Red wine and gout, conceptual computer artwork. Crystals of uric acid (yellow) amongst glasses of red wine. Gout is a condition in which uric acid crystals are deposited inside joints, usually due to high blood levels of uric acid (hyperpuricaemia). This is an extremely painful condition, which leads to swelling of the joint and intense pain on moving or even lightly touching the affected joint. It was once thought that consumption of red wine led to gout, but now it is thought that it has no effect or may reduce the chances of developing gout.