I have a love-hate relationship with being a pourer at wine tasting events. On one hand, there is nothing in the world I love more than having a platform, and a captive audience, to share my passion and enthusiasm for wine. I get a thrill seeing the expression on someone's face when they try a wine for the first time and they love it. They didn't even know something like this existed and yet they can't get enough of it. I, in turn, get to "geek out", filling their head with a ton of useless information about the history of the grape, how it's cultivated, and the wars, political upset and economic devastation this little vine has endured. I have goosebumps as I write. I live for this stuff.
On the other hand, there is my worst nightmare. Right there, in the floral blouse and rhinestone glasses coming at me like a heat seeking missile. I am about to be inundated with stories of how "certain wines" affect her bowels, give her a rash and, come back up. Most cultures (and doctors) would call this a hangover and not blame the poor bottle of wine, but rather the copious amounts consumed. But just like saying Bloody Mary three times in the mirror causes instant death or blindness or something, there is a horribly perpetuated myth about wine allergies. Number one culprit... Sulfites.
Ahh yes, sulfites. It wasn't long before little miss rhinestone glasses informed me that she can only drink French wine because there aren't any sulfites in French wine. She went on to inform me that there really weren't any sulfites in Italian wine either, but she just didn't care for them as much. On the rare occasion I'll feel feisty (and well rested ) enough to challenge this ridiculousness. But the truth is most folks don't want to hear it. They have convinced themselves that somehow, what they are experiencing is an affliction to the most common preservative in the world.
The fact is, there are more sulfites in a glass of orange juice than there are in an entire bottle of wine. Bacon, onions and garlic, pickles, jams and jellies, cookies and potato chips, on and on and on... Chances are if you are one of the truly unfortunate people to suffer from a sulfite sensitivity, this shocking revelation did not come to you last Saturday night because you downed a glass of California Cab. You've probably known it since birth, and hated every minute of it.
So, why do people think these European countries are sulfite exempt? Simple. The U.S. has stupid labeling laws. Just like we are required to let you know that alcohol consumption is bad for pregnant women and might impair your ability to operate heavy machinery, duh, we are required to let you know that sulfites are present in an almost undetectable amount. 10 parts per million to be exact. (FYI: the booze sulfite maximum is 350 ppm). Here's the real kicker - sulfites happen naturally! They are a perfectly normal bi-product of fermentation. The addition of So2 to wine happens for the same reason it's put into anything else. To prevent bacterial growth, browning and oxidation. That being said, if you really truly believe that sulfites are inhumane, drink red. There are waayyy more sulfites added to white wine than red wine because white wine will turn brown without them.
Now, I'm not a doctor. I really shouldn't go around diagnosing people and their wine aliments... but I do. So here it is. This is why you get a rash, headache, stiff sore muscles, and a stuffy nose. Drum roll please (pprrrrrrrrrrrr) Histamines. Yup they're present in wine. About 100% more prevalent in red wines than white. Tannin, the astringent, mouth-drying element in wine, can also produce allergy like symptoms but again, if you have a sensitivity to tannin you knew it the first time you ate chocolate, soy sauce, or drank an overly steeped cup o' tea.
The irony is that I can relate to wine allergies. Yes, I too suffer from a histamine reaction to wine. Stuffy head, sinus pressure, the whole shebang. However, instead of divulging my nasal issues with a poor defenseless wine pourer, I simply take a Claritin and call it a day.
Here's to your health... literally.
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