is any food or drink that encourages sexual desire, and wine has been considered one as far back as the Ancient Greek and Roman eras. The most basic reason seen through the centuries is this: in the right amounts, it lowers inhibitions.

While this is true of all your favorite booze, red wine in particular has the longest track record of it. At Greek symposiums, it would be considered sexy to be able to show some restraint under the influence of the wine served (take note, bar boys!). For the Romans, Bacchus was the god of both wine and fertility, as the two were deeply connected in both pleasure and destruction—so you can imagine what the infamous festivals dedicated to him were like. Even the decidedly more religious (see: prudish) Medieval saw people adding fennel seeds to wine to make sure men were more successful at conceiving a child with a woman.

With wine and sex so consistently connected throughout history, it’s no surprise that the association still stands today when Valentine’s Day rolls around, or even on special dates, weddings, and anniversaries. And with the association, there are now scientific studies out there proving that there is reason to believe that wine can actually increase sexual desire.

Is red wine or white wine better for your sex life?

Generally speaking, red wine has an edge over white wine in the world of love and sex. Not only has it historically been around for longer, but the way it’s made affects not just the taste, but the laundry list of beneficial compounds it contains.

Unlike white wine, red wine spends anywhere between a week to several months steeping in the skins, stems, and seeds of the grapes it was made with. Because of that, it’s been shown to contain flavonoids, resveratrol, antioxidants, and even a slightly higher percentage of vitamins and minerals. No word yet on whether orange wine (white wines that get the same skin contact once exclusive to reds) has these same benefits.

Beyond the science, though, red wine is simply easier to associate with romance. Its color alone is already associated with Valentine’s Day and attraction, but even the flavors and notes you pick up from it are decidedly sexier. Red wine tastes like many things we associate with dates red berries, roses, chocolate, spices, and coffee—white wine’s usual citrus and white flowers don’t prime you the same way.

Reminder: Wine must be enjoyed in moderation to work as an aphrodisiac

Before anyone gets too excited, it’s important to know that heavy drinking has the opposite effect on libido (see: whisky dick, which decidedly isn’t limited to whisky). Too much alcohol makes an erection and lubrication more difficult for men and women respectively, and makes it so sex and orgasms simply don’t feel as good physically.

As the old saying about lovemaking goes: a little wine increases the opportunity, but too much of it decreases the performance. A glass of wine or two is already enough to help you set the mood!

How wine (in moderation) affects your libido and sex drive: 

Alcohol (in small amounts) stimulates the part of the brain that regulates sexual instinct

It may be the size of a pea, but the hypothalamus does a lot of the brain’s heavy lifting. It controls everything from hunger and body temperature to sleep and hormones—the last of which also means it controls one’s sex drive.

Alcohol has been shown to affect hormone production. In 2024, another study found that men who consumed 100ml of white wine per day showed higher levels of testosterone, with sexual performance (not to mention sleep quality) actually improving. We’ll leave the metrics for “improvement” exactly up to your imagination. 

Wine increases blood flow to erogenous regions

What about women? There isn’t any research about how wine affects women’s hormones, but there was a  2009 study from Italy that found that women who had one or two glasses of red wine a day were more likely to have a stronger sex drive and overall sexual health versus women who didn’t drink at all. Why? Because compounds in red wine increased blood flow to erogenous regions, which increased their desire for sex and even lubrication. 

The same is true for men—to the point that research has shown that the polyphenols in red wine might actually help with erectile dysfunction! 

The smell of wine alone can trigger arousal

This one’s a mixed bag of nature and nurture. Memories associated with smells are known to carry the most emotional and long-lasting weight. That said, if wine was your drink of choice on a romantic encounter or two, then there’s a high chance that this is what you’re going to associate it with. 

Beyond this, different smells actually turn on men and women respectively. A 2014 study found that men were more likely to be aroused by lavender, baking spices, oranges, butter, vanilla, and cola—notes fairly common in Champagne, orange wine, and even rosé. 

Meanwhile, women are more likely to be attracted to muskier, woodier, and earthier scents, as well as cherry and licorice notes. Sounds an awful lot like a good Pinot Noir or Gamay to us.

Wine relaxes you

We go back to the reason why wine has been so connected to love and sex throughout the centuries: it helps you loosen up. It slows down your nervous system, calms the brain, and relaxes the muscles. In the face of a first date or an intimidatingly fancy restaurant, a glass of wine (not the whole bottle, please!) definitely helps with the jitters so you can make a good impression.

Where to shop natural wine in Metro Manila

Whether you’re headed out for a night on the town or enjoying a more intimate night in, you can count on (Super)Natural for outta-this-world natural wine. Shop natural wine in Metro Manila at our online wine store featuring bottles ranging from approachable to funky to outright adventurous by esteemed vignerons and rising stars in the wine world.

Shop now! Same-day delivery in Metro Manila available weekdays for orders placed before 2 PM.