My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join the discussion and meet other Mumsnetters on our free online chat forum.

Chat

What is it in white wine that gives me a headache?

49 replies

CompleteBarstool · 22/12/2020 21:26

I thought red wine was renowned for giving you a headache but these days it seems to be white wine for me.

A friend of mine has always said that Chardonnay gives her a headache but for me it seems to be any (if I drink more than one glass).

What is it?

OP posts:
Report
Weedsnseeds1 · 22/12/2020 21:28

Sulphur Dioxide

Report
GirlCrush · 22/12/2020 21:34

egg?

Report
Saz12 · 22/12/2020 21:37

Alcohol?

That might just be me though...

Maybe .try organic white?

Report
BakewellGin1 · 22/12/2020 21:38

I'm like this with prosecco Sad even a glass or two has my head feeling like it's in a vice. Totally ruins me

Report
AnneLovesGilbert · 22/12/2020 21:40

I’m the same with white wine, any white. One glass is fine and a bit into a second I get a splitting headache at the top of my head. Tried it several times as it was a new thing and it was the same every time. Red is fine.

Report
bettxmascake · 22/12/2020 21:41

I'm the same, red wine is fine but white wine is not. I wonder if it's because it's chilled.

Report
howsicklyarsekissy · 22/12/2020 21:43

Chardonnay always gives me a headache i don't touch it now it's mixed grapes. Best to stick to old worlds wine like french. Spanish Italian less mixed grapes. I found that white Pinot less headaches!

Report
Countdowntonothing · 22/12/2020 21:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Longdistance · 22/12/2020 21:56

The sulphate content will give you a fuzzy head.
Pinot Grigio gives me a red neck and cheeks.

Report
Delatron · 22/12/2020 22:00

Sulphites. Some white wines make my nose runny all night it’s like an allergy.

I refuse to accept I’m allergic to wine though!

Report
Filmbuffmum · 22/12/2020 22:00

I have noticed this for a couple of years, but then tried this one www.coop.co.uk/products/raw-airen-verdejo-sauvignon-blanc-826722 and thought it was completely different, no headache and no after taste.

Report
Passthecake30 · 22/12/2020 22:02

Sulphites. Certain wines make me feel completely drunk within half a glass, these are the ones to also give me a headache.

Report
TenCornMaidens · 22/12/2020 22:11

Sulphites or histamine

Report
Thecazelets · 22/12/2020 22:13

Same here - can drink red but white is basically a headache in a glass.

Report
CompleteBarstool · 22/12/2020 22:30

So if its sulphites is there a way of telling which wines have no/less sulphites?

What's interesting is looking back to when we've been on holiday somewhere hot and I've tended to drink chilled white wine rather than red I dont recall having headaches like I have here at home in the UK when I drink white wine Confused

OP posts:
Report
Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin · 22/12/2020 22:36
Report
Frestba · 22/12/2020 22:39

Sainsburys I think do an organic wine with no added sulphides. It might be worth a try.

Report
CompleteBarstool · 22/12/2020 22:41

[quote Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin]Tannins, histamines and sugar.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/wine-headache-how-stop-a7466241.html%3famp[/quote]
That article implies that sweet wines or red wines are more likely to be a problem yet it's the dry whites that give me a headache.

OP posts:
Report
Bythehairywartsonmywitchychin · 22/12/2020 22:48

It says less likely, however you may be sensitive to tannins or you may be having an allergic reaction etc

Report
Fainasnowchild · 22/12/2020 22:48

Aha! I have info that may save your head! I started suffering with white wine in my early 40s. It seemed worse with Californian and Australian wines I noticed.
I did a bit of research and found that there is genuinely a difference in grape varieties and production methods that means that some people can react to "modern" production methods used more commonly in New World wines. I stick to French white wine or Italian if I must (Italian seems more variable) and find this does not produce the headaches in the same way. I can't drink as much as I used to, but I can have more than a single glass without getting an awful head. An extra bit of advice - avoid prosecco like the plague. It is the devil's own work for people with white wine sensitivity.

Report
Guineapigbridge · 22/12/2020 22:52

Yes, its prosecco and all white wine for me. Splitting headache. I avoid it now.
Iiiiiiinteresting that its the sulphites.
Champagne - the expensive stuff - is fine, thankfully.

Report
lilylongjohn · 22/12/2020 22:54

Try drinking organic wine. Prosecco gives me shitty headaches even when I'm drinking it, I found some organic Prosecco at aldi and I don't get a headache

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Guineapigbridge · 22/12/2020 22:56

This article says its not sulphites but likely all the other additives that are put into cheap wine to make it taste better
additives are to blame

Report
RosesforMama · 22/12/2020 22:57

It's not sulphites....unless you also react to salami, dried apricots etc.

Report
RosesforMama · 22/12/2020 23:01

OP do try a decent French dry white and see if it makes a difference. This is my favourite.

What is it in white wine that gives me a headache?
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.