Plenty of myths and misinformation exists about headaches and wine drinking. The most important of which is that Sulfites are what commonly give wine drinkers headaches.

Sulfites

Sulfites are a natural component created by yeast during wine fermentation, but are also added to most wines to prevent fermentation after bottling.  Most wines from all countries contain sulfites, even if a warning label is not present.  Many years ago, the FDA determined that about 1% of the population is allergic to sulfites, so a law was passed to require a warning label on all wines sold in the U.S.  People allergic to sulfites have an allergic reaction when drinking wine but are not prone to headaches from the reaction.  Asthma sufferers are most at risk for sulfite allergies and bad reactions.

Many people do, however, experience headaches when drinking red wine.  If red wine causes a headache but not white wine, this is surely not the result of sulfites, since white and sweet wines generally contain more sulfites than red wines. Dried fruits also contain sulfites but do not reportedly cause headaches, either.

“No Sulfites Added” (NSA) wines are available for anyone concerned or interested in testing whether or not Sulfites are responsible for their headaches.  Badger Mountain produces a popular line of No Sulfites Added wines in the Northwest.

The stigma surrounding alcohol consumption contributes to a lack of knowledge about what truly is the culprit causing red wine headaches.  Small studies have tested many theories surrounding chemicals present in red wines.  Unfortunately there is a stigma associated with the study of alcohol consumption, which limits the number of motivated scientists and funding sources for larger studies.

Tannin

Tannins are a powdery natural substance found on the skins of things such as peaches, apples, cows, grapes and oak trees.  They are most recognizeable as having a pronounced drying affect on the palate (like having cotton placed on your gums).  Tannins enter wines when the grapes are crushed and the juice runs over the other grapes in the tanks, or when wines are aged in newer oak barrels. 

Some people have blamed tannins for headaches, since many red wines contain a relatively large amount of this naturally occurring “flavonoid” component (a powerful antioxidant), and tannins are not present in most white wines.  Tannins have the chemical effect on the body of releasing serotonin into the brain, which does cause headaches in those people prone to migraines.  See more information about tannins here.

Today, new medications for migraine headaches are widely available and can help stave off headaches from wine before they occur (in migraine sufferers). However, this still doesn’t fully explain why people who do not suffer from migraines still get red wine headaches.

If you wish to test your sensitivity to tannins, drink tea and eat soy or dark chocolate…each of these items contains significant tannins.

Tannins are healthy for humans.   They help lower cholesterol, adjust the balance between good and bad cholesterol, stimulate the immune system, lower cancer risk & more.  So don’t give them up lightly.

Alcohol

It seems obvious but often overlooked that simply drinking alcohol will cause headaches.  The alcohol causes abnormal and changing moisture content in the brain, producing pressure.  Over-consumption is most often the cause of headaches, and there is a solution for those who consume too much or worry about an upcoming headache…drink a tall glasses of water and take two aspirin prior to drinking wine.  Alternate drinking one glass of water between glasses of wine.

The water will help reduce the dehydration that occurs from the alcohol, and the aspirin will have time to take effect before the symptoms appear. Studies have shown that taking aspirin after the headache appears has no effect.

Armed with this information, you should be able to test your limits and avoid headaches whenever possible.

Healthy Wine

A combination of religious objections and prohibition can be credited with a persevering stigma attached to drinking alcohol in the United States that unfortunately still plagues the wine industry in modern times. Technology and research is now in the beginning stages of reversing that stigma with proof that moderate wine consumption can be healthy and beneficial.

It’s been more than 10 years since a famous 60 Minutes episode introduced the “French Paradox”, a phenomenon linking moderate red wine consumption in France to their 40% lower rate of heart attacks compared to Americans. It has since been conclusively shown that wine consumption reduces risk of heart attacks by 25-45%.

Antioxidants, naturally occurring compounds in wine, form the human body’s first line of defense against cancer. These Antioxidants are also believed to prevent the deposition of cholesterol in arteries, reducing rates of heart disease.

Alcohol boosts HDL cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart disease and reducing arterosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries). 

The British Medical Journal in 1995 noted that wine is more effective as an antibacterial agent than the active ingredient in Pepto Bismol, eliminating food-borne bacteria that cause stomach illnesses. A 1988 study of an outbreak of Hepatitis A found that 70% of wine drinkers did not become ill, while a majority of patients drinking beer or no alcohol became sick. This was one of the first studies where alcohol was shown to be an effective protection against not only bacteria, but certain viruses also.

There is no cure for Macular Degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in people over 65. But one study showed people who drink wine are 20% less likely to suffer from this condition. 

