Wine Allergy: Unraveling Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments 2025

Tannin allergy symptoms are consistent with wider symptoms of wine allergy. If you suspect that you may have an allergy, you can make an appointment to consult with an allergist. You can also try a home-to-laboratory allergy test kit to help determine whether or not you have an IgE reaction. Despite the fact that there are many different ingredients and chemicals in wine that we can react to, wine allergies are quite rare. A true allergy to the alcohol in the wine itself is extremely rare, although a few cases of skin rash reactions have been recorded.

• The severity of the reaction can depend on the amount of yeast ingested, the frequency of exposure, and the individual’s sensitivity.
• The idea of giving up wine entirely might seem a little drastic, but it’s the only guaranteed way to completely prevent these allergic reactions from occurring.
• Unlike the symptoms of intolerance, an allergic reaction can be serious and even life-threatening.

How can I identify the specific wine causing my allergic reactions?

Many components of wine (proteins from grapes, yeasts, molds, clearing agents, ethanol, acetaldehyde, flavonoids, sulfites, biogenic amines, etc.) can trigger these reactions. In order to be able to recommend suitable prophylactic measures, the physician should carry out a thorough diagnostic work-up in the patient. A strict pharmacotherapy of asthma or rhinitis is necessary and emergency medication should be provided to the patient. Champagne allergies are not uncommon, and they can be attributed to a variety of factors, including the grapes used to make the champagne, as well as the fermentation process. Some people may experience allergic reactions to the sulfites or histamines found in champagne, while others may be sensitive to certain proteins present in the drink. This burstiness of potential allergens can lead to specific reactions that may not occur with other types of wine.

Figure 1. Classification of hypersensitivity reactions to wine (following the EAACI and WAO nomenclature ).

Skin prick testing with the suspected wine was positive, but testing with samples of an older wine was negative 20. Oral provocation testing with the young wine was positive (OAS and flush; FEV1-reduction by 25%); oral provocation tests with other types of wine were negative. The patients had positive IgE-antibodies against venom of Vespula or Polistes wasps as well as against the suspected wine. The authors postulate that the sensitization that was necessary to induce the anaphylactic reaction took place orally. The production process for champagne involves a secondary fermentation in the bottle, which can result in higher levels of carbon dioxide being dissolved into the wine. This can lead to a greater release of histamines, which may trigger allergic reactions in some individuals.

• At YorkTest, we offer both a Premium Food Intolerance test and a Food and Environmental Allergy Test to cover all bases.
• Antihistamines can help with minor reactions such as stuffy noses or itchiness after drinking wine.
• You may have heard that some people with food allergies are slowly given increasing amounts of allergen orally in order to promote tolerance.
• A strict pharmacotherapy of asthma or rhinitis is necessary and emergency medication should be provided to the patient.
• Anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, can cause the body to go into anaphylactic shock.
• While many are enchanted by the wonders of Champagne yeast, others may experience a less pleasant reaction- an allergic reaction.

Allergic to Wine? Signs & Symptoms of Wine Intolerance

While an allergic reaction involves the immune system and can be life-threatening, an intolerance is generally less serious and often limited alcohol allergy to digestive problems. However, both can cause uncomfortable symptoms and can be addressed through various treatment options. A few of the proteins in grapes or yeast can cause allergic reactions in some people. Several of these proteins, like thaumatin-like proteins and lipid transfer proteins, help protect plants, but in some people, the body mistakes them for harmful substances.

Allergic reactions to inorganic wine components (ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and sulfites)

Disappointingly, according to one study, women are twice as likely to have a wine allergy than men. But right off the bat you’re more likely than a guy to need to lay off the adult juice. These are long-chain alcohols and other compounds that are particularly frequent in extract-rich wines. Wine usually contains only low amounts of fusel alcohols, they can however become a problem in cases of bad fermentation.

Diagnosing a wine allergy

Think seasonal allergy symptoms that hit you like a wall the morning after the fun. Before you skip the wine altogether, you might try one of the low-histamine wines on the market, though. The aging process of wine can affect the levels of histamines and sulfites, potentially Halfway house impacting the risk of allergic reactions. While sulfites can trigger asthma symptoms in some people, they are not typically the main source of wine allergies. Histamines and certain proteins in the wine are more likely to cause allergic reactions. Yes, histamines present in wine can contribute to allergic reactions in some individuals.

Can I take allergy medicine after drinking wine?

It may occur after eating or drinking grape products, including wine, raisins, and fresh grapes. Saccharomyces Cerevisiae is a unicellular fungus that is used in the production of many alcoholic beverages such as Champagne. A yeast allergy is a reaction triggered by the immune system when it perceives the yeast as a threat to the body.