The Flowers and Wine Combo Is More Than an Aesthetic
By Olivia Mcintosh
Pairing wine with florals is nothing new, but what you may not know is this lush duo is in many ways responsible for strong long-term mental and physical health.
Don’t stress about treating yourself to that extra glass of wine. Curating a multi-sensory experience for this inevitable evening indulgence ties to a tasteful and beneficial cognitive psychology practice - and yes - it involves flowers. Red wine on its own delivers antioxidants to the body, lowers inflammation, and has been proven to strengthen one's cognitive performance.
When paired with wine, florals enhance the sensory experience with sight and smell. The organic and aesthetic beauty of the florals ignites the endorphins, creating feelings of euphoria and intensifying the desire to connect with those around you, or to connect back with yourself.
Alas, while making white wine, the skin of the grape is removed during the fermentation period, which is where nutrients are found in wine. The skin of the grapes is what holds all the antioxidants that provide long term health benefits, so for this to work, you’ll want to stick with reds.
It’s the simple things that make all the difference when enjoying wine and florals together. The shape of the glass, colour, and aroma of the wine drastically impact the overall experience – similar to choosing your floral vase. Studies have shown that flowers are a “natural and healthful moderator of moods,” and have positive long-term effects on moods, producing extended feelings of joy.
Starting with opening the bottle, cork or screw, makes all the difference. This puts into perspective what kind of wine you are working with regarding the quality- having a cork contains the aroma much better which in turn enhances the tasting experience. Paying attention to your choice of wine and which glass you use is a huge component of your emotional, visual, and tasting experience.
For example, go for a long and thin stemmed glass for your Cabernet, the round shape will bring out the fruity notes as you sip. Cabernet is famously paired with red roses due to their shared colour palette and intoxicating fragrances. A large pour of Cabernet paired with romantic scarlet roses for the eyes to gaze at during each sip is what the evening was designed for.