On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 21:04:43 +0200, Mike Tommasi >
wrote:


>It is strange how, irrespective of sulfite amounts, there are some
>wines that in no time can give you a headache that feels like someone
>is driving a screwdriver (not the drink) through your brain, while
>other wines seem to allow you to drink a quantity so generous that
>other things may happen before you notice any headache...
>
I'm pretty sure that the body gets attuned to things a person eats or
drinks frequently. I've seen more of the screwdriver headaches with
unusual or untried foods/drinks than with those that are common in my
diet. Cheeses can be bad for headaches with some I know. Amongst my
friends this isn't a problem, more so is our delight in well matured
cheese. One often has to keep cheeses in the shed in the garden as his
wife won't let them in the house :-)

As for wines, whites always seem to be worse for that early-onset
headache than reds (which creep up on you for later). Talking of
which, there's a rather short vertical of Musar planned tomorrow for
my 40th, and I'll try to post notes here when I've recovered.

The causes of feeling unwell in all sorts of ways aren't just the
alcohol or the "sulfites". There are some wines which provoke in me a
horrible reaction which lasts for two days or so - sort of flu-like
with aching joints and a run down feeling (but no sniffles or cold
like symptoms). Fresh strawberries do the same (though
cooked/processed don't).

I don't know what the compound is, and can't really describe how it
smells/tastes. If I don't smell it (which I usually can) I can
immediately taste it in a wine and thus avoid more than a sip. It's
not likely to be sulfites or anything unnaturally added as it first
manifested itself when I was a child with strawberries fresh off the
plants in my grandmother's garden.

James
James Dempster (remove nospam to reply by email)

You know you've had a good night
when you wake up
and someone's outlining you in chalk.