Comments on: Wine allergies

By: Glyn

Glyn — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:55:03 +0000

Having a wine allergy where I live is a bit like being a vegetarian in Italy, very very bad luck. If you are lucky enough not to suffer from either of the two, I can suggest a glass of “Testa Matta” by Bibi Graetz, alongside a really fat Bistecca alla Fiorentina!

By: Darren

Darren — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 23:54:51 +0000

Over the past couple of weeks I felt I was coming down with a cold. My ears and nose were completely congested to the point my hearing was bad and loud music and voices were irritating because of the vibration. I kept thinking to myself over that time frame that the symtoms were weird in this way: 1) I would be fine one day and then the congestion would start up the next day. In other words my congestion would come and go. 2) It lasted 3 weeks (usually the common cold last a week. 3) I didn’t have any fever–just cold symtoms. Finally, I had a glass of red wine the other night (italian mix) and after one glass my hearing and nose completely stopped up. It dawned on me I was having an allergic reaction. I searched the website and found this site. I’m not the only one. I’m 43 years old and have drank wine for about 20 years with no issues. However, I am allergic to other things like fish and shell fish. I break out in hives–histamines. It’s funny how you can live your entire life doing something and then “bam” your struck with a new allergy. Thanks for all your information. I’m a wino so I have some experimenting to do.

By: SanC

SanC — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:20:34 +0000

I find myself in a terrible situation. I do have a sulfur allergy where years ago I broke out in huge hives and my face was swollen. As the years have gone by, I started drinking red wine. My face would get flushed very easily and I would limit my drinking to only one glass, possibly two because I would find my behavior getting out of control…getting mean. I’m truly a docile person and get along with others in public and at home. Yet, I try to only drink when I’m home and after having breast cancer a few years ago, totally fine now, and always having difficulties drinking I started to rely more on red wine in the evenings. I have become very combative and extremely mean and just ugly behavior with my husband at home when I drink wine, sometimes only one glass and certainly worse if it’s two or three. He is the dearest person in the world and loves me coompletely, as I love him but I may reaching at straws but I am wondering if the wine and sulfur allergy over the years have triggered a “Dr. Jekyl/Mrs. Hyde” reaction. If I drink one or two beers or any other drink I never react this way. Needless to say I no longer drink wine as it terrifes me but I am wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar. I am ashamed as to how I have treated by husband and am doing my best to make it up to him but my last couple episodes have certainly changed his affection toward me, and understandably so because he is not sure who the real me is…..PLEASE if anyone else has expereinced complete mood swings on red wine & has a slfur allergy please let me know asap. Thanks!

By: Patricia Victour

Patricia Victour — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 20:16:32 +0000

I found out the hard way that I was super-allergic to sulfites – should have been clued in, as years ago I had a rash from a sulfa drug (sulfa/sulfites – dude . . .) I was prescribed for some condition.

Long story short, at 67 I was trying to give my old body a reprieve from beer and whiskey by drinking white wines, which I found didn’t have such bad hang-over effects while still delivering the “punch” that I want when I drink alcohol. Woke up one day with horrific hives all over my body. Sulfite allergy – figured that out myself – ER had NO IDEA.

So, if you want to drink wine (I went back to Jim Beam and Bud, except when a friend brought this wine), go to Trader Joe’s and get the Well Red organic/no sulfites detected win from Heartswork Winery in CA.

By: Annie T

Annie T — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 23:55:58 +0000

I am wondering if there is a “mix” of specific grapes that causes the problems. I’ve had two serious episodes of dizziness, almost out of body feeling awful, and both followed the consumption of red wine with multiple grape varieties. Was it the sulphides? Was it a specific grape? Was it the actual combination of specific grapes?

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:35:45 +0000

I have the requisite allergies mentioned by others hear. But I have found that I have NO allergic reaction to HARD CIDER. My sinuses and throat remain clear. Some of you may want to try this. If anyone knows why this works let me know.

By: Emilie

Emilie — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:34:46 +0000

@ann After drinking one glass of Malbec , a red wine made in Argentina I developed a fluttery heart beat and exhaustion. The first time this happened was Thanksgiving eve. It lasted until middle of the next day. I just thought something was going on with my heart. Sort of short of breath and fatigue. I had one small glass of this wine last night and in about an hour I began to feel my heart to skip, flutter and those feelings of exhaustion. I went to bed early and still felt bad when I got up. By about noon I was normal again. I am going to the MD to have my heart evaluated now but I began to think maybe it was the wine. My face flushes after drinking reds. I am glad to have found this site because now I see this could all be related to my sensitivity to this red Malbec.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 14:00:37 +0000

I am another sufferer who sneezes violently after a glass of wine either white or red. it then feels like I have a really bad cold for hours or even a few days. Worst reaction recently was to Turning Leaf semillion sauvingon blanc. Really bad. My daughter suffers identically although on honeymoon in Argentina recently she was sneeze free for two weeks despite staying in a wine lodge. Apparently Argentinian wine is low in sulphites but it could also be the climate because I am sensitive to dust and mould too and the climate there is very dry. I have had allergic rhinitis since I was a teenager and medical tests reveal house dust mite as the only culprit at the time. I have not been tested lately. Taking antihistamine damps down the reaction but leaves me stuffed up with no sense of smell. I have also tried a steroid spray which leads to nosebleeds eventually. It seems only solution is abstinence.

By: sandy

sandy — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:35:36 +0000

i drink pinot noir at night, and recently feel like in the a/m my throat seems a little swollen…congestion in the throat…

By: Maryann

Maryann — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:08:08 +0000

So relieved it’s not just me! I couldn’t work out why every evening that I have a glass of red wine I start to sneeze and am convinced I’m coming down with the flu’ – streaming nose and blocked sinuses. I suspect that it may be the level of sulphites in the wine as some wines seem to elicit a more severe response than others. And/or it could have something to do with approaching the menopause as others have suggested. Either way it looks like red wine is off the menu now!