Do you get drunk faster at higher altitudes?

The urban legend says that altitude improves wine and souls, creating a rapid intoxication. Skiing, and the mountains in general, is a privileged place to share with friends, family or lovers.In addition to discussions about skiing, wine is always on the table... wine with cheese, a little mulled wine on the slopes.... Hmmm, we love it, we share it, we enjoy it... in moderation. But when the first symptoms of drunkenness arrive at the first glass, the legend of "wine and altitude" always ends up showing the end of its dress. So, myth or reality?

A faster intoxication in altitude?

Today, no scientific study proves that altitude makes you drunk faster. However, we cannot deny that the more we climb in the mountains, the rarer the air is. Therefore, the scarcity of oxygen would make the effects of wine on the body faster and more euphoric.

Myth or reality? Reality without scientific proof.

Does wine improve with altitude?

The answer, however, is more easily proven. Several experiments have been carried out to find out the effects of wine conservation at altitude. Studies on various tastings show that wine is influenced by its ageing at altitude.

Wine improvement: yes.

To find out, sommeliers have carried out a double tasting of the same properties. In the first tasting, the wine was kept in the cellar at a low altitude, while the second tasting was done at a mountain altitude of about 1,500 meters. The results were astonishing for the still reds as well as for the white wines.champagnes. The wines tasted at altitude were smoother, denser and more harmonious in their complexity. Let's conclude that the decrease of oxygenation of the wines as well as the decrease of carbonic gas in the air at altitude favors a better conservation of the wines which develop more slowly.

Be careful, the difference in tasting between the plains and the heights does not influence the quality of the wine. A wine that is excellent in the mountains will also be very good on the plains, but will express other traits with certainty.

Myth or reality? Proven reality.

Does the altitude influence the mountain wine ?

The answer is yes. We have noticed thanks to the CERVIM (Centre d'Etude, de Recherche et de valorisation de la Viticulture de Montagne) that the grape varieties cultivated in high mountains were less afraid of vine diseases. Moreover, the orographic aspect (inclination, slope) obliges the mountain wine growers to work manually, hence the emergence of many properties inbiodynamicsandnature.

Moreover, who says mountain vineyards, says old and rare grape varieties which give for the most part tense and mineral wines, very enriching to discover.

To these questions, altitude and wines, improvement and intoxication: myth or reality? We answer reality. So, we advise you to be careful with your alcohol consumption in the mountains. Don't forget that you are there mainly for the snow and the skiing! So enjoy the physical activities and the fresh air! And when it's time for the raclette/tartiflette/fondue and mulled wine trio, don't forget to drink in moderation!

Maureen(Les Grappes)