Fear of wine (oenophobia)

Oenophobia is a fear of wine. It may involve the drink itself, the smell, or situations where wine is served, such as dinners and celebrations. Some people also connect it to a wider worry about drinking or losing control.

About this phobia

The term comes from the Greek oinos, meaning wine, the same root as oenology, the study of wine. It is rare and found mostly on lists of phobias. It sits close to methyphobia, a fear of alcohol in general.

What it feels like

• Unease when wine is poured at a meal
• Turning down invitations to tastings, dinners or toasts
• Feeling queasy at the smell of wine

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is oenophobia the same as a fear of alcohol?

Not quite. Oenophobia is about wine in particular, while methyphobia covers alcohol in general. If the fear is linked to someone’s drinking in the past, a GP or specialist counsellor can help.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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