Wine Allergies - facts and fictions
Following in the line of musings written on “winedrinker’s misconceptions” comes this little piece…
Perhaps the single most common complaint/request tandem regarding wine heard in this or any wine shop is “I’m allergic to sulfites. Do you have any sulfite free wines”? Now just for the record, I am not a physician, and since this is the case, I have not done any actual physical exams or any battery of allergy tests on this or that drinker, but in learning the science, it is MORE than safe to say that 99% of people who think that they are allergic to sulfites in fact are not. We’ve all read in passing, perhaps hundreds of times, the “Contains sulfites” advisory on the backs of wine labels emanating from every region in the world, but what are these substances, and why are they in your wine?
The first thing to make clear to all wine drinkers is that SULFITES ARE A NATURAL PRODUCT OF WINEMAKING. No wine, unless it has undergone a process to definitively REMOVE all traces of sulfites in its midst, contains sulfites, no exceptions. More sulfites are ADDED to finished wines since the presence of sulfites in wine prevents oxidation, and therefore makes an effective hedge against premature aging (for the wine, not you). So why is it that most people are not/could not be allergic to sulfites? First, the complaints that I’ve heard are almost always directed at RED wines, and sometimes, somewhat comically, red wines from specific places - I’ve heard on more than several occasions “Spanish wines give me headaches” or “Burgundy makes me sneeze”, or similarly, “The wines in (country “X”) never make me sick when I’m there, but I can’t drink them here.” Now it is POSSIBLE (and I stress the word “possible”) that wines that are destined to be carted to the little trattoria just down the road from the winery are made differently than those that are slated to be shipped thousands of miles across the seas, but I think there’s MUCH more psychology than physiology afoot in such claims…
Now chemically speaking, sulfites are most effective as a preservative when they are present in wine in a free, UNBONDED form. And because many grape acids eagerly want to form bonds with the added sulfites, and also because white wines are almost always more acidic than red wines, more sulfites have to be added to white wines to overcome the X number of milligrams of sulfites that have been rendered less effective via bonding with the acids. And because white wines nearly always contain HIGHER levels of sulfites than reds do, one would be much more likely to complain of headaches from white wines than red. What’s more, SWEET white wines are always even more heavily dosed with sulfites than dry whites are. This extra heavy dosage is done to retard a pontential second fermentation of the high levels of residual sugar found in sweet wines. So again, scientifically, “stickies” should elicit the greatest number of complaints about allergic reactions to wine. Admittedly, far fewer dessert whites get drunk by the average drinker than dry reds for example, but the complaints about headaches from red wines still outnumber the complaints about sweet whites by what seems like a factor of at least 10 to 1, so something’s still not right…
To me what reduces the “I’m allergic to sulfites” to a very small pool of those who actually ARE allegic to sulfites is the fact that dried fruits - raisins, apricots, pineapples, etc. - are treated with FAR higher levels of sulfites than any wine EVER is, and the bad reactions to these sulfites almost always afflict asthmatics who from it experience the characteristic extreme shortness of breath associated with the ailment. So unless you experience asthmatic symptoms from drinking wine, and get the same symptoms in an even more exteme way from eating dried fruits, it is HIGHLY improbable that you are allergic to sulfites. So, if red wines are the main source of allergic reactions in wine drinkers, the real culprit must be something other than sulfites…
Another oft-cited source of allergies in wine are HISTAMINES. Clearly, histamines do cause allergic reactions in humans, which is why we take ANTI-histamines to counteract their effects. Further, red wines do indeed contain higher levels of histamines than white wines, but recent research has shown that histamine levels in wine are FAR too low to cause any ill reaction in all but the most histamine sensitive. Nonetheless, those who are especially sensitive to histamines do exist but their numbers are miniscule, so this interaction seems to be unable to account for the far larger number of those who complain of wine allergies…
The latest research however seems to indict certain PROTEINS as the real source of allergies in most drinkers. During the fermentation process, the yeasts used to convert sugar into alcohol create certain proteinaceous compounds that can trigger the oft-cited, mild “flu-like” symptoms associated with wine allergies like headaches and sneezing. But as I allude to above, there are lots of folks that like to point the finger at the wine that they drank as the culprit for their reactions, but these same folks also often forget that this wine was consumed over plates and plates of not so ordinary foods, potentially making what they’ve eaten as likely candidates for the reaction as the wine (or wines) that they washed it all down with…
So if you absolutely cannot live without wine, and get allergic reactions from what you THINK might be traceable to the fermented grape juice in your glass, go to an allergist and have him or her run a full battery of tests to once and for all confirm or refute that wine is (or is not) the source of your discomfort. In all likelihood, you’ll find out that your NOT allergic to ANY of these compounds, and you can then celebrate by opening a nice bottle…
TOM CIOCCO
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Tom
Good informative post.Perhaps one note I would like to leave regarding:“Spanish wines give me headaches”. You touched on “histamines” and they can definitely cause headaches. The veins in the brain will react to histamines, causing them to swell slightly and thus giving you that nasty headache. Since a lot of Spanish reds (The grapes and the climate)tend to have higher histamine levels I would think that Spanish wine headaches are quite possible. Thank God I am not allergic to anything in wine. Happy drinking and you have a great website and I visit it regularly
Comment by Wilf Krutzmann — January 23, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Good read.
