Have you ever drunk one too many glasses of red wine before bed, only to discover that, once you’ve laid down, you can’t get to sleep?
Unfortunately, this is an issue that many people face after enjoying a bottle of red. While one or two glasses may help you get to sleep, more than that will disrupt your sleeping pattern, and potentially keep you awake all night long.
For this reason, many people wonder if red wine actually contains caffeine.
In this guide, we will look into why red wine can influence your sleeping pattern by looking at how it is made, and what it is made from.
What Is Red Wine Made From?
As most people are aware, red wine – just like other types of wine – is primarily made from grapes. There is a long process that goes into creating wine, which can take weeks on end.
The process involves, first and foremost, fermenting the grapes. The fruit is picked from the plant, and removed from its stems.
When making white wine, the grapes are all crushed together to create a mushy substance.
Back in the day, this process was done by hand, but nowadays, there are special machines that crush all the grapes up into a smooth consistency.
During the process for making red wine, the grapes remain intact until after the fermentation process has ended. All the grapes are thrown together into the vat, and yeast is added to move the process along.
A cap is applied several times throughout the day to make sure that the skins are in contact with the grapes, as the carbon dioxide produced during fermentation causes the skins to rise to the top of the vat.
Once the grapes have been fully fermented, the grapes are pressed (mushed up) and it is later filtered. The red wine is then left to ‘age’ in barrels for many months before being bottled up and sold to the public.
The only ingredients used to make red wine are grapes and yeast. That is all that’s needed to create the alcoholic beverage that we all know and love.
Is There Caffeine In Red Wine?
As we mentioned earlier, the only ingredients used to make a standard bottle of red wine are grapes and yeast. There are no other ingredients added into the mixture before it has been bottled.
Caffeine is not an ingredient that is added separately to food and drink products, but, rather, it is produced naturally.
Coffee beans, cocoa beans, and tea leaves naturally contain caffeine, which is why coffee, tea, and chocolate all contain high amounts of the substance.
Neither grapes nor yeast contain even the slightest amount of caffeine. Therefore, the standard bottle of wine will not contain any caffeine, either.
Why Does Red Wine Give Me Energy?
Red wine is a particularly strong form of alcohol, with the benchmark percentage being between 12% and 15%.
However, many people like to drink this beverage due to the health benefits provided by it, along with its smooth, rich flavor.
As with any kind of alcohol, the effects of red wine will be different to every person that drinks it. Some people find that red wine helps them to fall asleep faster.
This is because it contains sleep-inducing chemicals, namely melatonin.
Melatonin can help regulate a person’s sleeping pattern, resulting in a better night’s sleep for many drinkers.
Additionally, the alcoholic properties of red wine turns it into a form of a sedative, which will also help people sleep better (and more quickly).
For others, red wine can negatively affect their sleeping patterns. For this reason, many people have wondered whether red wine contains caffeine or not.
No, red wine does not contain caffeine. The reason that it may negatively impact some people’s sleeping patterns is because it is an alcoholic beverage.
Drinking too much alcohol can disrupt any person’s sleep, so any alcoholic beverage will have the same effect if too much of it has been consumed.
It is not that red wine gives you energy, but, rather, too much of it can influence your ability to sleep soundly.
For this reason, it is best to drink red wine – and any other alcohol – in moderation, so you can slip into a deep, comfortable sleep afterward.
Final Thoughts
Red wine contains 0.0% caffeine, as the sole ingredients used to make the beverage are grapes and yeast. Neither of these ingredients contain caffeine.
The reason too much red wine keeps you awake at night is the same reason that any alcoholic beverage will keep you awake at night. Too much alcohol will disrupt your sleep, and result in you tossing and turning all night long.
To avoid this from happening, stick to only one or two glasses of red wine a night. This will be enough to regulate your sleeping pattern, and help you have a peaceful night’s sleep.
I can offer you articles and information about wine from a seasoned sommelier, and now a winemaker too! I hope that you enjoy some of our articles, and start thinking outside of the box when it comes to wine.
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