“It’s so good! Once it hits your lips, it’s so good!” .. until ten minutes later you get a massive headache and the parties over.

Originally, scientists attributed the causes of these headaches to sulfites. Sulfites, or sulfur dioxide is a preservative as well as a naturally occurring byproduct of yeasts, produced during the fermentation process. Headaches are not likely caused by Sulfites in wines. A sulfite allergy is a serious condition. When a trip to the salad bar can send you to the hospital, you have been warned long before you are old enough to drink wine.

Headaches are most commonly caused by the histamines found in the skins of red grapes or the phenolic compounds present in grape stems,seeds and skins.

An antihistamine taken before consuming wine may prevent a headache. If you still wake up with a headache you may be suffering from another medical condition known as a "hangover."

Ric