Why do only some wines give me a headache?
Histamines in wine give you a headache
Histamines which are found in the skins of the grapes, seem to give some people headaches if they are sensitive to histamines. Red wine will affect a histamine sensitive drinker more than white wine because red wine has spent more time in contact with the grape skins.
Ethanol dilates the blood vessels and dehydrates the body, both of which can cause inflammation of vessels in our head and invite a painful headache. Some people begin to feel the first few twinges of a wine headache after only a few sips of a glass of red wine, while others will not notice it until a few hours.
You can try wines that are naturally lower in tannins, such as white wines in general, as well as red wines from grapes that are typically thinner-skinned and lower in tannins, like Pinot Noir.
The less “red” your wine, the better. Sparkling, white and rosé wines all are low histamine wines when compared to reds.
With a physician's approval, unoaked white wines like Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Grigios and Rieslings would be the first place to start for someone with tannin sensitivity. Rosés, which are made from red grapes but do not get much contact with the skins, are also much less tannic than traditional red wines.
So what causes these kinds of headaches and how can we avoid them? There are three main culprits and solutions, but before we explain them, we want to clear up one myth – sulfites do not cause headaches. While sulfites can cause asthma symptoms, they do not cause headaches.
Lastly, when the grapes are in the winery, fermenting at a lower temperature (ie, 24°C) and less pumpover and wetting of the skins with the red juice will reduce the extraction of tannins. This should give red wines that are rounder, softer and more approachable.
Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes sulfites, turning sulfite into hydrogen sulfate, which does not cause the types of problems that are associated with sulfites. It's long been said that a few drops of H2O2 in your wine will eliminate the sulfites altogether, at least in theory.
Signs and symptoms of alcohol intolerance — or of a reaction to ingredients in an alcoholic beverage — can include: Facial redness (flushing) Red, itchy skin bumps (hives) Worsening of pre-existing asthma.
Our study identified vodka, which contains almost no substances other than ethanol and water, as the least frequent migraine-provoking beverage, and red wine as the most frequent provoking beverage.
Which wine has the most histamines?
Histamine levels ranged from 3-120 micrograms/l in white wines; 15-670 micrograms/l in champagnes; 60-3800 micrograms/l in red wines; and 21-305 micrograms/l in beers. Histamine is causing wine intolerance.
Recent studies show that migraine patients consume less alcohol than controls. Red wine was reported to be the principal trigger of migraine, but other studies show that white wine or other drinks are more involved.
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Symptoms of histamine intolerance
- headaches or migraine.
- nasal congestion or sinus issues.
- fatigue.
- hives.
- digestive issues.
- irregular menstrual cycle.
- nausea.
- vomiting.
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Malbec. As an especially thick-skinned variety, Malbec claims higher antioxidant levels than other red wines especially in terms of resveratrol. This variety has two to four times the amount of anti-inflammatory, health boosting antioxidants than other popular red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Generally speaking, more affordable wines tend to have lower tannin. There are several potential reasons for this. However, one of the biggest reasons is increased grape production in the vineyard reduces the polyphenol content in individual grapes.
You can detect tannins as the bitter, astringent sensation in your mouth. You get a similar sensation from drinking black coffee, black tea or eating dark chocolate. People who are intolerant to tannin can experience headaches/migraines, stomach ache or bowel irritation.
Pinot Noir is rated as the healthiest wine because of the high levels of resveratrol. It is made of grapes with thin skin, has low sugar, fewer calories, and low alcohol content.
All of the Barefoot Wines contain sulfites, which are a natural by-product of the fermentation process that help prevent certain yeasts and bacteria.
Symptoms include flushing, fast heartbeat, wheezing, hives, dizziness, stomach upset and diarrhoea, collapse, tingling or difficulty swallowing. Many of these reactions when fully assessed have been found not to be anaphylaxis, or caused by triggers other than sulfites.
Do wineries add sulfites to wine?
Wine sulfites are naturally occurring at low levels in all wines, and are one of the thousands of chemical by-products created during the fermentation process. However, sulfites are also added by the winemaker to preserve and protect the wine from bacteria and yeast-laden invasions.
So what explains the headache-free European wine drinking experience? It might be related to alcohol levels – European wines usually have less alcohol than American wines. So enjoy your wine whether you're home or abroad, and rest assured that it's the sulfites that keep your wine happy, healthy and delicious.
Yes, cheap wine can give you a headache. So can expensive wine.
Histamine. Grape skins contain histamine. White wine is made without the grape skin, so it has a lower histamine content than red wine, which is made from the whole grape. A histamine sensitivity could make you more susceptible to a headache.
So what explains the headache-free European wine drinking experience? It might be related to alcohol levels – European wines usually have less alcohol than American wines. So enjoy your wine whether you're home or abroad, and rest assured that it's the sulfites that keep your wine happy, healthy and delicious.
The good news, though, is that some French wines may give you fewer headaches thanks to lower levels of alcohol, tyramines and sulfites depending on how the wine is made and which grape varieties are used.
But scientists have found no link between sulfites in wine and headaches. In fact, for people who have this allergy, the typical response is not a headache but hives and difficulty breathing.
Wines with more color (i.e., red wines) tend to need less sulfites than clear wines (i.e., white wines). A typical dry white wine may have around 100 mg/L whereas a typical dry red wine will have around 50–75 mg/L.
Without sulfites (either naturally occurring or added), most wine wouldn't last much longer than six months. With sulfites, wine keeps almost indefinitely. Sulfites also prevent browning in wine by reacting with oxygen in the sealed bottle of wine. Virtually every wine in the world contains sulfites.