I usually find that drinking one bottle of wine is enough to give me a headache the next day. Trouble is, I can’t ever remember if it’s the third or the fourth.
Comment by TimF — January 24, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Wilf-
Thanks for commenting. Histamines can indeed cause headaches, but in the research that I’ve done, as I state in the piece above, the amount of histamines in almost all wines are well below the threshold above which most people react to them. It is possible, but it’s not nearly as common as many people thin it is…
As far as your comments on higher levels of histamines in Spanish wines, I have to say that I’m a bit skeptical…Why would this be, and what is the source of this claim? I could understand if let’s say Tempranillo was found to have higher levels of histamines than other grape varieties, but what would there be about SPAIN that would increase histamine levels? If you’ve got the proof on this, I think that we would all be interested to see it.
TOM CIOCCO
Comment by Tom C — January 24, 2007 @ 10:49 am
I’m not an expert in wine, but I’ve read that sometimes, egg whites and isinglass are also used in clarifying wine, and these are sometimes what triggers allergic reactions.
Also, they say organic wines contain less sulfites, because they don’t add sulfites on top of what is naturally produced during the wine making process. Is this true?
Comment by ruth — January 24, 2007 @ 10:59 am
I always used to laugh when my mother would say she was allergic to wine. The symptoms would sometimes include vomiting in the evening after the wine was consumed and bad headaches in the morning accompanied by an upset stomach. I finally was able to convince her that she was experiencing hangovers.
Comment by AnthonyS — January 24, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
Tom
The literature re: histamine headaches from Spanish wines is sparse indeed. My info came mainly from a mentor of mine who was a well versed and well travelled oenophile from our local university.It seems to have involved the Rioja wines. Perhaps it was not so much Spain or any specific grapes but rather poor wine making techniques. The spanish along with every other progressive wine making region employ up to date technology today and histamine headaches from Spain may be a thing of the past.
Comment by Wilf Krutzmann — January 24, 2007 @ 9:52 pm
Ruth-
You might have hit it right on the head! - “fining” (removing tiny particulate matter from a wine) with egg whites and isinglass (which is made from fish air bladders)is indeed quite common, and these substances are often the sources for allergies.
The “organic” question is a very convoluted one…the first sticking point is what one means by organic, and which body is issuing the regulations. I think that in some cases, wines that have added sulfites cannot be termed as organic, but other governing bodies DO allow it since it is a natural product of winemaking. This is one reason that so many retailers, etc. have shied away from promoting these aspects because the standards are not at all clear and uniform.
Comment by Tom C — January 25, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Tom,
An informative and interesting piece as always. I knew a woman who SWORE that she couldn’t drink red wine because she was allergic to the sulfites in it. I would have loved to have given her your article! I’m not sure about the sneezing or other alleged allergic reactions, but my experience has been that some people get a headache after drinking red wine and it has almost always been due to dehydration - they just didn’t consume enough water to counteract the effects of the alcohol. I am very skeptical about so many people being “allergic” to wine. Like you say, the numbers just don’t add up based on the science.
Comment by JayZee — January 25, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Very interesting. My wife can not tolerate most white wines but is fine with most red wines. Maybe she is one of the few that has problems with sulfites. If not sulfites could there be another cause?
Comment by A — January 26, 2007 @ 11:52 am
A-
As I mention in the article, histamines, certain fermentation by-product proteins, oeven as one of the posters above suggests, perhaps even egg whites and/or isinglass is used for “fining” (lightly filtering) wines. Is your wife allergic to any of these substances? I guess that only way to be sure is to make an appointment with an allergist.
TOM CIOCCO
Comment by Tom C — January 26, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
As someone who gets “wine headaches” sometimes, I’ve developed a theory: It’s the combination of food and wine that can put one’s tolerance level over the edge. Tyramines, histamines, nitrites, MSG, etc. are all known to cause headaches, and it’s hard to tell how much you’re getting when you eat a big meal. Also, sugar and alcohol make for a bad hangover without any other factors. So … a dinner with a few glasses of red wine, cheese, smoked meat and dessert will absolutely give me a headache. Skip the dessert and I’ll most likely be fine.
