Why wine can wake me up around 3 AM
Wine can feel relaxing at first. That does not always mean the whole night will stay relaxed.
One pattern I kept hearing from women after 40 was simple: a glass or two felt calming at dinner, then sleep got strange later. The first half of the night came easily. The second half felt lighter, hotter, thirstier, and more restless.
The important part is that this does not automatically mean someone did anything extreme. The body still has to process alcohol after the sleepy effect wears off. As that happens, sleep can become more fragmented.
I think of it as two separate phases. Phase one is the relaxing feeling. Phase two is the work the body has to do later.
That is why the same routine can feel fine at 9 PM and confusing at 3 AM. The pattern matters more than one isolated night.