Moderate consumption is may also be effective in helping prevent obesity and kidney stones, increasing blood-sugar control in diabetics, defending against some STDs and preserving mental clarity (slowing Alzheimer’s) as we age.

What is “Moderate” consumption?

Always talk to your doctor before making dietary decisions. But generally 14 oz. of wine daily for men and 8 oz. of wine daily for women (one standard serving in a glass is 6 oz.) are moderate amounts that achieve the beneficial effects described here.  See the American Heart Association’s recommendations here.

Find more information

• Novus Vinum talks about several wine studies
• Watch a 60 Minutes report on Resveritrol

For many wine drinkers, sweet wines represent childlike or simple flavors.  This thought can be a stigma, rising from the fact that most beginning wine drinkers enjoy sweet & light wines while long-time wine drinkers move away from sweetness toward dry and complex wines.

A Solera system of barrels used to make Sherry

Port, Madeira and Cream Sherry

Before yeast converts all the sugar to alcohol, extra grape spirits can “fortify” a wine to kill the yeast and leave some sugar remaining in the higher-alcohol result.  The Iberian peninsula is the birthplace of these full-bodied, complex after-dinner wines, where ships destined for the US and Britain were once filled with the stuff!

Each of these three selections has a different and unique production method.  Find out more about: Port, Sherry or Madeira.

Moscato & Brachetto

In Piedmont in northern Italy, Muscat and Brachetto grapes respectively create this pair of white and red semi-sparkling summer dazzlers.  Moscato d’Asti has a pear and apricot flavor profile while Brachetto delivers with Strawberry, raspberry and rose notes.  Drink them with fresh fruit and cheese platters at your next picnic.

Ice Wines

When grapes are left on the vine during the season’s first frost, the resulting juice squeezed from the frozen fruit is decadently sweet – a result of the water ice staying frozen while the sugary juice (which does not freeze at the same temperatures) flows under gentle crushing.  Canada has built a worldwide reputation for the best ice wines, which are only produced under the strictest regulations.  For more info:  Ice Wines

Botrytis Wines – Sauternes & Tokay

The Botrytis "Noble Rot" mold

Chateau d’Yquem is the most famous wine affected by the Noble Rot mold called Botrytis, yielding a complex and unique taste from the blend of late-harvested Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes in France’s Sauterne area of Bordeaux. It is the historical benchmark for similar wines produced worldwide.

Click here to learn more about Sauternes

Tokaj is a specialty of Hungary made from the Noble Rot grapes and is available in varying levels of sweetness, ranked increasingly sweet with higher “puttanyos” numbers on the label.  The Hungarian Wine Society can tell you more about this elixir.

Dried Grapes – Vin Santo & Recioto

Vin Santo is a product of Tuscany made with partially dried grapes, lending a raisiny quality to the full-bodied and nutty character.  It makes a perfect match to almond and pecan desserts. Recioto is made in the Veneto area of Northeast Italy near Venice, made from the dried  red grapes of Valpolicella.  Its flavors are deeper, richer, and more suitable for chocolate explorations.  Originally, dried-grape wines were invented by the Greeks, who coined the name Vin Santo. 

It’s time for adults to enjoy the sweet tastes

Drying grapes for Vin Santo

There are many more sweet wines on the market, which pair beautifully with salty cheeses, spicy Asian and East Indian cuisines, fresh fruit as well as sweet desserts. Don’t miss out on your opportunities to experience these complex and unique expressions of the winemaking art as part of your passage through adulthood!

Just two weeks ago we invited Portland to sample through a grand array of 100 different wines at our first-ever Squatters Tasting Event in Portland.  Over 100 people came to taste, and one wine stole the show.  Nearly every taster immediately took home bottles and we sold out of this wine first.

This wine is a creation from Lodi, California, with 85% Grenache and 15% Tempranillo.  Both varieties are best known on the Iberian Peninsula as ingredients in the best wines of Spain, and as grapes used in the production of Port wines.  Grenache is also famed as one of the main grapes of France’s Rhone Valley.

grapes are now taking hold here on the West Coast as producers test fun new varietals in the more arid growing regions most resembling the weather patterns in the traditional countries.

Displays a bright, vibrant ruby color with aromas of fresh cherries, raspberries and pomegranate fruit intermingled with sweet oak and savory spice. The flavors match the aromas with the pure, lively fruit washing over the palate with hints of cola, vanilla and fresh herbs. The velvety texture is highlighted by the bright acidity that carries the fruit through the smooth, supple and sensuous finish where the well integrated, powdery tannins complete the wine.

