Italians And Wine

Rosie

Rosie

Community Member
Apr 6, 2013
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Italy
I have noticed that Italians are not completely happy until they have a glass of wine at lunch. Well, coffee is a must too, but drinking wine and then driving to work sounds dangerous.

What do you think? Do you think most men are immune after having a glass of wine or should they not drink alcohol at lunch at all?
 
I would guess that if someone is drinking a glass of wine at lunch every day they would have some tolerance, though personally I never drink anything alcoholic if I am driving that day. For me even one glass would mean an instant siesta!
 
In Italy, and much of Europe, drinking wine is not as big of a deal as it is in the US. For most people, assuming they're used to drinking wine regularly, one glass at lunchtime will not impair them a bit. I know I can have 2-3 glasses without even feeling it, and I'm not even a big wine drinker.
 
When I first moved to Italy, I noticed that they even sold small bottles of wine in the work place canteen. You know the little ones that you usually get on a plane. However, some law passed back a few years back and they don't sell them anymore.

I personally love a nice red wine but I only ever drink with a meal in the evening. I read somewhere, can't remember now but they say a glass of wine a day is actually good for you.

The important thing is one glass and always consume with a meal.

Italy, like most counties and has very strict drink driving laws. For example if you have had your license for less than 3 years or you are a professional driver, (bus,truck, etc) you are not allowed to consume any at all.

For normal drivers you can a max of 0.05% blood /alcohol limit
 
I love a good glass of red wine as well, from time to time though.

I have a colleague who does exactly the opposite though. He is used to drink wine and if he doesn't he is not well. It's not that he's a drunk, because he's not, but he has to have at least 4-5 glasses of wine a day.

The habit of drinking a glass of wine everyday is good, I've read that too. It is good for our health, it has something to do with us living longer. Wine also attacks cholesterol, if I'm not mistaking, and it's a very good idea to drink a glass of wine (or even more during the day) if you have donated blood.

Turning back to my colleague, if he doesn't drink a glass of wine, he is not well. Others need coffee for fuel, he needs wine, you can compare things like that. In my opinion though, this is not OK. I only gave one example because I've seen 'it' with my own eyes, but there are many who have lunch and instead of coffee, enjoy a glass of wine and then they drive back to work.

Oh, I even heard that some parents used to (or they still do, I don't know) put a small glass on wine into the kids minestrone. have you ever heard about this?
 
visitatore said:
In Italy, and much of Europe, drinking wine is not as big of a deal as it is in the US. For most people, assuming they're used to drinking wine regularly, one glass at lunchtime will not impair them a bit. I know I can have 2-3 glasses without even feeling it, and I'm not even a big wine drinker.
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I agree, 1 or 2 glasses usually don't give any problem if you drink them while eating and you are used to them.
 
When you order wine in Italy they always ask you what type of water you would like. If you drink slowly and not too much while drinking plenty of water you will see how Italians can drink everyday.
 
Hi Karen, welcome to the forums!!

In my opinion, if you are used to drinking wine everyday, you're "trained" not to get drunk after you have a glass.
I have heard a lot about Italians who, on their lunch break, after they eat, they have a glass of wine, or two, or more.
Some of them are OK but I'm guessing those who come back to work more happy than when they left to eat lunch didn't drink plenty of water! :P
 
One glass of wine doesn't really affect you if you drink regularly, most people that is. It can actually help relax you a bit during a stressful day. It also enhances the food and some people can't enjoy a meal without it.
 
I used to be on a Commitee with an Italian Secretary. He was a big fan of a glass of wine or two at lunchtime....

It was all very moderate drinking....nothing remotely like drunkeness but even so there was a very obvious decline in productivity after lunch. Occasionally, some of the delegates even tended to nod off around 3 pm.

So a new rule was brought in that there would be no wine or booze until after 5 pm.

It worked much better.
 
Heheh, that's funny, @Flyer28, they should make this rule mandatory everywhere :D

Unfortunately, I'm not immune to alcohol, so I can't afford to have a glass of wine unless it's either in the evening or if I am 100% sure I have noting important to do after I drink it :D

I have noticed something though, after a glass of wine I tend to feel quite warm and with the temperatures that are now, drinking a glass of wine, even ice cold, is not that enjoyable :( So, I haven't had a glass of wine in more than a month...
 
When it comes down to it it depends on a person's alcohol tolerance. Some can handle more than one glass of wine and some can't. I'm not a big wine drinker myself so I know that one glass will relax me but not get me drunk. I know some European countries drink wine everyday because it's part of their culture and I see nothing wrong with that unless a person doesn't drink in moderation.
 
Hi, Annetteb, welcome to the forums!!

Yeah, you're right, every person tolerated alcohol differently.
I know that for a fact because every time I go out with my sister and brother-in-law, I'm the first one to feel dizzy. They are used to drinking when going out, I prefer to stick to the non alcoholic drinks.

Same with the wine, even if it's not a very strong drink, but after a glass I prefer to stop, others can keep on going and they don't even feel anything, they look and act perfectly normal!

I don't envy them though, so I can't drink a lot of alcohol, big deal :P
 
Rosie said:
Hi, Annetteb, welcome to the forums!!

Yeah, you're right, every person tolerated alcohol differently.
I know that for a fact because every time I go out with my sister and brother-in-law, I'm the first one to feel dizzy. They are used to drinking when going out, I prefer to stick to the non alcoholic drinks.

Same with the wine, even if it's not a very strong drink, but after a glass I prefer to stop, others can keep on going and they don't even feel anything, they look and act perfectly normal!

I don't envy them though, so I can't drink a lot of alcohol, big deal :p
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Yeah I agree with you there. As long as you have fun with friends without drinking then that Is awesome.
 
I need something as half a bottle of wine to feel it...haha, just joking ;)
but surely I have a high tolerance. my granpa produced wine for ages, and now my boyfriend has taken his vineyard to produce it. I mean, I've been drinking wine since I can remember, one glass can't be a problem
 
I think one glass is supposed to be ok, isn't it? The alcohol tolerance of the individual plus the food will both greatly limit its effects, I would imagine.

Sounds lovely, by the way! Is it usually red? Red is my favourite! I don't really mind which red (I don't know very much about wine :( ) but I love fruity drinks so that kind of flavour would be nice!
 
Wine is like water to most Italians. This is why they usually have it with lunch or dinner and do not feel it as much as others would. Although my father-in-law makes his own wine and you can't have more than a glass without feeling it affect you.
 
In France the wine they drink at lunchtime seems to be weaker (or lighter somehow) than that consumed at dinner. Maybe it's the same in Italy? I am also sure they water it down to almost nothing for children.
 
I think having a glass of wine is part of their culture. I know that many Italians believe it is healthy to have a glass of wine with dinner. A lot of cultures have their own form of alcohol that they drink with dinner, I think it is just a traditional thing.
 
It is healthy to have a glass of wine a day, red wine and especially for women. I enjoy a glass of red wine with a meal, especially if I go out to eat. I don't drink it too often, but it is nice. It is part of the Italian tradition to have wine with a meal.
 
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