327443 Wed Sep 20 12:34:53 -0700 2006 12 34 Wine 0 1888894 I've been having the suspicion that I was slowly becoming allergic to red wine for months since everytime have red wine I get really stuffy and flushed. This past weekend I had an immediate reaction to a mouthful of Simard (one of my favorites that I've been drinking for years). Most people think it's the sulfites. I know there are organic wines without sulfites but am I truly destined never to have a great French wine again? <sigh> ANy thoughts or help MUCh appreciated. Wed Sep 20 12:34:53 -0700 2006 13893 Jonathan Saw 1 1888991 If you have some suggestions for wines that Jonathan might have less of a reaction to, please share them. But Chowhound isn't a medical site, so please keep the discussion chowish. Wed Sep 20 13:44:15 -0700 2006 1888894 2 The Chowhound Team 1 1889050 If sulfite are your problem, you will find NO wines without them. Some always is in the grapes. Wineries may choose to not add them. Some whites have very low sulfites, but get a test first. Try rieslings. Chenin Blancs, etc. Wed Sep 20 14:07:28 -0700 2006 1888894 12250 Bruce in SLO 2 1889735 Thanks. I get less of a reaction from whites so i'm good there. I'm hoping that there are reds out there that I can still drink that are also drinkable. Wed Sep 20 17:50:18 -0700 2006 1889050 13893 Jonathan Saw 1 1889700 If white wines don't bother you, then it is surely not sulfites, as it is in all wines, even organic ones. It sounds like you have a histamines reaction. Try taking a Sudafed next time before you drink a red wine and see if it helps. As one ages, one could develop new or intensify allergies. If taking a Sudafed helps, you should consult your doctor to see if you have an allergy that could be treated. Wed Sep 20 17:38:14 -0700 2006 1888894 41473 DaveSit 2 1890427 Yes, and white wines have more SO2 added, generally, to preserve freshness, so likely not sulfites and probably a histamine reaction. Here's a link to a page on sulfites and wines that Prof. Andy Waterhouse at UC Davis updates - http://waterhouse.ucdavis.edu/winecomp/so2.htm Sulfites don't cause wine headaches even though people often point to them. Wed Sep 20 20:59:04 -0700 2006 1889700 10039 Melanie Wong 1 1889731 Supposedly some people are allergic to the tannins in red wine. My sister had the same problem. She started taking allergy medicine, and it essentially went away over time. Now she is a full-fledged red wine lush again! Wed Sep 20 17:49:56 -0700 2006 1888894 28871 MaggieMuffin 1 1889739 Did you have any major dental work before this allergy started surfacing? Wed Sep 20 17:51:25 -0700 2006 1888894 13137 jackattack 1 1889917 I've known people who developed apparent red-wine allergies who could drink wines that were say six or more years old without problems. Worth experimenting. Wed Sep 20 18:36:19 -0700 2006 1888894 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 1890371 Robert - never heard of that but definitely worth trying. Any suggestions? Wed Sep 20 20:43:44 -0700 2006 1889917 13893 Jonathan Saw 3 1890435 Spanish Rioja reservas would be a category of red wine with some age on them that you should be able to find readily at retail. Wed Sep 20 21:00:49 -0700 2006 1890371 10039 Melanie Wong 3 1890487 Whatever you can find. I'm always buying weird older stuff on closeout. Currently I'm working my way through a couple of cases each of the 1998 Luca Abrata "Casteloé" barbera (paid $6 or $7 a bottle?) and the 2000 Meerlust "Rubicon" ($20). Wed Sep 20 21:11:05 -0700 2006 1890371 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 1893882 You have my sympathies! There was a discussion last spring about wine reactions - it started with headaches, and branched out to allergic reactions and the like. Perhaps you'll see something helpful here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/301860?user_name=&query=organic Anne Fri Sep 22 01:17:53 -0700 2006 1888894 12541 AnneInMpls