Does white wine cause more headaches than red?
Quick answer
No, it is usually the opposite: red wine causes headaches more often than white. Red contains higher levels of histamines, tannins, and tyramine — three substances linked to headaches.
Detailed answer
The belief that white wine causes more headaches than red is a widespread myth. Scientific studies consistently point to red wine as the main headache culprit.
Red wine contains histamine levels 3 to 4 times higher than white (up to 20 mg/L versus 1-5 mg/L for white), according to a study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Maintz & Novak, 2007). Histamine causes cerebral vasodilation that can trigger headaches, especially in people deficient in diamine oxidase (DAO), the enzyme that breaks down histamine.
Red wine tannins release serotonin, a neurotransmitter whose rapid fluctuations are linked to migraines. White wine, made without prolonged skin contact, contains very few tannins.
That said, white wine often contains slightly more sulfites than red (200 vs 150 mg/L allowed in the EU), which may explain the misconception. However, sulfites are more likely to cause respiratory reactions in asthmatics than headaches.
A 2019 UC Davis study identified quercetin-3-glucuronide, a flavonoid in red grape skins, as an inhibitor of the ALDH2 enzyme. This blockage leads to acetaldehyde accumulation — the molecule behind hangover symptoms, including headaches.