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vermouth

vermouth

Beverages

Is vermouth high in sulfites?

Sulfites status
High

Is vermouth high or low in sulfites? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.

Sensitivity notes

Why sulfites food checker matters

Sulfites are preservatives found in wine, dried fruits, and processed foods. They can trigger asthma symptoms, headaches, and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

  • Dried fruits are often high in sulfites unless labeled 'unsulfured'
  • Wine, especially white, commonly contains sulfites
  • Fresh foods are naturally sulfite-free
  • Check medication labels - some contain sulfites
  • Look for 'contains sulfites' on labels (required above 10ppm)

Sensitivities

What vermouth contains

FODMAPs

FODMAPsModerate
FructansSafe
GOSSafe
FructoseModerate
PolyolsSafe
LactoseSafe

Histamine & Amines

HistamineModerate
Histamine LiberatorsLow
TyramineModerate

Plant compounds

SalicylatesLow
OxalatesLow
LectinSafe
NightshadesSafe

Irritants

CaffeineSafe
AlcoholHigh
Spicy FoodsSafe
Acidic FoodsHigh

Additives

SulfitesHigh
NitritesSafe
GlutamatesLow

Allergens

Dairy ProteinsSafe
GlutenSafe
EggLow
PeanutSafe
Tree NutsSafe
SoySafe
FishSafe
CrustaceansSafe
MolluscsSafe
SesameSafe
CelerySafe
MustardSafe
LupinSafe
Alpha-galSafe
NickelLow

Diet fit

Where vermouth fits

Therapeutic diets

Low HistamineCheck
Low SalicylateAvoid
Low Fermentation
EoE CompatibleFit
AIPAvoid
InflammationNo data
Reflux DietAvoid
Specific CarbohydrateAvoid
Low FibreFit
Gastroparesis DietAvoid

Lifestyle diets

VeganCheck
VegetarianCheck
PescatarianCheck
MediterraneanNo data
DASH DietCheck
PaleoAvoid
Whole30Avoid
KetoAvoid
Low-carbCheck

Religious diets

HalalAvoid
KosherCheck
Hindu (no beef)Fit
JainAvoid
Buddhist VegetarianAvoid
Orthodox FastingCheck
Ingredient notes

What to know about vermouth

Vermouth is aromatised fortified wine, and the thing that makes it vermouth rather than any other pre dinner drink is wormwood: Artemisia absinthium, the botanical that gives the German Wermut and the word vermouth itself. A wine base, a dose of neutral spirit, sugar and a long botanical infusion is the whole construction. If you are asking whether vermouth is high in sulfites, our grades say yes, and it is the only high mark on the page: sulfite is graded D, carried in from the wine base and topped up as preservative. Histamine sits at C, which is genuinely a step below the aperitif category as a whole, and tyramine is C beside it, so the fermented wine triggers are present without being extreme. FODMAPs and excess fructose are both C, and that single grade is averaging two very different bottles, because a bone dry extra dry and a sweet rosso are not the same sugar load at all. Fermentability for SIBO is graded E, as it is for anything alcoholic. Where vermouth is clean it is thoroughly clean: gluten A, lactose A, dairy protein A, nickel A, nightshade A, caffeine A, and only B for histamine liberation. The variable almost nobody controls for is what happens after the cork comes out. Vermouth is wine, not spirit, so an opened bottle oxidises on the shelf the way an opened bottle of white would, and the dusty bottle that has been beside the gin since last summer is not the drink it was when you bought it.

Watch for

  • Sulfites graded D, the highest trigger mark on the page.Fortifying wine with spirit and infusing herbs into it does not strip sulfites out, and a European bottle will say contains sulfites on the back label because it has to
  • Histamine C and tyramine C together.Neither is severe on its own, but alcohol also slows the enzyme that clears histamine, so vermouth arriving before dinner can be what tips an already loaded evening over
  • Sweet and dry are not one ingredient.A sweet rosso carries a lot more sugar than a dry bianco or extra dry, which is what the C grades for FODMAPs and excess fructose are averaging. Log the style, not just the word vermouth
  • An opened bottle belongs in the fridge and almost never gets there.Vermouth oxidises like wine over weeks rather than lasting like a spirit, so the same bottle can behave differently in March and in August, and that inconsistency is easy to misread as an unpredictable reaction
  • The wormwood is the ingredient people worry about and it is not what our grades flag.It is there for bitterness at flavouring levels, while the sulfite and histamine load is doing the actual work
Learn More

Sulfites Guide

Everything you need to know about sulfites sensitivity and smart food choices.

Sulfites are preservatives found in wine, dried fruits, and processed foods. They can trigger asthma symptoms, headaches, and allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.

These foods are generally well-tolerated for Sulfites sensitivity:

View all safe options

These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:

If you're sensitive to Sulfites, consider these strategies:

  • 1Dried fruits are often high in sulfites unless labeled 'unsulfured'
  • 2Wine, especially white, commonly contains sulfites
  • 3Fresh foods are naturally sulfite-free
  • 4Check medication labels - some contain sulfites
  • 5Look for 'contains sulfites' on labels (required above 10ppm)

Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.

Want personalized tracking?

Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.

Get the App

FAQ

Is vermouth high in Sulfites?

Sulfites: higher signal - consider smaller servings or swaps.

Can I still eat vermouth if I'm sensitive to Sulfites?

Best to avoid or test carefully with a small amount.

What else should I check?

Check AIP, Reflux Diet, and Specific Carbohydrate next for a fuller picture.