|
||
|
||
|
On many occasions I have extolled the virtue of a glass of red wine, in my Wine Tasting 101 class and; inevitably, I will hear a voice in the audience say: “The sulfites/sulfur in red wine gives me a headache - I prefer to drink white wine”. Unfortunately, many people complain of experiencing a ‘raging” headache after drinking a glass of red wine and the medical syndrome known as RWH is a very real but misunderstood phenomenon. Many people over the years have incorrectly made the association of the red wine headache to the presence of sulfites in wine. The truth is that sulfite sensitivity is very rare with only about 1% of the population actually being allergic to sulfites. This extremely small percentage of the population lacks the digestive enzyme that allows them to process sulfites in foods and wine. A certain amount of sulfites are naturally present on the skin of grapes as they are growing in the vineyard and ultimately end up in the pressed juice and finished wine. The free sulfite level in wine is actually very low compared to other food items with much higher levels such as orange juice, and dried fruit. Sulfite or sulfur dioxide in a wine is actually a good thing. When added to wine during production it can help control undesirable microbiological activity and help maintain the overall quality of the finished wine. |
The FDA requires that all wines containing a specific level of sulfites place the phrase “contains sulfites” on the wine bottle label. This information has long been interpreted by some as a warning that people who get headaches from red wine should avoid them. This is clearly incorrect information. Evidence suggests that something other than sulfites in red wine is causing the headaches. What is interesting is that white wines usually contain more sulfites than red wines, yet do not cause headaches. Many winemakers, during the production of white wines, will add SO2 (Sulfur dioxide), which in solution forms sulfites. White wines need more protection than red wines from the negative effects of oxygen or oxidation and require more SO2 (sulfites). So what is causing the headaches? Some medical experts think that the compounds found in the grape skins and seeds, possibly tannins, most likely cause these headaches. Tannins are flavonoids in red wine that cause that “drying out” or “astringent” sensation in the mouth. Well controlled clinical studies have shown that flavonoids cause the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter. High levels of serotonin, in the body, have been shown to cause headaches. Some believe that histamines may also play a key role contributing to RWH. 
|
Histamines levels, found on the skin of the grape, are 20 - 200% higher in red wine than in white wine. Histamines can cause the expansion and contraction of blood vessels throughout the body, ultimately causing pressure in the head. Individuals that are allergic to histamines and are deficient in a specific enzyme may be prone to red wine headaches. There is also data showing that some people metabolize alcohol (ethanol) slower than others which may also contribute to the problem especially with the recent trend in producing fruit forward, high alcohol (16% +) “monster” style reds. There are also people who just can’t tolerate wine in general, be it red or white. If you suffer from RWH, don’t give up. Try different red wine varietals from different wineries and growing regions and there might be a good chance that you can find a red wine that doesn’t cause the problem. The medical benefits of red wine have been well documented and accepted by society and at this point we won’t know exactly what the key contributor to this problem is until more clinical studies addressing RWH are done.
Happy Tasting!
|
