The "Red Wine Reaction" Syndrome

Abstract

A small portion of today's wine consumers refrain from drinking red wine due to what has become popularly known as the "red wine allergy reaction" syndrome. Red wines were presented, allergic skin scratch tests, and antihistamine treatments were conducted in order to determine the existence and possible nature of the purported reaction. Results indicate the possible reaction is, in the most part, probably not an allergic reaction, but is either psychologically induced or a physiologically toxic action.