Cherry Wine
Song DNA
A tender ballad reflecting on love and the complexities of relationships.
Cultural Context
Cherry Wine is one of Hozier's most beloved tracks, known for its poignant lyrics and soothing melodies. The song has become an anthem for those navigating the intricacies of love.
Listening Prompt
Embrace the warmth of the music and let your heart be open.
What to Expect
Beginning with soft guitar strumming, the song sets a reflective tone. Hozier's voice pours over the melody, inviting listeners to explore the deep emotions tied to love and heartache.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: calm, contemplative, intimate
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 5/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.
Sudden changes: none. Transitions are musically signaled — nothing will surprise you if you're only half-listening.
Texture: smooth.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
Where this sits in Hozier's catalog
We have 38 songs from Hozier in the library. Of those, 8 are rated Safe, 28 Moderate, and 2 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 5/10 sits below the artist average of 6.2, making it the #31 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
2014 context
Released in 2014. We have 313 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 2010s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Safe because its dynamic range stays within our low-variance band, there are no unsignaled changes, and the texture and vocal style are both in the low-fatigue range. Our methodology uses an AND rule for Safe — a song has to clear every dimension to earn the rating.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-04. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Cherry Wine"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Cherry Wine" by Hozier?
"Cherry Wine" by Hozier rates as Low-Intensity. Dynamic range 5/10, no sudden changes, smooth texture. Our Low-Intensity rating means no single dimension triggers the higher-intensity thresholds.
How loud is "Cherry Wine" — what is its dynamic range?
"Cherry Wine" has a dynamic range of 5/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.
Does "Cherry Wine" have sudden or surprising changes?
No. "Cherry Wine" has no sudden unsignaled changes. Every transition is musically telegraphed.
What is "Cherry Wine" best for?
In our library "Cherry Wine" is recommended for: anxiety relief, meditation, meltdown recovery. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Cherry Wine" released?
"Cherry Wine" is from 2014, on the album "Hozier (Special Edition)". It appears in our 2010s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Cherry Wine"?
We tag "Cherry Wine" as calm, contemplative, intimate. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Cherry Wine"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "Cherry Wine"?
If you want gentle, low-arousal music, "Cherry Wine" is a solid pick — Low-Intensity across every sensory dimension.
Songs with the same DNA
smooth texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
What this song means to people
This song sounds beautiful and is about something terrible and that is exactly what being in an abusive relationship feels like. Beautiful on the surface. He understood that.
Anna — Belfast