I didn’t name this blog WineSoakedRamblings for nothing. If you know me, you know I love my wine.

I also love a cold lime beer in the summer, an Aperol Spritz on the deck in the sunshine and the occasional splash of Grand Marnier over strawberries. But mostly I am a wino, and a happy one.

Much like the vast populations of Italy, France, Spain and many other European countries. You know, those lovely places where wine is a part of everyday life, affordable, available and delicious. Yes, I am sure people get tipsy on occasion, but I think the overseas wine-drinking ritual is more cultural and cultivated. Unlike this side of the ocean when so much alcohol consumption is designed to alter our consciousness. Designed to change our reality. Designed to create a party, not a lifestyle.

Which got me to thinking about the why. Why do we love booze? Why do we love the effect booze has on us? Why do some of us abuse booze to the point that we must give it up entirely?

Why?

And then a few nights ago, after my first glass of Pinot Grigio, it came to me. The answer to the why.

Suspended animation.

At least that is the term I came up with.

We have that first drink and all of our edges are softened. The world seems a little kinder. Life possesses more optimism. We just feel better! And we really want that feeling to last. For as long as possible. We want to maintain that ethereal state. Freeze-dry our psyches into that bliss. Stay just a tiny bit tipsy.

So … we have another drink. Another drink to fuel the fantasy.

And that’s when things start to go south. Because that next drink does not perpetuate our suspended animation. It may seem like it does but ultimately it just escalates it. As does the next and the next and so forth and so on.  Eventually we have totally abandoned that desired state of euphoria and we find ourselves …

Drunk. Combative. Mouthy. Emotional. Fuddled. Sentimental. Sensitive. Disturbed. Impulsive. Stupid.

All things that are NOT in any way similar to that first-drink-suspended-animation-bliss. The very act of trying to immortalize that feeling ends up killing it.

So the question begs – do we just limit ourselves to one drink and then stop? Enjoy our bliss for the few moments we get and then allow it to slip away untethered as reality re-roots. Accept it for the fleeting feeling it is?

Maybe.

But I have recently embarked on a different plan. The wine and water plan.

Step 1. I drink my icy cold Pinot Grigio. As slowly as possible. Savouring ever sip.

Step 2. When I near the bottom of my glass, I fill it with water. Which I then sip every bit as lovingly as I did the wine. Because here’s the thing – it still tastes a bit like wine and it allows that bliss to keep going WITHOUT the intensification.

Step 3. I switch to red (I do love a nice Baco Noir). Repeat Steps 1 and 2.

This all happens before dinner. While I am cooking and listening to music or chatting with friends. And then … once dinner is served I move on to …

Step 4. Water in my wine glass. On top of whatever wine may be left. And that is that.

Because once I start eating, I’m not paying attention to the wine anymore so water is just fine, thank you very much. My suspended animation has lasted for two hours and I feel great. I am ready to move on to the remainder of the evening with a (reasonably) clear head and a smile on my face.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am no saint and there are still times when the “party” takes over and I exceed my own 2-glass rule. Even so, I still try my best to keep the water flowing as frequently as the wine, especially at the end of the evening. It really does help!

So … the next time you feel yourself entering into that lovely, suspended state and you feel yourself desperately wanting to stay there … add water to your wine. Or have a glass of water after every drink. Remind yourself that the “other” method does not work. It never has and never will. Drink-upon-drink might feel good (for a minute) but it will always come back to haunt you.

Be like those Europeans! Appreciate that wine or cocktail, delight in every sip, revel in your bliss and then … drink some water.

Every. Single. Time.

Your bliss (and your body) will thank you.

PS Confession: when I started writing this blog, I always composed while drinking wine. Thus the name. My ramblings truly were wine-soaked. These days I write in the morning. With endless glasses of water fueling my thoughts. Because later, I want to be fully present with my wine … as with my life.