Why Does One Wine Give You a Headache, but Another Doesn’t? Debunking the Myths

Someone drinks just one glass of red wine with dinner, and the next morning their head is pounding as if after a loud party. Someone else can have several glasses and still wake up with clear thoughts and full of energy.

Usually, the first thought is about powdered wine or too many sulfites. However, the real causes of a wine headache lie somewhere else entirely.

The myth of sulfites and baseless accusations

Most buyers stubbornly look for a label that says there is no added SO2. However, sulfites, or sulfur dioxide, are a natural preservative. They protect wine from acetic fermentation and premature oxidation.

Ordinary dried apricots or raisins contain five or even ten times more sulfites than a bottle of wine. So, if dried fruit does not give you a headache, then sulfites in wine are not to blame either.

Yes, a sulfite allergy does exist. But it is quite rare, affecting about 1% of people, and mostly those with asthma. And their reaction is usually breathing problems, not a headache.

The real causes of morning discomfort

If preservatives are not the issue, it is worth looking at other triggers. These are the factors that can truly affect how you feel after tasting wine:

• Histamines expand blood vessels. Red wine contains significantly more of them than white wine. The reason lies in the production process, because red wine stays in contact with grape skins for a long time during fermentation. If your body lacks the enzyme needed to break down histamines, even a small amount of red wine can quickly trigger a migraine.
• Tannins are the same phenolic compounds that make wine taste astringent. They are also found in grape skins, seeds, and stems. Studies show that tannins can stimulate the release of serotonin. In some people, such sharp jumps in neurotransmitters may cause vascular spasms and severe headaches.
• Sugar in sweet or semi-sweet wine, combined with alcohol, creates a double hit. To process that amount of sugar, the body needs a large amount of water. The result is strong dehydration. Physiologically, it feels like heaviness in the head.

As you can see, there are actually many possible causes, and they rarely act alone. Most often, everything depends on a combination of several factors at once, which is why every person’s reaction is different.

How to choose wine and avoid suffering

Knowing your body and understanding production technologies will become your reliable protection against poor purchases. For example, if you are prone to migraines, try switching to dry white wines. Fans of red wine should choose lighter varieties with thinner skins, such as Pinot Noir or Gamay. They contain significantly lower concentrations of tannins and histamines.

To learn how to read between the lines of wine labels and distinguish winemaking styles, you need a solid foundation. Perhaps you want to structure this knowledge for yourself or are planning a career in a restaurant. In that case, our wine courses will be an ideal starting point.

We also recommend choosing good dry wines and always keeping a glass of still water on the table.