It may be no surprise that many people use wine as an aphrodisiac. A rich wine is very pleasing to the senses, and most people automatically associate wine with a romantic evening.

But is there science behind this or is it just our belief? Could wine actually be good for sexual encounters?

The answer is a resounding yes. A couple glasses of wine is typically enough to kick your social inhibitions, and it may make for a more comfortable sexual experience as well. A couple glasses of red wine makes the body more loose and relaxed, which may translate well to sexual encounters.

However, be sure it is just a couple of glasses. Any more than that and you will probably notice a drop in your sexual performance as the room starts to spin.

Why wine and sex go together

The reasoning behind why wine is good for sex lies in how it interacts with the body.

Increased blood flow

The alcohol in wine helps dilate the blood vessels and increase blood flow throughout the body. This increased blood flow can translate to a spike in sexual desire and performance as erogenous areas become stimulated.

Again, moderation is key. Too much wine may lead to a sleepy partner. Additionally, increasing the blood flow too much may lead to an inability to keep an erection – which isn’t helping anyone have a good night.

Huge amounts of antioxidants

Wine, and red wine in particular, is a potent source of antioxidants. While it may not seem like this translates to a better sex life, it does so indirectly. Red wine and its antioxidants may have a number of helpful uses in the body, such as:

• Boosting metabolism

• Reducing fat cells

• Preventing common illnesses such as colds

• Boosting mood

• Controlling blood sugar

• Protecting the heart

While all these effects work on other areas of the body – a healthy, happy body may be more ready and willing for a romantic evening.

Increased sexual performance in women

The compounds in wine may also increase sexual desire beyond the effects of alcohol itself. A 2009 study from the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women who drank moderate amounts of red wine reported more sexual desire and better sexual functioning than other groups.

Importantly, these results were not as clear in women who drank other types of alcohol.

Red wine may be the most romantic drink money can buy.

Increased testosterone

A separate study from the Nutrition Journal found that red wine may actually be a key for circulating testosterone. Testosterone is responsible for many functions in the body, one of them being an increase in sexual desire.

Compared to alcohol itself, red wine appears to significantly increased the amount of circulating testosterone in the blood. This could lead to a stronger sex drive.

Again, researchers noted the key was moderation. In fact, any more than two glasses of wine and you run the risk of actually losing testosterone and therefore sexual drive.

The bottom line…

Go for it! Now more than ever, we understand why we picture a glass of red wine alongside a romantic evening – red wine is the perfect drink for sexual encounters.

The huge asterisk here though is moderation. Most of these studies say that anything past 2 glasses and you probably won’t notice the effects. In fact, the opposite will occur.

So drink up! A glass or two of red wine with dinner may make for a perfect romantic evening – just don’t forget to put out the candles before bed.