Wine is wonderful. Drinking wine can be an amazingly erotic experience. Alone, it adds a sophisticated sex appeal to meals, social events and romantic interludes.Discovering ways to make wines more fruitful, spicy, seductive or whatever we desire may help us uncover new secrets of seduction.

Making wine (and love) is best achieved by adding many exotic layers (to both our libations and the following lovemaking). It is not a single reaction, but a wave within the whole: the initial flavor followed by several rippling undertones with a blissful, lingering finish. It's the taste of the wine, the scent, the tang on the tongue and the soothing feelings wine inspires that make it such a fabulous drink for romance.

Wine can be fortifying as well as satisfying. There is research that 1-2 glasses of wine per day may reduce the risk of heart disease; perhaps, in part, due to its antioxidant content. Combined with wine's well-known relaxing (and de-stressing) benefits, wine is receiving wide recognition for its ability to help both body and mind.

Do remember that excessive alcohol will make you too drowsy (and drunk) for after-dinner romance. A modest amount of wine can arouse and awaken several senses. It can help us let go, loosen up and get to lovemaking. Moderation is the key. There are ways to make a little count a lot. Let your eyes feast on the color of the liquid. Breathe in the bouquet. Caress the glass; savor the flavor on your lips. And, of course, get creative. Straight wine straight is great. But, carefully crafted wine combination (see the recipes below) can turn magnificent into near magical.

There are several ancient aphrodisiac wine recipes. Many are intertwined with myth. Around the 17 th century, a strengthening aphrodisiac was formed by adding cinnamon, galingale root, ginger, nutmeg, rosemary and thyme in wine and letting it infuse for a week before straining. People would drink a cup a day to enhance sexual prowess. A recipe known as Hippocras' Aphrodisiac is made by combining red burgundy wine with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, vanilla and sugar. A quick search on the Internet will yield you abundant wine recipes. Be careful and use common sense before whipping potions up. Some may help; others could kill you.

Below you'll find recipes on enhancing wine. Each blend offers exclusive ways to enhance the enchantment of a simple bottle (or glass) of wine. I've added comments on ingredients so you can get a deeper understanding of why and how each element works within the whole. Make sure you use only pure essential oils from a reputable supplier. Some companies compose the fragrance of rose by combining other essential oils which, when mixed, mimic the scent of rose. They mark the bottle pure essential oil, which is technically true. However, it is not pure essential rose oil. It will not have the same flavor or feel as pure rose oil.

To further complicate matters, some essential oils are toxic when ingested; so, never consume any suspect oil. Some companies use fragrance oils rather than essential oils and fragrance oils can poison you. Ask your health food retailer to recommend essential oils which are suitable for ingestion. Don't get paranoid. However, caution is healthy when jumping into new experiences. Enjoy the learning process. Take pleasure in enhancing your wines together with your lover. Delight in each drink. Allow each essence to linger on your tongue after each swallow, allowing for slow pleasurable sipping.

Citrus and Spice

Ingredients:

1 bottle red wine or white wine (Your favorite brand)

2 drops sweet orange essential oil:
Sweet, fresh and fruity, this oil warms the heart. Its popular scent is lively yet calming. It's cleansing and may help eliminate toxins from the body. It has a clean, sweet citrus taste.
1 drop cinnamon essential oil:
Sweet and stimulating, cinnamon can increase blood flow. Cinnamon is a classic aphrodisiac spice. Using the essential oil is a high-concentrate way of adding the essence of the spice without the mess and bulk of using the entire herb. The scent of cinnamon can be powerfully attractive to both men and women. Cinnamon oils contribute to a wonderful aftertaste in wines.
1 drop nutmeg essential oil:
In mythology, this oil has been recommended for blends to add physical and metaphysical energy as well as clairvoyance. In aromatherapy, it has been used to lift fatigue and is thought to work as an antioxidant. Its scent is warm and exotic and is considered to have aphrodisiac properties. Arabs have long valued nutmeg for its aphrodisiac and medicinal effects. Nutmeg has slight narcotic and hallucinogenic properties. This is not to be exploited. Eating as little as one whole nutmeg can be deadly. Do not add more than one drop of nutmeg to this recipe.

Preparation: Add all ingredients to the wine. Let it sit for at least 24 hours for the oils to marry, after which it is ready to be imbibed with your lover.

White Wonder

Ingredients:

1 bottle white wine (Your favorite brand)
1/2 tablespoon liquid honey:
Many early Egyptian medicines contained honey to help cure both sterility and impotence. Mead (an alcoholic drink made from honey) was commonly used in medieval times by men looking to seduce maidens. It was also consumed by lovers on their honeymoon to sweeten the marriage. Honey not only dresses up this drink, but gives it an aphrodisiac kick. Honey is rich in B vitamins and amino acids. This sweet, sticky substance is fun to work with. It can be messy, but you can find ways to enjoy licking up the spills.
3 drops vanilla essential oil:
Vanilla is smooth, clean, and can act as a euphoric. The scent of vanilla alone is often enough to stimulate both the male and female libido. When consumed, vanilla - like chocolate - can aid the central nervous system. Its flavor is rich, sweet and comforting. It adds very soothing qualities to this blend, which can contribute to trust and enhance feelings of ease with your partner.
1 drop rose essential oil:
Flowers, being the reproductive organs of plants, are sexual in nature. Roses are the flowers which historically and culturally possess the most sexual power. Roses have been a cherished aphrodisiac since biblical times. They have been around for over 3,000 years, yet they still hold mystery.Roses have been extensively written about in poetry and prose. Nothing else tastes or smells quite like a rose. Its scent is deep, rich and floral. On the tongue, it tastes clean, smooth and surprisingly delicious.

Preparation: Add the liquid honey to the white wine. Warm in a saucepan over low heat. Add each drop of essential oil. Mix. Take off heat. Pour in mugs and enjoy sipping with your partner.

Red Dream

Ingredients:

1 bottle red (Your favorite brand)
1 drop rosemary essential oil:
Rosemary is the herb of love and remembrance. The essential oil is recognized as an aphrodisiac. Its scent may help with memory and concentration. It has been said to strengthen both the brain and the nervous system. It adds a grounding flavor to this truly intoxicating blend.
1 drop garden sage essential oil:
In lore, this oil was used by the American Indians as a cleansing agent to banish evil spirits. Legend says that sage can bring about wisdom. It is fresh, clean and herbaceous. Its scent can help clear the mind, thus enhancing focus and concentration. It may help regulate the central nervous system, act as an anti-inflammatory and work as an anti-oxidant.
2 drops lemon essential oil:
Lemon oil can be extremely uplifting. It is sometimes employed to help fight infections during the cold and flu season and in the proper dosage, it may act as a restorative and general tonic. Its flavor is clean and refreshing.
1 drop cinnamon essential oil:
Hot and sweet, cinnamon oil warms, stimulates and revives tired nerves. It is often used to strengthen the immune system against colds and flu. The scent of cinnamon has been noted to improve libido in both men and women. Cinnamon oil contributes a wonderful ftertaste in wines.

Preparation: Add all essential oils to the bottle of wine. Thoroughly mix. Once well-blended, immediately serve. However, it may be allowed to sit for 24 hours (in a dark cool place) to allow the flavors to marry. Or, better yet, drink some now and some later.