No matter how much we like the taste of some alcoholic drinks, they don’t always agree with us.

Whether you love gigantic glasses of gin or a tipple of whiskey as your go-to drink, often we face consequences from enjoying it the night before.

Especially when it comes to red wine and the dreaded headache that can be quite common for some.

But why does it happen and how can you get rid of it? Scientists have discovered new research that could finally end your red wine woes.

Why does red wine give me a headache?

Red wine headaches can hit a drinker in under 30 minutes and up to three hours after a small glass, which differs from a hangover the day after a period of heavy drinking.

The University of California researchers discovered that a naturally occurring compound could be responsible for the pain that can also accompany migraines, flushes and nausea after a glass.

It is an otherwise healthy antioxidant substance called quercetin, and wines from sunnier regions are more likely to have higher quantities and prompt a painful reaction.

Co-author professor Morris Levin, director of the Headache Centre at the university said: “We postulate that when susceptible people consume wine with even modest amounts of quercetin, they develop headaches, particularly if they have a pre-existing migraine or another primary headache condition.

“We think we are finally on the right track toward explaining this millennia-old mystery.

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“The next step is to test it scientifically on people who develop these headaches, so stay tuned.”

What is quercetin?

Quercetin is a type of flavanol, a plant pigment known to give fruits and vegetables their colours and is found in teas, cocoa, and grapes, and sold as an over-the-counter supplement to reduce inflammation and hypertension.

However, when combined with red wine, quercetin can disrupt some people’s ability to break down alcohol, a researcher said.

Red wine headaches can even impact those who do not suffer painful consequences from drinking other alcoholic drinks.

Professor emeritus Andrew Waterhouse of the university’s viticulture and enology department, said: “When it gets in your bloodstream, your body converts it to a different form called quercetin glucuronide.

“In that form, it blocks the metabolism of alcohol.”

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Quercetin glucuronide can prompt the toxin acetaldehyde to accumulate in the body.

Fellow researcher Dr Apramita Devi said: “Acetaldehyde is a well-known toxin, irritant and inflammatory substance.

“Researchers know that high levels of acetaldehyde can cause facial flushing, headache and nausea.”

How to get rid of ‘red wine headaches’?

“To get rid of a wine headache, drink plenty of water and take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory like aspirin or ibuprofen,” reports Surely Wines.

“Some headache sufferers report caffeine has a positive effect, too. Try a cup of coffee or two if you feel a headache coming on to see if that helps.”

A wine headache can last as long as 24 hours, explains Surely Wines.

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It’s important to note not all red wines have the same effect.

Sunlight, age, and wine-making processes can all influence whether a bottle triggers a headache.

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Cabernets from the Napa Valley in California are particularly likely to produce a near-immediate headache.

Prof Waterhouse added: “Quercetin is produced by the grapes in response to sunlight.

“If you grow grapes with the clusters exposed, such as they do in the Napa Valley for their cabernets, you get much higher levels of quercetin.

“In some cases, it can be four to five times higher.”

Further research will hopefully discover why some drinkers appear more prone to headaches than others.