Honest Wine: Happy & Headache Free
When Scott was wrapping up his Air Force career, we were fortunate enough to spend our last three years in a small German city, just a stone’s throw from France. A wine lover’s dream. I schlepped toddler Quinn and Scott across the border to French countryside towns as much as possible. We’d always promptly sit down at a café before any exploration began. Unbeknownst to us, the moderately portioned glass of Bordeaux Blanc was typically low alcohol in comparison to what we were used to consuming in America. We’d slow sip with Quinn and her apple juice over the course of a few hours with food. Meals over there were so much slower. The serving staff assumes your butt is quite happy in that courtyard seat engaging with your loved ones. We’d eventually get up feeling like a million bucks and go about our day trekking through a new town until the sun went down. It took me some time to really understand how it didn’t feel as though a train had hit me after consuming wine midday.
Even when I open a nice bottle, now I feel like garbage. How is this possible??
Don’t worry! I am VERY prone to headaches - have been for years. For this reason, I have had to become so much more intentional with how I sip every glass of wine. In this post, I present some of the obvious and not-so-obvious culprits.
How the Alcohol Content May Surprise You!
If you’ve ever been to a brewery, you’re familiar with the standard ordering process. You walk up to a counter/bar and there they have a number of craft brews posted on a chalkboard with the ABV (alcohol by volume) clearly listed. And I love that. Stouts are delicious, especially on a chilly day. BUT, they are typically as high as 10-12% whereas a pale ale could be half that. I appreciate the warning so I can order a half glass instead of a full.
Often with wine, we don’t think to flip the bottle to the back label (or look in the lower corner of the front label) to see what the alcohol content is. The ONLY time I have felt terrible after sipping wine in the last few years was after an occasion of sipping a 15 percenter. I remember the moment that I flipped the bottle around toward the end of an evening filled with light nibbles. The damage already done. I shook my head, “Oh Kristen what were you thinking?!” And to go even further - here is an interesting fun fact. Legally wine above 14% can actually be within 1% of what is disclosed on the label. So if you have a wine that says “14.5” it could be up to “15.5”! I love a good Napa Cab. Or a red blend from Paso Robles. You better bet I grill up a meaty steak with those bad boys though. Sipping a nearly 15% wine without a hearty meal is a dangerous feat, my friends. If I am sipping wine without a meal, I typically try to stay in the 11-13% range. For reference, that delicious white wine pictured above was probably around 12%
How pregnancy and Europe impacted the way I consume
When I was pregnant, I educated myself with one book. Expecting Better is not only an inspirational read; but, a statistical-based guide to living a more balanced and moderate lifestyle. I used to slam down multiple coffees in a matter of minutes. I’d tackle my day roadrunner style for the first hour and then be in crash mode by noon. Wine was a crushable beverage I took down with friends. Emily Oster highlighted how slowing down and reducing quantity helps our bodies metabolize what we are consuming. So while I was pregnant, I started slow sipping a small cup of coffee and enjoyed an occasional half glass of wine with dinner. No harm done. I had two 8 1/2 pounders that are bright as a bulb.
Coincidentally, we then moved to Europe within a year of Quinn being born. A culture that naturally sips and eats slower. I learned in these years that if I have 1 1/2 glasses or less of an honest wine over the course of a few hours, I will feel just fine. So instead of pouring a third of the bottle into the glass as soon as it’s opened, I pour myself a half glass at a time. I will potentially have three half glasses over the course of a few hours. With this strategy, I am not fighting a midday headache or up all night or feeling terrible the next day. Please note: all of our bodies are unique. Your sweet zone of consumption may be up to 1 glass or as high as 3. I am suggesting slowing down, thinking about moderation, and being more in tune with yourself.
The obvious steps toward feeling great after wine. H2O!
I was in the airport the other day, steps away from spending 3+ hours high in the sky slowly dehydrating my body when I noticed an insightful phrase. Just above the water filling station was a very clear and firm statement. “Water is the passport to wellness”. So simple and so wise.
I am going to be very blunt here. Take a pee before your first sip. If you’re not crystal clear, down the biggest glass of water you can handle. Between each glass of wine, down another. I had a good neighborhood friend who approached me while walking the other day. “Kristen! I sipped a great $70 bottle with a friend last night and feel terrible today. What the heck?” Her delightful evening was filled with half a bottle of a 15% wine and a hot tub. Soaking away and slowly extracting hydration. I looked up the wine. Great producer. But our bodies rebel when we don’t fill it back up with water. Plain and simple.
What about tannins, sulfites, additives, and what in the world is Quercetin?
For years I have heard friends, family members, and acquaintances say, “The sulfites get to me” or “ I don’t think I handle tannins very well” or “It has to be all of the additives that make me feel crummy”. I am going to dive deeper in my next post on these elements and how they may or may not be adding to that wine gives me headaches conundrum. With several interesting articles to support of course. Even more interesting, I will suggest a more recent topic under consideration: Quercetin.
Until next time… stay curious, friends! Xx, Kris
