Wine Headaches

I have been asked so many times "What causes wine headaches." My normal response would be a high sensitivity to naturally occuring sulfites in the wine or a high sensitivity to histamines. I would like to share with you this informative article I stumbled across a few days ago. Organic compounds found in some wines may be the suspected culprit of "Wine Headaches." I thought you might find it interesting. Following the article is a list of some new holiday wine picks as well.

Berkeley Scientists Develop Test for Headache Chemicals in Wine

Thursday November 1, 5:10 pm ET By Marcus Wohlsen, Associated Press Writer

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- The effects are all too familiar: a fancy dinner, some fine wine and then, a few hours later, a racing heart and a pounding headache. But a device developed by University of California, Berkeley, researchers could help avoid the dreaded "red wine headache." Chemists working with NASA-funded technology designed to find life on Mars have created a device they say can easily detect chemicals that many scientists believe can turn wine and other beloved indulgences into ingredients for agony. The chemicals, called biogenic amines, occur naturally in a wide variety of aged, pickled and fermented foods prized by gourmet palates, including wine, chocolate, cheese, olives, nuts and cured meats. "The food you eat is so unbelievably coupled with your body's chemistry," said Richard Mathies, who described his new technology in an article published Thursday in the journal Analytical Chemistry. Scientists have nominated several culprits for "red wine headache," including amines like tyramine and histamine, though no conclusions have been reached. Still, many specialists warn headache sufferers away from foods rich in amines, which can also trigger sudden episodes of high blood pressure, heart palpitations and elevated adrenaline levels.

The detector could prove useful to those with amine sensitivity, said Beverly McCabe, a clinical dietitian and co-author of "Handbook of Food-Drug Interactions," a book cited by the article for its descriptions of the effects of amines on the brain. The prototype -- the size of a small briefcase -- uses a drop of wine to determine amine levels in five minutes, Mathies said. A startup company he co-founded is working to create a smaller device the size of a personal digital assistant that people could take to restaurants and test their favorite wines. The researchers found the highest amine levels in red wine and sake and the lowest in beer. For now, the device only works with liquids. Mathies suggests the device could be used to put amine levels on wine labels. "We're aware of the consumer demand for information. But that has to be tempered by the manner in which wine is made," said Wendell Lee, general counsel for the Wine Institute, a California industry trade group.

Holiday Aperitif Picks
Louis de Grenelle Grand Cuvee Brut

Taittinger Brut Francaise.

Guy Larmandier Grand Cru "Cramant" Blanc de Blanc Brut.

Holiday White Wine Picks
Chateau La Rame Bordeaux Blanc 2005.

Lioco Sonoma Chardonnay 2006.

Maso Canali Pinot Grigio 2006.

Lucien Crochet Sancerre 2005.

Yves Cuilleron Viognier 2005.

Paul Blank Riesling 2003.

Holiday Red Wine Picks
River Road Pinot Noir.

Joseph Phelps "Innisfree" Cabernet 2005.

Louis Boillot Bourgogne Rouge 2004.

Mackenzie Estate Russian River Pinot Noir 2005.

Domaine Mourchon Rhone Valley Grande Reserve 2005.

Petrolo Torrione Sangiovese 2004.

Holiday Dessert Wine Picks
Castello del Poggio Moscato D'asti 2006.

Tesseron Cognac Lot #76 XO.

Taylor Fladgate 2000 Vintage Port.