White Wine or Nutritional Supplement in Improving Appetite in Patients With Cancer

Inclusion Criteria: * Incurable, invasive malignancy * Able to reliably take the study intervention as prescribed in this protocol * No prior or current history of alcoholism * Alert and mentally competent * Physician estimates that patient has lost \>= 5 pounds (2.3 kg) in weight =\< 2 months (excluding peri-operative weight loss; documented weight loss not required) and/or have estimated caloric intake of \< 20 cal/kg daily (no further documentation necessary other than an affirmative answer to this statement) * Patient perceives loss of appetite and/or weight as a problem; NOTE: Documentation not necessary * Concurrent chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are permitted * Negative pregnancy test done =\< 7 days prior to registration, for women of childbearing potential only * Willingness to abstain completely from alcohol for 4 weeks, except as prescribed in this trial; NOTE: Patients assigned to the non-wine nutritional supplement (Arm B) must be willing to abstain from wine and other alcoholic beverages for 3-4 weeks; Patients assigned to the white wine (Arm A) are allowed to take a nutritional supplement, such as Ensure or Boost if they choose to * Ability to complete questionnaire(s) by themselves or with assistance * Willingness to return to MCCRC enrolling institution for follow-up * Patients in whom the use of progestational agents is anticipated are not permitted to be on this study * Short-term use of dexamethasone around days of intravenous chemotherapy is allowed for protection against emesis, but dexamethasone for appetite stimulation is not permitted Exclusion Criteria: * Receiving tube feedings or parenteral nutrition * Current (=\< 1 month) or planned treatment with adrenal corticosteroids (short-term use of dexamethasone around days of chemotherapy is allowed for protection against emesis), androgens, or progestational agents; EXCEPTION: Inhalant, topical, or optical steroid use is permissible * Progestational agent (such as megestrol acetate) planned to be initiated over the next 30 days; NOTE: Patients who have been on megestrol acetate for \> 1 month and are still on it and otherwise meet the eligibility criteria are permitted to enroll on this protocol and remain on megestrol acetate * Known mechanical obstruction of the alimentary tract, malabsorption, or intractable vomiting (\> 5 episodes/week) * Symptomatic or untreated brain metastases * Any of the following as this regimen may be harmful to a developing fetus or nursing child: pregnant women, nursing women, and men or women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception