Wine Headache??
Many times I am told, “Red wine gives me a headache. I must be allergic to …” You fill in the blank. Some folks think it’s sulfites, and others think it’s tannins. Well…there may be some science behind the thoughts.
What components of wine might be causing the adverse reaction? Wine is a complex mix of chemicals, which makes it difficult to answer. There are two major components, which may be responsible: sulfites and histamines. Sulfites are present in all wines but at varying degrees. Sulfer is used in the vineyard, and it’s also used for hygiene reasons with the bottles and added as a preservative after the bottle is filled. Sulfer is also a natural by-product of fermentation. You will see on the label that the wine contains sulfites. This leads many people to conclude, often falsely, that the sulfites are the culprit behind the headaches. Sulfites are actually more apt to produce an asthma attack rather than a headache.
Histamine may also come into play with headaches. Red wines contain 0.6 to 4 grams per liter of histamine. White wine contains far less. The hypothesis here is that individuals who cannot degrade histamine properly due to the lack of an enzyme could be susceptible to the histamine. If you can drink white wine but not red, histamine may be the trigger. A possible way to test that would be to take an antihistamine first. This is not a recommendation, just a way that might sort it out for you.
Tannin may be a contributor as well. If this is a possibility for you, you may try drinking reds that have less tannin. Pinot Noir and Grenache will fit into this category very well. You might find these wines quite refreshing and be able to avoid a headache if tannin is a challenge for you.
The best way to test if you are susceptible is to drink half a glass of wine and wait 20 minutes. If nothing happens, you may enjoy the rest.
A big reminder though is to drink plenty of water. Alcohol is a diuretic by itself. It is very important to drink one glass of water for every glass of wine consumed. Staying hydrated is a critical first step to staving off a headache.
Cheers!