Sulphites in wine
I’ve heard sulphites are why my face often flushes when drinking wine (it doesn’t happen with other alcohols). Is that true and is there anything – apart from abstaining! – I can do? Diane Clarke, St Albans Michael Apstein MD replies: Sulphites in wine are blamed, without evidence, for a multitude of sins. People are exposed to sulphites in a variety of foods, like lemons, pickles and even Maraschino cherries, but for some reason attribute whatever ill effects they have from drinking wine to sulphites. A few individuals do have an allergy to sulphites, usually manifested by asthma, wheezing or hives.
I doubt the flushing you experience is due to sulphites, but you could try a wine that contains no added sulphites to see if it still occurs. Then try to narrow down the cause. Does flushing occur after drinking all types of wine – red, white, sparkling and sweet? If so, then ask your GP whether treatment with an antihistamine would be worthwhile.