Migraines & Wine

[Bucko]

Tannins per se do not cause headaches. Drink clear alcohols as much as possible. Studies have shown that red wine, brandy, scotch, tequila, rum and bourbon are more likely to cause a headache/hangover than white wine, gin and vodka.

Why? Colored alcohols have small quantities of congeners, which are by-products of the fermentation and distillation process. Congeners are complex organic molecules such as histamine and methyl alcohol, which contribute to the headache/hangover. Red wine also contains tyramine, an amino acid known to cause severe migraine headaches.

That said, what the hell do I know? ;-)