6 Best Wines for Acid Reflux and Heartburn

If you often experience acid reflux or heartburn after drinking wine, but you don’t want to give up your favorite drink just yet, then these 6 best wines for acid reflux and heartburn are the answer for you.

The sensation of heartburn or reflux, as doctors call it, can be quite unpleasant especially if you experience it too often. A persistent heartburn is also called gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), and it can contribute to a number of health problems.This unpleasant feeling involves chest pain that moves up toward the throat and an acid taste that makes you feel like you are going to throw up.

Heartburns are common among people, and most of us experience this from time to time. Acid reflux can occur after eating too much, but it most often occurs after you’ve had a few glasses of wine. Heartburn after drinking wine is especially problematic if you really love wine and enjoy having a glass or two from time to time. Many people stop drinking altogether due to the unpleasant feeling they experience every time they drink wine. But wine is not the only alcoholic drink to cause acid reflux. All types of alcohol can trigger this problem as well as large meals, chocolate, caffeine, and citrus products, according to WebMD. However, not all individuals are affected in the same way. Some people can safely eat citrus fruit while others experience acid reflux shortly after consuming it.

When it comes to wines, it is difficult to make a generalization and say which wine is worse for your acid reflux, while one research claims that red wine, in particular, is known to cause heartburn, others say that white wine is even worse than red. But should you stop drinking wine altogether? Not necessarily. Whatever it is that causes your acid reflux, you should examine the root of the problem and then avoid it from happening again. In case of wine, you should not avoid all wines but try to find wines that don’t cause heartburn.

Acidity is an important factor you should consider if you have recurrent heartburn so you should avoid grape varieties that have a natural sharpness and high acidities like Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc. These grape varieties have the natural sharpness and will probably induce acid reflux shortly after you drink a glass or two. It is generally believed that wines from warm climates are less acidic. Also, according to The Tasting Group, white wines tend to be higher in acid, so perhaps it is the white wine that is worse for your acid reflux, after all. Speaking of least acidic wines, you should take a look at 6 Least Acidic Alcoholic Drinks we wrote about earlier. We also wrote an article about least acidic drinks for stomach ulcer patients so you should check this out, as well.

You have probably wondered how to prevent heartburn when drinking alcohol, and there are a few ways to do so. According to Wine Spectator, you should take an acid-blocker medication before drinking wine. Over-the-counter antacids are the fastest ways to get rid of the unpleasant sensation because they neutralize acid in the esophagus and the stomach. However, if your problem is persistent, medication may not be the best way to solve this problem. The ideal solution would be to stop drinking alcohol altogether, but that is not necessary. Moderate consumption of wine is one of the answers to your problem.

Since acidity in wines is what triggers your acid reflux, one way to solve the problem is to find low-acidic wines so that you can continue enjoying your favorite routine. There are indeed wines that don’t trigger your heartburn, and we did a little research and found them. Coming up with this list was not easy due to many confusions and little straightforward information. As it turns out, sweet wines are also high in acid, even though many of us may think they are not. There is also tannin, which is often confused with acid due to similar taste in our mouth. Tannin comes from grape skins, and since red wines are fermented with the skins, naturally, they are higher in tanning than whites, which are only fermented with grape juice.

After reading a dozen articles and visiting Live Strong, The Globe And Mail, and The Tasting Group, we noticed that certain types of wines are often mentioned as low-acidic, so we researched them thanks to data provided by Wine Folly and included them on our list. An important thing to remember is that if you do have recurring acid reflux every time you drink wine, you should decrease your wine intake and drink in moderation. All wines contain some acidity so there is no such wine that is acid-free. Now let’s take a look at the list we compiled of 6 best wines for acid reflux and heartburn.

6. Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in different regions and climates throughout the world and so its flavor can vary. Merlot tastes a little bit like black cherries and the one from Bordeaux also has an herbal/floral flavor. It appears that Cabernet Sauvignon is less acidic than some other varieties so you should be able to have a glass or two without your acid reflux going crazy.

5. Viognier

Viognier is one of the popular low-acidic wines that originates in southern France. It’s a full-bodied white wine that you can drink without having to worry about heartburn after you’ve had a few glasses. Viognier is known for its rich aromas of peach, tangerine, and honeysuckle so you can enjoy the smell of this delicious wine while also prevent acid reflux. Viognier goes great with roasted chicken, crabs or shrimps.

4. Marsanne or Ermitage Blanc

Marsanne ranks 4th on our list of best wines for acid reflux and heartburn. It is another low-acidic white wine that is very popular. As it is lower in acid than most other wines, you can have a glass or two without the unpleasant sensation that is heartburn. This wine originates from the Rhone Valley, and it is also known as Ermitage or Ermitage Blanc. In hot climates, Marsanne can hardly develop enough acidity which makes it suitable for you if you are struggling with acid reflux.

3. Merlot

Another quality wine among the best wines for acid reflux and heartburn is Merlot, which has less tannin than some other varieties and it is definitely less acidic too. Not only is it safer for you to drink if you often experience heartburn, but it is also cheaper. Merlot features fruit-driven plum and cherry flavors.

2. Chardonnay

Chardonnay ranks second on our list of best wines for acid reflux and heartburn. It has a fruity flavor featuring tropical fruit flavors if more ripe and lemon/green apple flavors if it is less ripe. Chardonnay is often recommended for wine lovers struggling with acid reflux because it is less acidic than some other varieties.

1. Grenache

Grenache is one of the most expensive wines in the world, just like Cabernet Sauvignon and also one of the best wines for acid reflux and heartburn. It is less acidic than some other wines and contains less tannin as well. When grown in warmer climates, it cannot develop a high-level of acidity, while when grown in Spain, for example, it gets very sweet.