The spicy fruit flavors will pair perfectly with bold BBQ, game meats, hearty burgers and even Asian or East Indian dishes, but certainly can just be enjoyed as is, for years to come!  But act fast.  Only 146 cases of this wine were produced.

This wine is regularly sold for $24.99, but is available to wine club members for only $22.99!

• Visit the Odisea website
• Link up with Odisea Wine Co. on MySpace
• Espavino.com has plenty of in-depth information about Spanish wines
• Discover more about France’s Rhone Valley

• Find hundreds of burger recipes at Marx Foods online.
• Our signature Bleu Cheese Bacon Dip recipe can enhance any cut of red meat.
• Try Lamb in Red Gravy from IndianRecipe.org

Have you tasted this wine? When you’ve had a chance to enjoy this wine, please return to this blog and leave your comments! Others will appreciate your input, unique viewpoint, and recommendations.

If you’ve ever tried to ship alcohol anywhere, you’re aware of the frustration felt by hundreds of wary wine fans on a daily basis.  It’s as if shipping companies like FedEx, UPS and the Post Office think people shipping wine are trading in nuclear arms or disposing of toxic waste!  (fear not, we’re here to help).

For each of the 50 states, there is a confusing mass of antiquated liquor laws. Shipping wine to Kentucky is a felony, while shipping wine to Illinois is perfectly OK. It is necessary for us to keep a list, updated frequently, to know what states we can ship wine to for our customers.

Much of the liquor laws have been on the books since prohibition. The wine shipping laws, however, are meant only to protect the livelihoods of the wine distributors in each state still enforcing these laws.

Distributors feel that, if people are allowed to order wine directly from wineries, local retail sales will suffer. This idea is misguided and silly, unfortunately…even in states where shipping wine is perfectly legal, the amount of people accepting large quantities of wine via mail is a miniscule portion of wine retail sales.

Repealing these laws will assist wineries in selling their smaller productions throughout the country, whether they are a small winery or the wine is a reserve product. Repealing the laws will benefit consumers by making all wines available everywhere to anyone.

Laws are being changed today.  Florida, Arizona, Vermont and Texas recently loosened their shipping laws, and more states will follow.

A website named Free The Grapes is helping to coordinate efforts to fight the remaining laws. Visit their website at www.freethegrapes.com to read about these laws and find out how you can help assist the cause.

For more information

• Ship wine using our services!  Click here for information.
• Learn more about Prohibition in the U.S.
• Visit Free The Grapes.org for more information about shipping laws.

The Red Mountain grape growing region is Washington State’s smallest American Viticultural Area (AVA), defined in 2001 by the U.S. Treasury and the ATF. Located at the eastern tip of the Yakima Valley, just west of the Tri-Cities (Richland) area, this important area encompasses little more than 4,000 acres (only 700 acres are planted with producing vines so far) of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah grapes. But here is where you’ll find some of the best wine grapes in all of Washington.

A view of Washington's smallest wine appellation

Only 14 wineries call this area home. Among them:  Hedges, Kiona, Seth Ryan, Oakwood, Blackwood Canyon, Taptiel Vineyard, Hightower and Terra Blanca. Additional grape-growers include Klipsun Vineyards (Ranked in the top 25 vineyards in the world by Wine & Spirits Magazine), Ciel de Cheval Vineyards, Artz Vineyards. Across the state, the finer wineries seek out the coveted Red Mountain grapes to blend into the growing number of outstanding Washington red wines. You’ll find Red Mountain grapes in the wines from Woodward Canyon, Quilceda Creek, Andrew Will, L’Ecole No. 41, Washington Hills, Seven Hills and Canoe Ridge and more.

Success has come quickly… Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 100 Wines for 2002 listed Hedges Red Mountain Reserve ($46) and Sandhill’s Cabernet Sauvignon ($24), as well as Andrew Will’s Ciel du Cheval Merlot and Quilceda Creek’s Cabernet Sauvignon. Hedge’s Fume/Chardonnay ($11) also made the “Top 100 Values” from Wine Enthusiast’s 2002 list.

Look for increasing success and production in the region as more acreage is planted and more vines bear fruit with age. With such perfect growing conditions, and rising talent gaining experience each year, Washington’s Red Mountain will be the region to watch!

For more information

• Visit the Washington Wine Commission’s site about Red Mountain
• Read another profile of the Red Mountain region at WinesNW.com
• Watch Wine Spectator’s overview of Red Mountain at YouTube.com
• A Red Mountain map and winery links can be found at GoTasteWine