Hi,

I've recently started to drink wine. I started out with White Zinfandel (Arbor Mist, Strawberry). I've decided I want to move on to a little something less sweet. However, I have a severe blueberry allergy. I've noticed most of the wines that I interest me will say "berry mix" flavor, or something like that. I noticed on a lot of the Shiraz info tickets at the grocery blueberry was listed. So I decided to stay away from any of the Shiraz.

I'm wondering if anyone here can suggest a list of types of wines that definitely wouldn't have any blueberry flavoring. I was told white wines tend to have apple, melon, and plum flavors.

It's the artificial blueberry stuff that has given problems in the past. Like candies and stuff.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Respectfully yours,
Paul

I'm not a wine expert, but if you like a less sweet wine, perhaps a good Riesling. It's a white wine and might be appealing to you. For me, this is the perfect blend of sweet and dry.

Thanks for the tip. I had an Australian Chardonnay last night that I enjoyed. It had an apple, melon, and vanilla flavor to it according the label.

I'll try a Riesling next time I pick up some wine. But after that I'd like to try another red wine.

Paul

the only kind of wine i enjoy is champagne and it has to be extra dry. i got so sick on carlo rossi red burgundy wine i couldnt go to work for two days and got a two day migrain. needless to say that stopped me from drinking wine except at christmas.

Certain brands of beers tend to give me headaches/migraines hours after drinking (not a bad hangover). Specifically Anheuser-Busch brewed beers, Bud Light etc. I did some research and found I wasn't the only one. Most people would switch to Miller, Coors, or Sam Adams and the problem would go away. I myself switched to wine, which I enjoy drinking a lot more.

I also found that red wines often affect a small amount of people in the same away. Fortunately for me I don't seem to have this problem.

I'm just trying to stay away from blueberry flavored wines. It seems that it's quite hard to identify if a "berry mix" flavored wine has a blueberry flavor.

Guess I'd better stay away from Shiraz (Syrah). From wiki:

"Although its best incarnations will age for decades, less-extracted styles may be enjoyed young for their lively red and blueberry characters and smooth tannin structure."

"Aroma characters can range from violets to berries (usually dark as opposed to red) ..."

Chardonnay seems fine. As well as Zinfandels, since most of them are clearly labeled.

Yesterday, I bought a wonderful California Chenin Blanc, Beringers. Quite delicious and not overly sweet.

"Lush aromas and flavors of citrus compote, spicy ginger, honey and light nutmeg. "

Sounds good. Seems to be a Californian wine.
I've been drinking a lot of Australian branded wines lately.

I'll give it a try though.

I believe a lot of times when they mention berry overtones or notes of floral and things like that they are not referring to ingredients but just the overall flavor and smell of a wine; check the ingredients, if there is anything other than grapes it will have to be listed.

All of the flavors mentioned in descriptions of wines are in the mind of the taster.

They tend to not have ingredients listed on wines, so when one reads of a red wine with flavors and aromas of road tar, earth, wet leaves and licorice, you'll have to take my word for it that none of those things are actually in the wine.

Thanks Brom. I kind of a had a feeling it worked like that. As I stated I'm new to wine. So I know next to nothing about how wines are made.

I've just always been very cautious when it comes to my allergy. I hate trips to the hospital.

I've actually come to prefer white wines to red wines. And I have yet to find a white wine that lists blueberry or something like blueberry (blackberry) as an aroma.

Paul36E, I don't blame you a bit for being cautious. But, as Cetan and Brom said, the descriptions are not lists of ingredients, but are just supposed to give you an idea of what the wine tastes like.

If the bottle says Shiraz, it's made from Shiraz grapes.
If the wine contains berries in the blend (which is very unusual, as it's difficult to make a good wine from berries), the label will tell you it's a blueberry-and-whatever else blend.

But if you want to try red wines, I'd recommend that you talk to the staff at your local wine shop. At a good shop, they usually have information about the wines that isn't printed on the label, and they should be able to help you make sure you're not getting ingredients that would be dangerous with your known allergies.