What is the red wine culprit that causes a headache or migraine, or as it is sometimes known, “Red Wine Headache” (RWH), after a glass or more of this delicious beverage? Is it the red wine as a whole, the sulfites in the wine, or maybe even the tannin?
RWH is said to be a misunderstood phenomenon, try telling anyone who suffers from it, but there are many theories about its causes, but very little data to support them. One thing for sure is that it is some compound within the red wine itself.
What are the likely causes of red wine headaches?
Compounds within the grape skin are likely causes, these may be natural or a product of the fermentation itself. However, RWH’s fault is almost always due to the sulfites that are added to the wine during the winemaking process. But there are other possible causes:
- The tannins could well be responsible for some of the headaches. It’s these flavonoids in wine that cause your mouth to pucker and could be to blame. Tannins have been shown to release serotonin, a neurotransmitter, and high levels of serotonin can cause headaches in people who also suffer from migraines. But why don’t we hear about headaches caused by tea, soy or chocolate, these all contain tannins?
- What about histamines? The level of histamine in red wine is up to twice that of white wine. Therefore, anyone with a histamine allergy may be deficient in a particular enzyme. The combination of alcohol and that deficiency could (although not proven) be another cause of headaches.
- A third idea is that prostaglandins may be the main cause of RWH. These are substances that contribute to pain.
- A fourth cause, and one often blamed by most drinkers, is sulfites. People who are sensitive to sulfites may not get any headaches, but they may experience an allergic reaction. Sulfites are remarkably powerful in their role as antioxidants. They are known to increase asthma symptoms in a small number of asthmatics, while some patients may experience difficulty eating food or drink containing sulphites. Inhalation of sulfite vapors can also be extremely irritating.
Why is it necessary to add Sulphites to Wine?
Sulfites are added for a variety of reasons, these include:
- Control of bacterial growth before, during and after wine fermentation.
- Slows down the oxidation or browning of the must/wine. This ensures that a good clean sample will not be affected at all.
NBMany sweet wines require more sulfites than red wines. The tannin in red wine is effective in acting as an antioxidant.
One thing is for sure, RWH sufferers want to know how to deal with the problem. Prevention is an answer, but a bit drastic for wine lovers. Another is to take antihistamine tablets like Clarityn or an aspirin to help stop the production of prostaglandins.
My recommendation to minimize the chance of getting a red wine headache is to try just one glass of a particular red, and if you don’t suffer in 15 or 20 minutes, stick with that wine. The jury is still out on the causes of red wine headaches, so if you suffer from it, why not reduce your risk by first reducing your consumption and always try the best quality red wine you can?
One final thought. Whatever the cause of RWH, if you get a nasty headache several hours after a long night, you don’t have RWH, you have a hangover!