Has this ever happened to you?

bethsmiles · July 2013

Earlier today BF and I went to the liquor store and I picked up some wine to try. I haven't had much wine in the past but I've never had a problem with it and since I don't really like beer I wanted to see if I could find a good wine I liked. Well after one glass I felt horrible. Just sick to my stomach and ended up throwing up within an hour of finishing my glass. At one point (before I threw up) I felt like I was going to pass out.

Has anyone ever had this happen to them before? Now I'm afraid to try more wine because this was such a horrible experience.

KeptInStitches · July 2013

Only on hard liquor, and only after one drink where I don't know what was in it. I'm not saying that someone slipped something illegal into my drink, I'm saying that I literally do not know what combination of alcohol was in that drink. I just know I will never drink it again.

Lousy. What kind of wine was it?

Peaseblossom55 · July 2013

That's awful. I've never had that experience before after one glass of wine. I'm sorry hope you are feeling better.

buddysmom80 · July 2013

That's scary @bethsmiles! I hope you're feeling a little better today!

I'm wondering if it's an allergy thing? Or you know how some people get really tired when they drink wine? Maybe you're super sensitive to the alcohol content? Did you eat anything yesterday? I know if I don't eat enough, one alcoholic drink for me will be all I need since I get a good buzz going.

Swazzle · July 2013

When I was in college, I drank about half of one Barcardi Silver and all of a sudden, I barely made it to the trashcan to throw up and I was soaked in sweat. It was totally random and I had drank that before which made it even stranger.

What kind of wine was it?

CASK85 · July 2013

Sometimes the nitrites in wine (or sulfites in something like Smirnoff ice) give me a stomachache, but I've never thrown up from it before. Maybe that brand just had a lot of them (or of something else) you could have a sensitivity to. Was it a sweet wine? Maybe too much sugar? I'm pseudo talking out of my ass here. . . so take what I said with a grain of salt. I would consider trying a different type of wine from a different company altogether and if you have the same reaction, maybe see a doctor.

phira · July 2013

Gross, what kind of wine was it?

I used to get sick from drinking beer. Everyone would tease me and say, "Of COURSE you got sick from drinking beer, you were drunk!" Except I would have 1 beer and be violently nauseous the whole rest of the night (I was proud of never vomiting from drinking--in retrospect, I should have just thrown up!).

These days I can drink beer, although I never acquired a taste for it. I have no idea why it made me so sick.

bethsmiles · July 2013

It was Sutter Home Merlot. I hadn't eaten right before drinking it but it was only an hour or so after dinner and I had a pretty big dinner.

Google seems to be pointing toward sulfates as the problem, so maybe I'll try finding one that is low in sulfates and see if that fixes the problem. I was really surprised I had such an extreme reaction to it because I've had wine before (granted it has been a few years) and not had a problem at all and I've never had a problem with alcohol before.

Thanks for your comments!

CASK85 · July 2013

Try a wine from a smaller vineyard - Sutter Home has massive distribution so I'd bet they add more things to their wine for preservatives.

minskat30 · July 2013

Did your BF experience any sickness? The wine itself could have been bad.

bethsmiles · July 2013

@minskat30 - BF only had a few sips from my glass, he doesn't really drink wine so I doubt it would've affected him if it was bad.

[Deleted User] · July 2013

I actually had that same issue with Sutter Home Merlot about two years ago, and it's turned me away from Merlot period. I've tried other varieties of wines and haven't had a problem.

bride2b71614 · July 2013

Perhaps it was just a bad bottle? You mentioned that you purchased it from a liquor store. Some liquor stores do not store wines correctly (wine should technically be stored in a set temperature room, blocking certain elements such as humidity etc.). Sometimes bottles ferment if they are not stored properly, and that could make anyone sick. I would also try a wine with a lower sulfate content, and stay away from the brand you originally purchased. If you find yourself getting sick from different bottles and or merlot in general. If you prefer a red wine, perhaps a bordeaux, or even a pinot noir might be good choices. If those still make you sick,maybe you can attempt to find a place that stores bottles correctly (I am not saying go to a winery or anything, but there are places that specialize in wine storage) it might be time to consult a doctor for an allergy test. Good luck, and I hope you find a good wine.

bethsmiles · July 2013

@bride2b71614 - I didn't know that. I'll have to keep that in mind the next time I decide to try a new wine.

cmiles89 · July 2013

Could be a sulfate allergy you weren't aware of? I've never seen it that severe though...

loves2shop4shoes · July 2013

I have a mild allergy to Oak Aged wine. If I drink a glass, I have an upset stomach. If I drink more than a glass, I break out in haves and vomit. A lot.

My advice is to find out everything you can about the wine you drank and determine if you might have an allergy to something in the wine.

But don't give up all hope just yet.

desertsun · July 2013

Sulfites can cause allergic/asthma reactions but generally do not cause vomiting or headaches. Most wine does contain sulfites b/c SO2 is released during fermentation. Sometimes it is added, especially in cheaper wines made with added sugar. A couple interesting articles:
http://guides.wsj.com/wine/wine-tips-and-tricks/why-do-i-get-headaches-from-wine/

http://www.thekitchn.com/sulfites-in-wine-necessary-or-100878

I would look for a different brand and type next time. Mondavi, Yellow Tail, Chateau St. Michele all make nice reds and are widely available.

Smoking Loon made me sick like that once, and I've just avoided it since and never had the same problem again.

beanbot2002 · July 2013

Could have been an allergy to the sulfites, though I've never personally heard of this bad of a reaction. That doesn't mean it isn't possible. My sister turns purple when she drinks red wine. Not kidding, like "HOLY SHIT ARE YOU BREATHING???" purple. Hope you find a good wine that sits well with you!

bethsmiles · July 2013

@loves2shop4shoes - that's a good idea. I'll have to do some wine research before I try it again!

@desertsun - thanks for the wine suggestions. I'll see if I can find one of those brands to try.

@beanbot2002 - I was surprised by how extreme my reaction was too! I'm thinking the sulfite allergy is what it was though because nothing else really fits.

beanbot2002 · July 2013

@bethsmiles I'm just so sad that your wine night was ruined!

Has this ever happened to you?

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