Women drinking wine describe a special love relationship.In this article, myths and facts are presented between men and women about wine!
Women prefer white wine. Men only drink red. Women like sweet wine. Men buy less wine.
These are the most common myths about wine and sex. But do they reflect reality?
Similarities between male and female consumers
In terms of favorite wine varieties, and according to an American survey published on the website of the prestigious Wine business magazine, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are among the top wine varieties among men and women. White Zinfandel, a type of rosé wine that falls into the dry and sweet categories and is made from Zinfandel grapes, which are commonly used to produce a full-bodied and spicy wine called Zinfandels, is a particularly popular label for women.
In cases where they consume wine, the research analysed 22 different cases between men and women with 16 of them showing common elements in both sexes. The top 4 with the highest scores are:
- With meals in fine dining restaurants
- On special occasions and holidays
- Between meals at friends’ houses
- When socialising with friends
Differences between male and female consumers
In 6 cases where there is a statistical difference in how men and women consume wine, women reported a lower frequency of consumption than men:
- When they are alone at home relaxing after work
- When they are alone while cooking
- When they are alone in a bar
- When they have lunch alone at home
- When they dine at home
- When they have a business lunch
The fact that four of these cases are one-on-one situations is probably the most important reason why this difference occurs. This is because women identify the social benefits of drinking wine more often than men.The same could apply to drinking wine during meals at home, if no one else is present, or during a business meal, in a less relaxed social setting.
In terms of motivation, the study shows that women seek social and relaxation reasons more than men. Men, on the other hand, focus on more pragmatic reasons for drinking wine, even in social settings with the purpose of gathering knowledge and experience.
Some quotes that prove the results of the research:
(Women) “It’s fun to be with friends and talk about wine. I like the culture around wine. I especially enjoy it with friends in a relaxing environment.”
(Men): “I enjoy looking into the historical nature of wine and collecting wine. I think women like to enjoy wine with friends.”
Men use wine as a display agent.
Regarding the question of which gender buys and pays more for wine, the study claims, based on current statistics, that women consume more wine, in relation to other alcoholic beverages, compared to men, at least by a factor of 10 %. However, men typically spend more on a bottle of wine than women.
Woman’s relationship with wine is timeless and exudes eroticism…
The woman’s love affair with wine was captured in the series “Sex and the City”, which, in fact, increased our knowledge of wines by breaking every stereotype and reducing wine consumption to a habit of universal liberation.
According to a study conducted in the United States of America, 52% of women preferred wine while only 20% of men preferred wine over other beverages.
There are several reasons that define the passionate relationship between women and wine:
- Unlike other bitter-tasting beverages, wine has a sweeter taste, preferable to the spicy taste of most alcoholic beverages.
- Drinking wine is recommended by the doctor and is a healthy habit of the modern lifestyle followed by many women.
There are several wine options available, all equally different and at the same time rich in taste. Whether it’s Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, the classic red wine or a rich and deep Barolo, women choose the wine that matches their mood.
- When men think of beer, they usually associate it with sports nights. However, when women think of wine, they associate it with glamorous galas, romantic dates, or even bachelor parties.
Between unfounded beliefs…
Wine has acquired a special place in our society, it is the basis of many cultural or religious ceremonies. Sacred or forbidden, vine blood is always associated with men.
There was a belief that women’s blood spoiled the wine preventing them from visiting the cellars during their menstruation…
They were not allowed to open the bottles while serving the wine, as such gestures were considered sexual in nature and therefore strictly inappropriate for women.
And facts
Women, as a gender, played an important role in the history of wine. During the period of ancient times, women who consumed wine in the Greek and Roman empires were threatened with death in contrast to the women of Egypt who held an enviable position in the production, service and consumption of wine. Over the centuries, great women have seen their names linked to important pages in the history of wine. The famous Veuve Cliquot, Jeanne Pommery or Philippine de Rothschild are some examples of outstanding personalities.
If history was the one that largely determined the role of the relationship between women and wine, many facts, according to studies, prove that clichés and stereotypes no longer have a place in the modern era.
Men drink more wine than women
That is true! However, the difference is not dramatic and is mainly based on the consumption habits of each individual. Men consume more wine on a regular basis: 61% of them consider themselves “heavy drinkers” (drink wine several times a week). As for women, they tend to drink wine more occasionally than regularly, with 56% considering themselves “regular” drinkers.
Women prefer white and rose wines
This is one of the most common ideas: women would prefer rosé or white wines (with bubbles) as these wines would be lighter and sweeter. Several studies have confirmed that the trend would probably be the opposite. Women would appreciate red wine in the same proportion as men. The details focus on the fact that the percentage of women who enjoy white wine is higher than that of men who enjoy white wine.
While 72% of women prefer wines with light alcohol, 61% prefer red wine over rosé or white wine, as do 65% of men.
Men are the ones who choose the wine
In France, 65% of wine buyers are women. In wine markets, women showed more eclectic and open preferences. They were more willing to buy wines that they do not know and have never tried (of course, organic from various geographical areas).And yet in restaurants, sommeliers very often turn to men when it comes to tasting wine…
Women know less than men
This belief is valid in a fairly wide range of regions, however it is a matter of perception. Women have as much knowledge as men and this is true in ALL fields. But they tend to underestimate their knowledge… So the difference is more about confidence than knowledge. Fortunately, younger generations are showing more dynamism, and 36% of female consumers in 2023 consider themselves open-minded lovers, up from 25% in 2011.
The urban legend: ‘Women’s wine’
In the same way that we talk about football and women’s football, we talk about wine and women’s wine. The notion that men, as the stronger sex, prefer strong, ‘tannic’ wines, having more developed senses, while women prefer sweeter ones is not true.
Times change…
And to prove it, below are some statistics about women and wine today:
- 1/3 of oenologists are women
- Almost 30% of winery managers are women
- Almost 50% of students in wine schools are women (Oenologists – Sommeliers)
So, does wine have a gender?
The ever-increasing presence of women in the wine industry seems to have brought a wind of democratisation, decentralisation of wine, making it accessible to all. Although there are still some hard-liners, unmoved in their views, it is up to women’s abilities through their work and determination to prove that differences are not based on facts and that clichés are a vestige of the distant past.
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