Dave, If some wines and beers bring on asthma, it may well be from the sulfites that are used in their preparation. FWIW, my asthma started at just about the same time I got heavily involved in wine-making at about age 40. (I first noticed it as exercise-induced, but after a while I began to notice that I had to hold my breath whenever using sulfites with the wine and then go outside to catch my breath.) I had to quit making wine because the sulfites would trigger massive asthma attacks.) Some beers, many wines, and even some bottled fruit juices will bring on an attack for me, and many of these products are made using sulfites. The labels don't have to tell you.
Paradoxically, if I were out dancing vigorously in a smoky club and began to wheeze uncontrollably, a stiff brandy would sort of clear it up--by making me cough up all the phlegm until I could breathe again.
I don't recommend that remedy, though, because by the time I could breathe again, I was, likely as not, drunk on my arse!

Genie §;-)