Can you tell me why I get a headache when I drink California reds (dry) but do not when I drink Italian and French reds?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
Questions about headaches and wine are raised quite often on the Q&A forum, probably because so many people suffer from this very common malady. There is no doubt that alcohol is the most culprit - yet it is often overlooked as the typical cause of headaches. Our reaction to alcohol could vary, depending on the day or context, and might be affected by eating and how much water we consume, since dehydration is a related problem. This is where the consensus ends, because there is very mixed and confusing evidence with respect to the correlation of other substances in wine with an aching head. Researchers agree that sulfites are not linked with wine headaches, although they may be a concern for the very few individuals who are highly allergic or asthmatic. Some scientists point to the possible role of histamine and tyramine, both of which have an effect on blood vessels. By the way, red wines tend to have a greater histamine content than sparkling or white wine. This might substantiate why more people seem to complain about headaches after drinking red wine. On the other hand, as a retailer I heard complaints about all sorts of wines! It seems very difficult to make a meaningful connection with the vast numbers of red wines in California, France or Italy. However, if you feel fine after drinking wines from certain countries, then I suppose the best advice is to stay with that type of wine.
