Wine Allergy Symptoms

Experts aren’t sure what causes wine allergies, but symptoms can range from irritating to life-threatening. Here's what you should know about wine allergy symptoms.

Have you ever enjoyed champagne with dinner but ended up sneezing and itchy afterwards? Does red wine give you a headache? Do you ever feel like your asthma is flaring up after having a glass of Chardonnay?

If so, you might suffer from a wine allergy.

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Wine allergy symptoms

Most wine allergy symptoms are uncomfortable and irritating, but a few can be genuinely dangerous. In extreme cases, the American College of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology warns that people with wine allergies may experience anaphylaxis. If that occurs, it is important to seek medical help immediately. Anaphylaxis can be life-threatening.

More often, symptoms resemble those of other mild allergies. The most common reactions to wine include:

• Itching
• Swelling in the face
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Coughing
• Flushed skin
• Headache

Wine allergies can cause asthmatic symptoms, either as a reaction to the wine itself or because your wine allergy triggers your preexisting asthma. Symptoms can include trouble breathing, wheezing, or tightness in your chest. 

Because wine allergy symptoms are associated with other conditions, such as hay fever or infections, you may not immediately associate them with the glass of wine you had a dinner. If you notice the same cluster of symptoms occurring each time you have a drink, however, the wine may be the cause. 

Causes of wine allergy

Researchers have been unable to pinpoint a single cause of allergies to wine. Instead, a variety of chemicals may be to blame.

Many wines contain sulfite, a type of salt that stops fermentation. It occurs naturally in most wine and is sometimes added as a preservative. Studies suggest that sulfite allergies can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from flushing to anaphylaxis. The Food and Drug Administration estimates that less than 1 percent of the population is allergic to sulfites.

Histamines in wine may also trigger your reaction. Your body produces the chemicals during an allergic reaction, causing symptoms like sneezing and runny nose. The histamines that are naturally present in wine may trigger allergy symptoms in individuals who are already highly sensitive or have other allergies. 

Another common chemical in wine is tyramine, produced during fermentation. Because tyramine causes the blood vessels in your body to constrict and raises your blood pressure, it might be responsible for causing some symptoms of wine allergy, such as headaches or shortness of breath. If you are sensitive to tyramine, you may also react to cured meats or aged cheese. 

Wine allergy vs. wine intolerance

Even if you react to wine, you may not be truly allergic.

Some people suffer from wine intolerance. Intolerance means your  body doesn’t produce enough of an enzyme that is necessary to break down wine as you digest it. An overreaction in your immune system causes a true allergy, not an enzyme deficiency.

Some individuals who are sensitive to wine may lack an intestinal enzyme that helps metabolize histamine. Other studies found that reactions like flushing and skin irritation are due to lowered levels of the enzyme that metabolizes acetaldehyde, the toxin in alcohol that causes headaches and vomiting when you drink too much. 

Practically, however, the results are very similar. Wine intolerance symptoms may include:

• Rashes
• Diarrhea
• Sneezing
• Flushed or itchy skin
• Headache
• Shortness of breath

Some participants may have symptoms similar to an asthma attack. 

You may not be able to determine on your own whether you have a wine allergy or an intolerance. But either way, you should avoid drinking wine in the future: Just one glass can be enough to trigger a reaction.

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