The bactericidal effects of wines on Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters were studied to evaluate potential inactivation of V. parahaemolyticus in contaminated oysters by wine consumption. Shucked whole oyster and oyster meat homogenate were inoculated with V. parahaemolyticus and mixed with red or white wine. Survivals of V. parahaemolyticus in inoculated oysters were determined at 7 and 25 degrees C. Populations of V. parahaemolyticus in inoculated whole oysters (5.52 log most probable number [MPN] per g) decreased slightly to 4.90 log MPN/g (a 0.62-log reduction) after 24 h at 7 degrees C but increased to 7.37 log MPN/g over the same period at 25 degrees C. However, the populations in wine-treated whole oysters decreased by >1.7 and >1.9 log MPN/g after 24 h at 7 and 25 degrees C, respectively. Both red and white wines were more effective in inactivating V. parahaemolyticus in oyster meat homogenate than in whole oyster. Populations of V. parahaemolyticus in oyster meat homogenate (7.8 x 10(3) MPN/g) decreased rapidly to nondetectable levels (< 3 MPN/g) after 30 min of mixing with wine at 25 degrees C (a 3.89-log MPN/g reduction). These results suggest that chewing oysters before swallowing when eating raw oysters may result in greater inactivation of V. parahaemolyticus if wine is consumed. More studies are needed to determine the bactericidal effects of wine on V. parahaemolyticus in the complicated stomach environment.