I remember getting a horrible migraine once after a dinner of grilled meat and red wine. The next night, as an experiment, I ate the leftover meat and drank the rest of the wine (which I had pumped free of air with one of those rubber stoppers). No problem at all! Clearly it was something else I ate the night before that, in combination with the rest of the meal, gave me the bad reaction.
Comment by Mark Block — January 27, 2007 @ 11:26 am
Mark-
This is a large part of the problem - so many folks are very quick to identify the wine as the culprit of their headaches, but as you say INTERACTIONS can be just as much the source of the problem…migraines are a whole other animal…the triggers for migraines, at least in my understanding, are different than for allergy headaches. Unfortunately, most people don’t take the fairly “scientific” appraoch the you do to determine sources…
TOM CIOCCO
Comment by Tom C — January 29, 2007 @ 10:32 am
I was searching the web for information for I truly did have an allergic reaction to wine–Mateus! I had to take prednisone(sp) for it for 6 days. Some one suggested mold in the wine. Is that possible? I wanted to find some answers for becoming “balloon woman” or an address to write to the company to explain my situation less someone else have a similar reaction or die from it. I have since drunk other wines w/o any problems. This was not just a mild reacion!
Comment by Shirley — February 2, 2007 @ 11:36 am
Shirley-
Clearly, I am not a physician, so I could not say. Unfortunately, the only way to find out for sure might be to try to re-create the reaction under controlled conditions in conjunction with an allergist…not very appealing, but when you know for SURE what did it, you’ll be able to avoid it forever.
TOM CIOCCO
Comment by Tom C — February 2, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
Is there any reason why cheaper red wine would make someone sneeze far more than a more expensive bottle? Are there different levels of sulfites based on the processing and cost of the wine. I am generally allergic to fine particles, dust, etc. However of late, I am finding a serious sneezing, stuffy head reaction to cheap wine. (cheap = $8 or less)
Comment by Joanne — February 5, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
Joanne-
Hard to know for sure, but the cheaper the wine, generally, the more additives, manipulation, and general slipshodness enter into the equation…do you have any KNOWN allergies that might be present in wine?
TOM CIOCCO
Comment by Tom C — February 6, 2007 @ 11:07 am
I ordered a glass of pinot noir the other night and didn’t have 1/4 glass before my head stopped up. I know that sometimes I can drink red without any side effects so now I’m going to pay attention. Is it just CA reds or is it more frequent in wines by the glass? I have a old French burgandy I am going to try tonight as an experiment.
Comment by liz — February 9, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
I have query..
Last year I suddenly became ill one day just out of the blue from Red Wine-Now this is not a hangover sick-I was out for 3 days and felt more like a poisoning. I tried a great Home made Red, two excellent store bought reds and each time within about nine hours was ill. Strange no one can pin point exactly what caused this reaction, for I am allergic to nothing. Has anyone else suffered or know about someone who has had this happen to them off of Red Wine? I miss having my glass in the evening t’is been almost a year, but nervous about trying it again, the outcome was not pretty. Thanks a bunch!!
Very great article, thanks for posting it…
Comment by Lea — February 9, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
I am one of those few who is very sensitive to histamines in food, but I refuse to give up my love my red wine even with stuffiness/sneezing that sometimes occurs.
A simple solution recommended by my Dr. is to take an anti-histamine before going out for the evening. As long as use a brand that doesn’t make you drowsy it makes for a more pleasant time.
Comment by Bryan L — February 27, 2007 @ 10:33 am
Great article…I myself find that the day after I drink red wine…(pinot noirs are my favorite)…I get a raspy feeling in my throat the following day, along with almost a wheezing in my chest…similar to when my allergies act up in the springtime…it’s nothing a cold bottle of water and a few days away from wine won’t cure…but I’m convinced it’s definately something to do with wine…oh well, every rose has it’s thorn…thanks.
Comment by Mike G. — February 28, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
Great read, but I am interested in your comments on Red Wine initiated itchy skin. I drink 2 or 3 glasses of cheaper Merlot/ Cab. Sav or Shiraz each day. Every now and then I get extremely itchy shoulders/neck and fore-arms. I can only get relief by taking anti-histamine tabs, or ice packs on affected areas.
My wife (nursing sister) says “its the red wine”.
Please tell me that the Histamines /Sulfites do not cause these symptoms - I love my daily tipple!
Comment by Trevor — March 6, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Trevor-
So many stories like yours - it does seem very hard to pinpoint…allergies can be strange phenonema. I for example am mildly allergic to dogs, and have two, and 99.9% of the time, there is no problem, but on occasion, I get red and itchy if I’m sitting up against them. The reactions that I get are not frequent or severe enough to bother too much about it however. If your reactions ARE frequent/severe enough, I’d recommend seeing an allergist.
