Dear experts,
Please help me if you can. I like wines, especially reds. Rivers
running reds with shores made of aged cheese is my vision of haven.
But about five years ago I began to notice that drinking red causing me
a terrible headache. It does not matter how much I drink. As much as
one sip is enough. I don't think it is the wine. I suspect this is
something in the wine.
I did some research and noticed that I have this problem only with
reds. It goes for all reds I tried, domestic and imported. But if I'm
happy to find same wine bottled at the origin (Europe), it don't cause
me any problem. I must say that it is true only for reds. I don't
have this problem with whites, regardless of their origin or bottling.
All this made me thinking that in the states all wines, or reds at
least, imported and domestics, have some sort of an additive
(preservative) added, which is causing me and might be others this
terrible headache. I suspect that the industry started using some new
conservative in late 90th, Please comment if you have similar
experience or can shine some light on the issue.
Sincerely,
Red drunk.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Dear experts,
Please help me if you can. I like wines, especially reds. Rivers
running reds with shores made of aged cheese is my vision of haven.
But about five years ago I began to notice that drinking red causing me
a terrible headache. It does not matter how much I drink. As much as
one sip is enough. I don't think it is the wine. I suspect this is
something in the wine.
I did some research and noticed that I have this problem only with
reds. It goes for all reds I tried, domestic and imported. But if I'm
happy to find same wine bottled at the origin (Europe), it don't cause
me any problem. I must say that it is true only for reds. I don't
have this problem with whites, regardless of their origin or bottling.
All this made me thinking that in the states all wines, or reds at
least, imported and domestics, have some sort of an additive
(preservative) added, which is causing me and might be others this
terrible headache. I suspect that the industry started using some new
conservative in late 90th, Please comment if you have similar
experience or can shine some light on the issue.
Sincerely,
Red drunk.

Try to find an amateur winemaker who makes red wine but does not age it in a
barrel or use oak chips. If you have not problems with this wine, then the
problem may be from the oak tannins from barrels or wood chips. I do not
know why the European wine does not give you any problem and the above would
not explain this.

wrote:
Dear experts,
Please help me if you can. I like wines, especially reds. Rivers
running reds with shores made of aged cheese is my vision of haven.
But about five years ago I began to notice that drinking red causing me
a terrible headache. It does not matter how much I drink. As much as
one sip is enough. I don't think it is the wine. I suspect this is
something in the wine.

"Red wine headaches" are a known medical problem, but there is still
controversy regarding its cause. Suggested causes a
1. Tannins
2. histamine
3. none of the above

You might try taking an antihistamine before drinking red wine to see if
that reduces the problem, but be cautious as many antihistamines have a
synergistic reaction with alcohol and may make you very sleepy or dizzy.
Some people also find that an aspirin before red wine helps reduce the
problem (but don't use Tylenol/acetominophen for this purpose).


HTH
Mark Lipton

"Mark Lipton" wrote in message
...
wrote:
Dear experts,
Please help me if you can. I like wines, especially reds. Rivers
running reds with shores made of aged cheese is my vision of haven.
But about five years ago I began to notice that drinking red causing me

"Red wine headaches" are a known medical problem, but there is still
controversy regarding its cause. Suggested causes a
1. Tannins
2. histamine
3. none of the above

You might try taking an antihistamine before drinking red wine to see if

Har. We used to do this before going out for a night drinking when in
college...

Three beers and a Actifed. MUCH cheaper.

If you go that route...use care.

In message . com
wrote:

Dear experts,
Please help me if you can. I like wines, especially reds. Rivers
running reds with shores made of aged cheese is my vision of haven.
But about five years ago I began to notice that drinking red causing me
a terrible headache. It does not matter how much I drink. As much as
one sip is enough. I don't think it is the wine. I suspect this is
something in the wine.
I did some research and noticed that I have this problem only with
reds. It goes for all reds I tried, domestic and imported. But if I'm
happy to find same wine bottled at the origin (Europe), it don't cause
me any problem. I must say that it is true only for reds. I don't
have this problem with whites, regardless of their origin or bottling.
All this made me thinking that in the states all wines, or reds at
least, imported and domestics, have some sort of an additive
(preservative) added, which is causing me and might be others this
terrible headache. I suspect that the industry started using some new
conservative in late 90th, Please comment if you have similar
experience or can shine some light on the issue.
Sincerely,
Red drunk.

Firneds who have this problem with migraines after red wine have told
me that the Crus Beaujolais - are much better than many other reds.
That might tend to suggest pronounced tannin as a problem. Some have
said that bottle aged wine of very good initial quality is also a
help, again perhaps suggesting that it judicious use of oak does no
harm provided the wine is given the time it needs.

Hope that may help - try a Fleurie or Chenas with 4-5 years in bottle.
Moulin or Morgon may be better avoided at that age and kept somewhat
longer (I prefer them like that anyway if the year was good.)

Cheers and good luck with what sounds to most of us on this group like
a dreadful affliction.

Tim