I have a customer that swears up and down that she is allergic to Mourvedre! She says she gets a reaction only when she drinks Mourvedre - even if it is in a blended wine in small quantities.
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
It sounds as if you work in a wine shop, or perhaps a restaurant? During my years in retail, I encountered many consumers who were certain they had a negative reaction after drinking a certain type of wine: Chardonnay, Cabernet, Syrah, sparkling wine, red, white, and so on. It's difficult to handle these claims when the person is convinced it's true - and they are a customer you don't want to antagonize. In truth, there is nothing specific and universal - those are two necessary conditions - in every single wine made from a certain grape variety, everywhere that grape is grown in the world. Logically, blending that variety in very small amounts with other grapes would only dilute and alter its "effects." What exactly does your customer say happens when they drink a Mourvedre - flushing, hives or just some sort of vague discomfort? Do they claim it occurs whether it's grown in France, California, Spain or Australia - and have they tried examples from all these places? Despite the fact that most people, unless they have a bona fide allergy confirmed through medical screening, are absolutely certain of the cause, it is almost always unrelated. We are able to convince ourselves of almost anything: perception is reality. If we get a headache, we often think that it was connected with something we just ate or drank. The next time we encounter that beverage or food, we are sure our reaction will be the same - and it usually is! This pattern has been confirmed by countless experiments. But it won't be easy to talk your customer out of their preconceptions. I know that from personal experience.
