The £5.50 wine that won’t give you a terrible hangover

The holidays are here, and for many that means raising a glass or two to celebrate. For some, however, the side effects of drinking wine, from headaches and rashes to nausea and heart palpitations, are anything but joyful.

Sulphites are often cited as the culprit. In fact, wine contains significantly fewer sulfites (naturally occurring compounds that act as preservatives) than many other food and drink products.

Those unlucky enough to be allergic to sulfites should obviously avoid wines with added sulfur, but for most wine drinkers the levels are simply too low to cause side effects.

Another suspect in the wine headache whodunnit is histamine. Produced by bacteria, histamines are naturally occurring compounds found not only in wine, but also in chocolate and cheese, to name a few.

However, when histamine is mixed with alcohol, the body’s ability to break down toxins can be compromised, leading to worse side effects for some.

In general, crisp white wines are likely to contain lower levels of histamine compared to red wines or many so-called natural or even biodynamic wines.

But that is not everything. A recent study published by the University of California points to evidence that the real culprit could in fact be quercetin, a natural compound present in red wines, especially those from warmer climates. When mixed with alcohol, it can hinder the body’s ability to metabolize it.

So can you really choose wines that are less likely to lead to a pounding headache in the morning?

Here’s wine expert Helen McGinn’s picks for the glasses to raise if you want a better chance of having a clear head the next day…

PARTY STARTER FIZZ

Forchir Ribolla Gialla Spumante Brut, £13.99 or (mix six price) £9.99, Majestic

Move over Prosecco, there’s a new Italian sparkling wine in town! And because it has about a third the amount of natural residual sugar compared to most Proseccos, sugar levels are less likely to rise after a few glasses, which can leave some feeling sluggish.

Made from the Ribolla Gialla grape grown in vineyards in the cooler northern Italian region of Friuli, it is fresh and slightly floral with aromas of pear and peach. The perfect party starter. 9/10

CRISP CREMANT

Taste the difference Cremant de Loire, £10.50, Sainsbury’s

The Loire region is one of the coolest in France, both in terms of climate and qualifications.

This particular sparkling wine is a blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay grapes and made in the same way as Champagne by Ladubay, a company founded in 1851. Fresh with crisp, green apple flavors and a slightly toasty note, it is also only 12.5 percent alcohol. 7/10

FRUITY NUMBER

Co-op irresistible Rioja Blanco 2022, £7.50

You might not think of Rioja for white wine, but this one, new to the Co-op Irresistible range, is fantastic.

Made by a great producer called Muriel from a blend of mainly Viura with some Tempranillo Blanco. There’s no oak involved, so it’s all about the fruit – in this case citrus and white peach. 6/10

COOL WHITE

Found Arinto, £7.50, M&S

The key to lower levels of quercetin in wine, according to studies conducted so far, is to stick to red wines from cooler climates and prefer white wines to red wines.

Obviously Portugal is hot, but the location of Lisbon’s vineyards, close to the coast, helps retain freshness and natural acidity, especially in the Arinto grape.

Think of it as a squeeze of lemon and pair it with seafood. At a modest 12.5 percent alcohol, it’s enough to get you in the party mood, but you’re less likely to regret it the next day. 7/10

GREEN AND PLEASANT

Torre de Lapela Vinho Verde, £5.50, Asda

Another one from Portugal, but this one comes from the far north. Vinho Verde translates as ‘green’ wine, a reference to its youth, not its colour, and here you’ll find some of the country’s freshest white wines with naturally lower alcohol content.

This is made from a blend of Alvarinho and Trajadura grapes, grown in vineyards on the banks of the Minho River. Fresh and vibrant with peach and apricot fruit flavors, try this 10 percent alcohol with shellfish. 6/10

BURGUNDY BELTER

Caves de Lugny Macon villages, £10.50, Asda

Choosing white over red is a wise choice for those who want to avoid unwanted side effects, and white Burgundy is a festive classic. Unfortunately, it really isn’t cheap and prices have risen in recent years, putting it out of the price range of many wine lovers.

However, this is made by a large cooperative winery in a village called Lugny, one of the largest in the region. The wine is fresh, clean and clear, with that roundness that makes white Burgundy so drinkable. However, don’t let the price tempt you into a third glass. 8/10

CANAPE COCKTAIL

Irresistible Cotes de Provence, £9.50, co-op

Keeping with the fresh, dry theme, Provence rosé is a good place to forage as the appellation rules regulate the amount of natural residual sugar and alcohol allowed in their wines.

However, as with white Burgundy, prices have been rising in recent years. New to the Co-op range, this is made by a great co-operative producer in the region from a cocktail of grapes including Grenache Gris, Cinsault, Carignan, Syrah, Mourvedre & Rolle. Bright and fresh with citrus and light red fruit, serve this with canapes. 8/10

BEST OF ROSEBOS

Artesano de Argento Organic Malbec Rosé, £10, Sainsbury’s

Red grapes can produce wines with higher levels of quercetin, but this is a rosé made from red grapes. The juice and skins are left together for a relatively short time, compared to how long it would take to make a red wine, so the wines are likely to contain fewer headache-causing substances.

This is a blend of (mainly) Malbec and Syrah grapes from vineyards more than 1,000 meters above sea level.

This higher altitude creates a jump between daytime and nighttime temperatures, slowing the ripening of the grapes and preserving their crispness.

It has spice when it comes to taste, but scores only 12.5 percent on the alcohol front. 7/10

CHERRY PICK

Taste the Difference Chilean Pinot Noir, £9.25, Sainsbury’s

If you want a red wine from a cooler region, this one, from the southern part of Biobio in Chile, is made by a great producer and is packed with fresh black cherry and raspberry flavors.

The Pinot Noir grape does not like heat and probably has a lower quercetin content than, for example, a Cabernet Sauvignon from a warmer region such as California.

And when it comes to turkey-loving red wines, Pinot Noir is perfect. 8/10

• Helen’s book, The Knackered Mother’s Wine Guide, is out now.