Have you ever seen the “Contains Sulfites” notice on the back of your bottle of wine? If you have and wonder what it means, we’re here to help demystify what sulfites are and how they affect what’s in your wine. Let’s talk science first. Sulfites are a naturally occurring byproduct of the fermentation process, but in such small quantities that it’s not particularly useful to worry about them. It’s theHave you ever seen the “Contains Sulfites” notice on the back of your bottle of wine? If you have and wonder what it means, we’re here to help demystify what sulfites are and how they affect what’s in your wine. Let’s talk science first. Sulfites are a naturally occurring byproduct of the fermentation process, but in such small quantities that it’s not particularly useful to worry about them. It’s the addition of sulfur dioxide (SO2), during winemaking that is of more interest to the average wine drinker. SO2 serves as an antibacterial element that protects wine from spoilage by oxidation - a phenomenon that leads to the browning of the wine and a loss of flavors. It can be added in the vineyards, during harvest, or during the winemaking process. Sulfur dioxide is completely safe for consumption, however some winemakers are reconsidering their use of sulfur additions during the winemaking process. While some addition is generally considered necessary as a preservative against oxidation (though there are some winemakers who don’t add any at all), as more natural winemaking methods are seen as optimal, the excessive use of sulfites has been curtailed by many producers. ...more ...less
So what does this mean for the wine in your glass? In general, the more natural the product and the fewer additives, the more it’s going to taste like the place it’s made and the grapes it’s made from. The addition of less or no sulfur produces a wine that truly reflects its source and provides a perfect snapshot of its unique personality. And it’s part of what makes tastingSo what does this mean for the wine in your glass? In general, the more natural the product and the fewer additives, the more it’s going to taste like the place it’s made and the grapes it’s made from. The addition of less or no sulfur produces a wine that truly reflects its source and provides a perfect snapshot of its unique personality. And it’s part of what makes tasting and learning more about wine fun! Though there’s no universal threshold for what makes a wine low in sulfites, currently, 90% of Winc’s total production is low sulfur according to the EU standards for organic wines. As a rule, we aim to use the least amount required through diligent winemaking practices. We consider a wine to be low sulfur if it has under 100 parts per million (ppm) total sulfur for red wines and 150 for whites and rosés. ...more ...less