TOM CIOCCO
Comment by Tom C — March 7, 2007 @ 11:34 am
I become severely intoxicated from red wine very quickly with one glass…I don`t remember whole blocks of time …over the years I have realized that all of my bad experiences with drinking alcohol were mainly with wine …I am 43 very healthy ..a vegetarian and have only had a adverse reaction to Benedryl my whole life…could it be the histamine in wine ? or the nitrates? There have been times when I have drank wine and nothing happenned? I do enjoy red wine ..it does give me dry mouth right away ..could I just be dehydrated?
Comment by Debby Swens — March 15, 2007 @ 9:05 am
Dwbby-
Blacking out from one glass of wine seems very strange to me unless you weigh 72 pounds and it’s an AWFULLY big glass! Sounds like something for your doctor…
TOM CIOCCO
Comment by Tom C — March 15, 2007 @ 10:01 am
I get “tight” (sort of tense) calf muscles the day after I’ve drunk a couple of glasses of red wine. Doesn’t happen after drinking white wine though. Any one experience anything similar?
Comment by Andy — April 3, 2007 @ 2:13 am
I have a flushing around my eyes and neck after drinking red wine the day after it has been opened , I’m thinking it has to do with air exposure. any thoughts
Lucy
Comment by Lucy — April 7, 2007 @ 6:13 pm
After having just 1 glass of white wine, I start to feel very sluggish and just not feeling good. In the morning I woke up with a headache. What is it in white wines that are making me feel this way?
Comment by Cindy — June 6, 2007 @ 10:28 am
Another source of “sensitivity” is the type and concentration of the alcohols that dominate the drink. Red and White wines differ in the balance Methanol and Ethanol concentrations. White wines tend to have a higher percentage of Ethanol content where Red wines are nearly balanced. Ethanol is the primary source of alcohol found in Brandy, Vodka and Whiskey. These alcohols metabolize differently due to their chemical structures. The metabolism of Ethanol can, in “sensitive” people, result in headaches due to vasodilation or dehydration. Consuming Fructose, found in fruits, can relieve the headaches by assisting in returning the body’s chemical balance back to normal following ethanol consumption.
Comment by David — June 22, 2007 @ 7:34 am
Check this site http://www.winepros.org/wine101/wine-health.htm
Comment by David — June 22, 2007 @ 7:50 am
David-
I think that what you outline above might be the “missing link” for the headaches that lots of people complain about, particularly regarding white wines. I had always surmised that something like this might be at work, but I just don’t have enough of a scientific understanding of the whole thing to make such an assertion. Thanks for the comment!
TOM CIOCCO
Comment by Tom C — June 22, 2007 @ 9:43 am
I drank 1 glass of red wine at about 8pm that contains sulfites. By 3am I wake with a headache. By 4 I’m in the toilet thinking I’m going to vomit. By 5 I vomit. 3 time until 10 am. The rest of the day I’m recovering with a bad headache and from the vomiting. It happens with some dark beers as well. Some red wines I can drink and not get sick but I never know. I can eat dried fruits that have much more sulfites.
What going on? any suggestions.
Comment by Peter — July 28, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Peter-
Doesn’t sound like the sulfites, but I can’t be sure. If you’d like to continue to (try) to enjoy wine, I’d advise seeing a physician.
TOM CIOCCO
Comment by Tom C — July 30, 2007 @ 9:57 am
I found this through google. I was researching b/c for the last year or so, I seem to have developed allergies to beer and wine. At first, I start getting stuffy, then I start sneezing violently (like 5 sneezes in a row). I can’t figure out exactly what’s causing it, b/c there are days when I go out for a drink and nothing at all happens. Then there are days, like last night, I have 1/2 a glass of wine and we actually have to leave the restaurant b/c I am so stuffed up and sneezing so much. I guess I’ll go see an allergist b/c I really don’t want to give up a glass of wine or beer at dinner or with friends
Comment by Michele — October 10, 2007 @ 7:37 am
Four years ago I started drinking Cabernet Sauvignon without any problems. However I began to notice approximately 2 months ago that I would soon develop a stuffy nose before I finished my 1st glass. I usually never drink more than 1 or 2 glasses at any given time. I really never paid too much attention to this. My nose would clear after 2 hours. 2 weeks ago I developed Hay Fever like symptoms after drinking 2 glasses followed by wheezing 3 to 4 hours later. I later experimented with Tequila. 2 shots resulted with the same outcome.
Comment by Mario — October 20, 2007 @ 11:16 am
I have California reds and I sneeze and get sinus trouble very rare with any other reds.Why?
Comment by Matt — November 4, 2007 @ 8:10 am
I had a 2003 bottle of Opus One last nite,Stuffy and sneezing,So even top shelf CA wine causes it why?When I have Italian red Amarone no side effcts.Any clue?
Comment by Matt — November 4, 2007 @ 8:16 am